Barbara liked to say that she was “5 foot 2 with eyes of blue” – we all knew that she was closer to about 4’ 9". She used every inch of that to march every day for service, for peace, for justice, every day for a better future for the children of the whole world.
She loved to read the obituary section of the newspaper to learn about the lives of others. "You always learn so much about a person." But do we really? How can we put into words the feeling that others felt when they interacted with her? What words describe her squishy but strong hug, her belly laugh, her mashed potatoes, the comfort of her voice, the twinkle in her eyes, the way you felt her love and gentleness. Barbara personified unconditional love.
Born in Racine, WI on July 20, 1935 to Bill and Cora Katt, she started her junior high autobiography, "There was joy in the Katt family when twins were born!" She and her wombmate, Bruce Neal, were the sixth and seventh children born in the Depression. From her beginnings, family was everything. She grew up surrounded by love and affection and the understanding that the most important thing in life is not what you have but what you give. The Katt family moved to Kenosha, WI when the twins were preschoolers. Barbara experienced a joy-filled childhood surrounded by her siblings, Bill, Eugene, Edwin, Carol, Quentin, and Bruce and a very large extended family. She lived in Kenosha until her adult years, attending McKinley Junior High and graduated from Mary D. Bradford High School in 1953. Like her beloved older sister Carol, Barbara continued her studies as a nursing student at Oak Park, IL, graduating with her RN degree. Carol and her husband, Cliff Harris, set Barbara up on a blind date with the love of her life, John Karamitsos, a handsome medical student from University of Illinois School of Medicine.
John and Barbara got married in 1956 and moved to Germany where John was stationed as an Army Captain. From the beginning of their marriage, they were world travelers taking every chance they could to visit the countries of Europe while they were there. Throughout their marriage, they globe trotted on many adventures both near and far "to see the world and everything in it!"
On May 3, 1957, Barbara began her most cherished role: Mother. She and John did not yet have $1000 in the bank, just as her own mother had predicted. John Steven was born and the rest followed in fairly quick succession: Robert Allen in 1959, George William in 1961, Mary Ann in 1962, Carol Ann in 1963, Karen Marie in 1965, and Andrea Luise in 1969. She laid her baby, Mary Ann, to rest as an infant in 1962.
John and Barbara made their home in Santa Maria, CA in 1962 after John finished OB/GYN residency. John's career spanned the breadth of his life until he passed at the age of 74 in 2004. Barbara worked tirelessly to keep a busy household together and provide tender loving care to her family, her friends, her neighborhood and her community. She adored her husband: their marriage provided a model to a marriage built on friendship, devotion, acceptance and growth.
Throughout her lifetime, Barbara cherished her "circle of friends". She filled her calendar with events, parties, gatherings, meetings, performances and pie-days. With equal enthusiasm, she relished the quiet one-on-one visits with YOU all. Many of her dear friends and family have greeted her on the other shore where they are dancing with the "party girl!"
John and Barbara's whole world was their family. They were intentional about maintaining and nurturing family connections with their many, many family and friends across the country and around the world. She, Uncle Gene and Auntie Carol formed the core "Antique Road Show" for our Katt Family Reunions. Barb and John drove 1000s of miles to their parents and siblings in AZ, KS, NE, WI, IL, and MN.
In our home on Diamond Drive, Barb nurtured us all with delicious, nutritious meals, warm baths and cozy beds, and a morning charge as we left for school, "Put a smile on your face and a song in your heart and find the joy in your day!" Our mom was a mom to so many - ours was the house that kids wanted to go to. For a couple of years, we had our foster brother Todd living with us. She loved him as much as us, helping him to heal and to grow.
Barbara and John opened their home to many foreign exchange students over the years, hosting them for a few weeks, a year, and for some, a lifetime. Barbara the "host-buster" even took in students whose initial placements didn’t work out. She mothered Tomoko, Ayako, Lim, Johan, Kati, Blanca, Adriano, Edgar, Yukiko, Jesper, Idwer, Karina, and Nai-Yun, as well as others whose names we cannot recall. Barbara worked many hours with chicken BBQ fundraisers and other fund-raising events to support Robert and George and other local youth to serve in Amigos de Las Americas, a youth service organization for administering vaccinations, optometry and sanitation to communities in Central and South America.
Barbara and John became grandparents with the 1993 arrivals of Cora and Karen, their first granddaughters born just 4 days apart! Her time of waiting was over - and as their children's lives grew, they became grandparents to 22 grandchildren: Cora, Karen, William, Isabella, Quentin, Ellie, Gerrit, John-john, Sean-O, Akemi, Andrea, George, Kai, Dimitris "DJ", Tommy, Jason, Johnny, Helen, Barbara, Penelope, Melia "Momo" and Leo. They would host "Gramma Camp" during the summers and the last one they shared in 2004 was a treasure for Barb as she frequently recalled our dad saying, "You really outdid yourself with that one!" After the passing of her husband in 2004, Grandma carried Poppy close to her heart. Even the grandchildren born after his passing knew Poppy through stories and photos and life's lessons. Grandma wore his wedding ring on a chain around her neck. The babies would play with the ring and she would say "That's Poppy's ring". In the past two years, Grandma became GG. Bobby, Charlotte "Charlie", Dorothy "Dot", and Sadie snuggled into her softness, listened to her Birdy song and her "A-a-a-a....that's GG's cane!", and enjoyed her yummy meals.
Barbara Karamitsos didn't just talk the talk, she walked the walk. She worked tirelessly over the decades for social and political justice and reform. She wanted to see transformation in the world from greed and hate to a world that valued Peace and Love and Acceptance: A world that celebrates each person and creature and feature as a work of God and loved by God. She supported more organizations and causes than can be listed here. Some highlights include: Charter member of the League of Women Voters in Santa Maria; co-organizer for local Planned Parenthood clinic; lifelong Presbyterian at First Presbyterian Church in Santa Maria, Orcutt Presbyterian Church, and Community Presbyterian Church of Pismo Beach with leadership as a Deacon, Elder, Sunday School teacher and youth leader, Peace Committee; local Democratic clubs; NAACP; and local schools performing arts and music, PCPA and Santa Maria Symphony subscriber.
At her request, we invite you to share your gifts of charity with the world, through donations, deeds, or supportive words. She specified a few suggestions: Friends of Waller Park, United Farm Workers, Santa Maria Symphony and UNICEF. In honor of her and all the other saints, Let your Light Shine! Visit www.dudleyhoffmanmortuary.com to leave a condolence for the family.
Published by Kenosha News on January 25, 2025.