In Memory Of
Kathleen Monfort
October 1, 1951 — September 2, 2023
Below is the post as it appeared on this website when Kathleen was chosen as “Tapper In the Spotlight” earlier this year. We will all miss her very much.
Kathleen joined the Young @ Heart Tappers in 2019 and is one of the most active group members. Not only is she taking 6 classes a week (2 exercise classes, 3 tap classes, and our new ballet class), she is always eager to perform with the group and join us on our “field trips” to see musicals throughout the area, and of course all our parties. So everyone in the program knows Kathleen, but since she is pretty quiet in class, you may not know that much about her. Please read her bio below to learn more about Kathleen.
I was born in Los Angeles, California at the French Hospital in Chinatown. My mother was Norwegian, and my father was Chinese. I have one younger sister, Alice.
I have many fond memories of growing up as a child in Los Angeles. My parents didn’t drive so we took public transportation everywhere – the local bus, the Greyhound, streetcar, and the Red Car. My favorite though was riding the Angel’s Flight downtown. My Dad was a bartender at the Biltmore Hotel (for 25 years and never drank!) We took the bus downtown to pick up his paycheck, then went grocery shopping at the Grand Central Market, it was always quite the adventure. My parents separated when I was about 10, but we still went to Chinatown in Los Angeles to visit Dad almost every weekend.
I had dance lessons when I was in Grammar & Jr. High School – fun combo classes which included tap, ballet, and Hawaiian dance classes. I know we did have recitals; I don’t really remember them. But I once organized my own backyard recital (I typed a paper program listing the dance routines and the dancer’s names) recruiting my uncle as the MC, my sister, cousins, and friends to join in and participate in dance routines. The audience was our neighborhood friends and family members.
I attended Benjamin Franklin High School in Highland Park, and I was a member of the Drill Team and Cheer Team. I didn’t really play any sports. I was married very young and had two children, a girl and a boy. I started working when my son was 2 months old at an Orange Julius, then at Der Wienerschnitzel as an assistant manager. I worked for a stock brokerage firm for about 8 years, and then I worked for an attorney’s office as a bookkeeper for 25 years until they closed (the owner died, and we ended up with no benefits!)
While I was unemployed for about a year, I received my GED and studied Business and Human Resources at Mt. SAC. My last job was at Cal Poly Pomona University Foundation where I retired as an Accounts Receivable Specialist after 13 ½ years.
We moved from Los Angeles to Azusa in 1980, then to San Dimas in 1985. My husband & I separated at the end of 1990. I stayed in San Dimas, until 2011 when I moved to Upland.
I’m very close to my children and grandchildren. My daughter lives in La Verne, has twin adult daughters, both college graduates. My son lives in Upland, has an adult daughter also with a college degree and a son, who is a senior at Damien High School. I am very proud of all of them! Also, my son’s daughter has two little boys, so I am a Great Grammie!
As an adult, my daughter and sister joined me in taking Tappercize and Tap classes at the Arcadia Community Center. One of the teachers has her own group of senior dancers called Pam Kay and The Tap Chicks. Pam teaches at the Pasadena Senior Center. I have watched them perform, and I believe we are much better! My daughter and I also took Tap classes at the San Dimas Community Center for several years.
When I retired in 2019, I started tap classes at the Upland Senior Center and I’m so glad I did! It is challenging at times, but a lot of fun, especially the recitals, the gatherings and parties!
I enjoy spending time with my dog (Daisy), family and friends, going to musicals, theater, Disneyland, traveling and tap dancing of course!
I truly enjoy being part of such a wonderful group of ladies with the best teacher ever – the Young at Heart Tappers.
Thank you, Suellen, for your patience and for keeping me moving!
Kathleen M. Monfort, Aspiring Tap Dancer
Rest in peace, Kathleen!
Young At Heart Tappers 