Blog

By Brent Hoffmann, Class of 2005

Here’s Kathleen, reporting on her July 3^rd architecture tour on the first day of CAC’s return to the river: “I picked up my mask and plastic face shield at CAC in advance.  My 2 pm cruise was full, at least in terms of operating under the new safety restrictions.  People came aboard as they arrived, so waiting in line while properly distancing was no problem.  I chatted with them as they came on deck, as I’d usually do, but at a safe distance this time. There was sufficient distance between chairs on the deck.  And the captain used a different microphone, so we didn’t have to share as we’d done in the past.

“The boat crew was masked but some of my tourees weren’t — and the deck crew did not enforce mask-wearing.  So, I had to make a couple of requests for compliance.  But I guess I didn’t rely enough on my stern ‘schoolteacher nun’ voice.  I wore the shield without a mask during my narration.  Even at that, I felt a bit breathless on our return, so I can’t imagine doing the tour with just a regular paper or cloth mask.

“Quite a few people were from out of town, Michigan, Colorado, California and Virginia,” she continues.  “Everybody was in a celebratory mood, having fun and happy to be on the river.  Luckily, the bar was open downstairs – not on the deck next to me – so my concerns about distractions were unnecessary.

“I stayed on board until all tourees were off,” she continues.  “On the dock, several approached me with questions.  We were able to talk and stay at a distance.  I was as concerned about their health as I am about my own.  After all, my career was in healthcare.”

Career in Healthcare

Kathleen grew up near Cleveland.  She attended Magnificat High School in Rocky River.  After earning a BA in behavioral science (psychology) at Ursuline College, she did an academic internship at Huron Road Hospital in Cleveland. Then she worked in human resources at the Cleveland Clinic.  In 1986, Kathleen moved to Chicago.  In 1988, she became director of strategic planning at Northwestern Medicine Lake Forest Hospital.  In 1993, she earned an MBA in the executive program at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management

“In the second half of my career, I switched from hospital administration to the supplier side of the healthcare industry,” Kathleen continues.  “I did strategic account management for Abbott Laboratories.  In 2001, I joined CareFusion, a medical technology company in San Diego, where I oversaw strategic accounts, then sales-force training.”

Docent & Exhibit Host

Kathleen explains her interest in CAC tours: “I’d been taking tours for years.  When my sister visited from Philadelphia, we did CAC walking marathons for days.  I learned so much from the docents that I decided this was what I want to do ‘when I grow up’.”  After retiring in 2013, she became an exhibit host at the Foundation headquarters on Michigan Ave.  A year later, she completed the docent training.

As well as remaining an exhibit host, Kathleen leads the Must-See Chicago, Chicago Icons, and the river tours.  “The River Cruise is my favorite,” she insists.  “It’s so gratifying to watch visitors and Chicagoans discover our architecture and history from the vantage point of the river.  I recall a couple visiting from New Zealand who told me they took the River Cruise because their neighbors told them it was the best, single must-do thing in Chicago.  Just imagine, our reputation reaches around the world.”

Since certifying for the River Cruise in 2016, Kathleen’s been co-director of the tour.  She has served on the docent steering committee.  At DAN in 2018, she received a Docent Service Award.

“The CAC has both fueled and allowed me to share my enthusiasm for the city with so many others.  It’s gratifying to have visitors say that had no idea that Chicago was such a vibrant, fascinating and friendly city.”

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