Remembering Council Member Kathy Castro

Michael J. Bobbitt, Executive Director

Mass Cultural Council was saddened to learn of the passing of Council Member Kathy Castro earlier this month. Kathy, a lifelong resident of Fall River, served on the Council for nearly six years. She was reappointed twice, most recently by Governor Maura Healey. She was an engaged and passionate Council Member and her commitment and contributions to the Agency over the years were significant. She sat on the Grants Committee and was part of the Task Forces that led two strategic planning processes; she was also part of the vote to adopt the Agency’s first Racial Equity Plan. Kathy educated Agency staff and her fellow Council Members about the incredible cultural community in her beloved Fall River, home to the state-designated Fall River Waterfront Cultural District, talented artists, and outstanding organizations like The Narrows Center and Battleship Cove. We were delighted to celebrate a round of Cultural Facilities Fund grants with her at Battleship Cove in October 2022.

“Kathy was a remarkable person with a strong and influential voice on the Council. Her lifelong dedication and love for the arts earned her unmatched respect from every member of the Council. As an arts advocate and leader, Kathy had a special passion for the stage and theater. I’m happy to have known Kathy over the years.  Her absence will leave a significant void on the Council. She will be greatly missed,” said Marc Carroll, Mass Cultural Council Chair.

Kathy was a faculty member in Bristol Community College’s English department, host of “Arts Alive” on local cable television, and the creator of the Portuguese language weekly O Jornal. She served on the Board of Directors and directed several plays at The Little Theater of Fall River. She also sat on the Boards of the New Bedford Festival Theatre and the New Bedford Educational Foundation and was a co-chair of the Fall River Arts & Cultural Coalition.

The Fall River Herald News recently published a beautiful tribute to Kathy, “Throughout her life in Fall River, she saw endless beauty in art, culture, and community and wanted to share it with anyone who would listen.” We are so grateful she shared it with Mass Cultural Council. We deeply appreciate and will remember Kathy’s commitment to the arts and send our condolences to all who knew and loved her.