Kathy Strickler

“What I find amazing is you’re never doing anything alone,” says Kathy Straley Strickler about her experiences in Tri Kappa. “If you just suggest something, there are 10 people willing to help you.

“This is the only organization I’ve ever been involved with that you don’t have to hunt help.”

Kathy was active in the Junior League in Dayton, Ohio, for 12 years. When she moved to Bloomington in 2008, she was looking for some way to give back to the community. Soon after, Judy Hoke asked her to join the Alpha chapter.

“I thought that I would like to see how Tri Kappa runs,” Kathy says.

Kathy enjoys her association with Tri Kappa, especially meeting new people.

“During the meetings, I love to sit where I don’t know people very much,” Kathy says. “That’s such a great way to get to know everyone.”

Raised in Rochester, the Tippecanoe Valley High School graduate studied radiology at the Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis. That’s where she met her husband, Steve, now a retired radiologist. They were married 16 years before they added their son, Trevor, to their family. Most of their married life was spent in Dayton.

Kathy and Steve share a love of gardening. After his retirement, they looked into raising giant pumpkins. Their famous gourds have been featured in the Bloomington Herald-Times and donated to fun enterprises such as the Indianapolis Zoo and Lark’s Ranch.

Gardening is also what makes Kathy love the Flowers Committee.

“ I like to help load the truck and see the greenhouse,” Kathy laughs. “I enjoy working with Heather Johnson and the other women.”

Kathy says her 10-year pledge to Tri Kappa is flying by.

“When I first joined, I thought 10 years seemed like so long,” she says. “But it will probably be the fastest 10 years I will ever serve anywhere!”

   More About Kathy:

• Adores candy

• Ran a marathon while pregnant

• Her biggest pumpkin weighted in at 1,493 pounds

• Loves creating fiber arts

• Can do minor home repairs herself!