THE VFA PIONEER HISTORIES PROJECT

Katherine “Kathy” F. Helmbock

August 26, 1932 – June 22, 2020

“I’ve been known as an activist since 1972. It’s filled my life with a lot of pleasure and a big sense of accomplishment.”

National Organization for Women since 1972; served the Cincinnati and Ohio chapters as president, vice-president and treasurer. Charter member of the Cincinnati Women’s Political Caucus and served a term on the Planned Parenthood Board in the 1990s. President of the Women’s City Club of Greater Cincinnati in 2007 and 2008. Kathy volunteered for many Democratic campaigns over the past four decades and served on the Democratic Party Executive Committee.

Photo. “It was the first time in my life that I heard women talking about changing the world instead of just changing diapers,” Kathy said about the first NOW meeting she attended. Here she is one year later as president of Ohio NOW, 1983.