Kathryn Marie Armstrong

Kathryn Marie Armstrong (Kiki)

October 23, 1959 - November 2, 2021

Kathryn "Kiki" Marie Armstrong passed away on November 2nd in Seattle, the same day her oldest sister Janet Ann Armstrong died in Columbus, Ohio. After a long and courageous fight against Younger Onset Alzheimer's Disease, Kathryn left us at the much too early age of 62. She is survived by her husband Vladimeer Oustimovitch of Seattle and sister Carol Armstrong Wilkins of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Kathryn was born and raised in Madison, Wisconsin as the youngest of three sisters. She was the daughter of John Alexander Armstrong, a respected professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin, and Annette Taylor Armstrong, who was also educated in political science but decided to devote herself to raising her daughters and supporting her husband's academic efforts.

To her family and close friends she was known as "Kiki", and as the youngest in the family she acquired an assertive character that served her well throughout her life. After finishing high school, she studied architecture at the University of Minnesota. Upon graduation she moved to Boston to complete her internship as a professional architect. Forever wanting to expand her horizons she then completed a graduate degree in finance at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology before moving to Washington, DC where she transitioned to the management of complex real estate projects.

Athletic and strong, it was on a climb of Mount Rainier in 1994 that she met her future partner and husband Vlad, who at the time was living in Chicago. After a long distance relationship they decided to move to the place they had met, the Pacific Northwest. Before settling in Seattle, they first spent a year on an epic backpacking trip around the world. It was an adventure that became the bedrock of their relationship.

After arriving in Seattle Kathryn enthusiastically immersed herself in the challenging development of high density urban housing which was still in a pioneering phase. Her work was part of a downtown renaissance, and she leaves a legacy of many buildings, especially in Belltown. Forever filled with energy, Kathryn spent her time away from work exploring the beautiful area in which she lived. With her husband Vlad she became a seasoned mountaineer and summitted most of the major peaks of the Pacific Northwest. Her natural curiosity took her traveling on every compass bearing, she was indefatigable. It was only at her beautiful home and garden in West Seattle that she ever allowed herself to relax.

Kathryn's ashes will be scattered near Mount Rainier, which was her cathedral. Her radiant smile and boundless energy will be missed by all those who were fortunate enough to be graced by it.

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Arrangements Entrusted to Emmick Family Funeral Home of West Seattle

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