Kathryn Mary Tohir was a resident of New Canaan from 1994 to 2018. She graduated from Wellesley College and received a Juris Doctor degree from Harvard Law School in 1984. In 1994, she retired from her legal career and began her rewarding life as a full-time wife, mother and volunteer in New Canaan. Over the next 24 years, along with raising her family, Kathryn worked tirelessly to enhance various organizations and enrich the lives of many throughout the country and in her new town. She held several leadership positions for Wellesley College and Georgetown University and enjoyed interviewing prospective Wellesley students. In New Canaan, Kathryn served as a board member of Waveny Care Center, president and board member of the League of Women Voters of New Canaan, president of West Elementary School PTC, troop leader for 12 years for her daughter’s Girl Scout troop, science teacher for preschool students at First Presbyterian Nursery School, art instructor for the Learning to Look program, docent at the New Canaan Historical Society, board member of the Country Club of New Canaan and social committee co-head at the New Canaan Winter Club. In addition, she volunteered for many school activities and served as a room mother and team mom for her children.

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Kathryn’s most enjoyable times were spent with her family, especially her husband David and her three children Emily, Brian and Christopher. Her greatest happiness and pride came from watching them grow up as they did their schoolwork, played their sports and matured into adults. She considered one of her biggest successes to be teaching them the values, morals and principles with which she lived her life.

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As a enduring memorial to Kathryn’s belief in the importance of civics education, this scholarship is donated by the League of Women Voters of New Canaan to honor Kathryn and her years of service to the New Canaan community.