Katherine Ulrike Annette Rudolph-Larrea, PhD.

David K. Casey published a tribute .

I met Dr. Rudolph-Larrea—Katherine—later in my undergraduate career. I didn’t think I would enjoy learning about the history of philosophy, so I put it off as long as possible. How wrong I was. Katherine’s seminars quickly became precious few hours of my week. She never lectured to us, never sat before the class rehearsing the previous night’s reading. Rather, she sat around the table with us, letting the conversation go where it may, at times jumping in to elucidate the occasional obscure passage or to nudge us toward an idea when she sensed we were on the brink of understanding. What always amazed me was the sheer expanse of her knowledge—not only of philosophy but of history, art, literature, culture. Though she spoke softly, her words commanded attention, lest you miss out on some careful insight. And her warmth was unlimited; it was hard to be uncomfortable in her presence. She readily and regularly invited us, her students, into her home to relax, to break bread, to indulge in the community and conversation she knew our curious minds craved. I will never forget the way she simply listened: with a pleasant smile, with earnest intent, and always in equal measure as she spoke. To embody such presence of mind is the goal of a lifetime for many, and one reached by very few.
- David K. Casey

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Jean-Jacques Larrea published a tribute .

It is with great sadness that I have to announce the sudden passing of my beloved wife and best friend Katherine Rudolph-Larrea, known professionally as Katherine Rudolph. May she finally rest in peace.

While we and she knew she had a terminal cancer, the end came so quickly and abruptly that we were in complete shock, with no time to prepare, to say goodbye, to contact friends and family outside the innermost circle. Fortunately at the end she was surrounded with love and support from me, our daughter Zoe-Anna (who flew in from the USA on a few hours notice), and her mom Karin.

Katherine was always a fighter, never accepting the conventional wisdom or status quo, despite having suffered a number of significant health issues. Of course we all know that Multiple Sclerosis was a scourge which over a decade progressively chipped away at her mobility, and introduced chronic pain and discomfort and fatigue into her life. Katherine endured treatment after treatment until she found one that successfully halted the disease progression, but at that point she could no longer walk or stand. Still throughout it all she continued to teach, to write, to visit museums and galleries, to take seaside vacations with her family, to prevail.

When she was diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2020 she also continued to teach and be active (as much as possible as a vulnerable person under pandemic), despite receiving chemotherapy preceding two surgeries. Our expectation was that with this treatment she would prevail against the cancer as her mom did 30 years earlier.

But in a cruel sequence of events, her cancer went metastatic in 2021. From that moment no localized treatment would be given. But with a systemic oral medication it appeared to be under control, and with the pandemic then less raging it was possible to do our typical relocation to Vienna for the summer, where Katherine could see friends and family on this side of the pond.

In another cruel break, she was then diagnosed with a rare and generally fatal form of breast cancer, inflammatory BC. Fortunately she was in the hands of one of the best breast oncologists in Austria, and within a few days she was receiving a brand new protocol of immunotherapy with chemotherapy, straight out of clinical trials which showed it had the best chance of prolonging life and in a few cases even granting remission. We obviously hoped she would be one of the lucky few, and through January that appeared to be the case since she had a dramatic response surprising even her doctor.

But the treatment itself started causing a variety of setbacks: She came down with a chronic sinus infection that persisted for months; it spread to her eyes and caused vision loss which impacted her ability to read and write; and other ailments due to the immunosuppressive and membrane-damaging effects. These made her miserable and worse, introduced treatment delays which likely are responsible for how suddenly it stopped working and, unbeknownst to us, allowed the cancer to aggressively proliferate.

The end result is that she entered the hospital on Monday April 25 for what was to be a routine chemo session assuming imaging and blood tests confirmed she was in shape. When I left the hospital that evening she seemed relatively fine, and she breezily texted friends that her doctor would not let her out on Tuesday in time that we could have dinner with them. But it turned out the imaging was very bad, with her lungs full of nodules, and by the next day she was already in a dire battle with the sepsis which would take her life. On Wednesday she could no longer speak, on Thursday her mom arrived from Berlin and Zoe got on a plane in Boston, Friday we all sat in vigil hoping the antibiotics could pull her back from sepsis long enough to at least say goodbye, to no avail. Zoe and I spent the night holding her hand, and the next morning she quietly and peacefully stopped breathing.

Karin lost her daughter, Zoe her mom, and you and we all lost a brilliant, vibrant, stubborn, often irritatingly correct, dynamic, indefatigable, friend — who loved you all.

– J.J. Larrea, 7 May 2022

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Kristin Lyng published a tribute .

Dear Katherine,
We met in Dar-es-Salaam when we were 11 years old. You were my first friend in Africa, and it was a great friendship.
During the black-out in New York, when we were 14 years old, we had to climb all the stairs up to your apartment on the 43. floor.
Later you visited me in Oslo and the Lofoten Islands.
It is painful to learn that you are not here anymore.
My deepest condolences to your husband, Jean- Jacques and your daughter Zoe-Anna, and you parents Karin and Wolfgang.
Your friend, Kristin

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Jean-Jacques Larrea published a tribute .

Today 26 October 2022 is Katherine's birthday, the first I and we will celebrate without her being present. She would have turned 59 had cancer not cut her out of the land of the living, among us, and pasted her into the land of memory, apart but far from forgotten.

As her family members all know, Birthdays always were a big deal for Katherine. While most of us at some point begin focusing mainly on the "big" divisible-by-5 birthdays and let the in-between ones slide with only minor recognition, Katherine retained a childlike desire for each one to have special activities planned, special celebrants present, and special presents. And cake. I would be dishonest if I didn't admit here that the need to please in this regard was often an irritating burden, sometimes a conflict.

But now I sorely miss arranging those activities, celebrants, and presents, and the feeling of how happy it made her when everything worked out. And then Zoe never failed to hand-craft a lovely card to top it all off. How can this 26 October be a "normal" day, without all that, and Katherine's ensuing smiles?

She loved to give as well as receive, on Christmas as well as birthdays, and in her later years was often terribly lavish in her gifting. It could be quite irritating to be the recipient of what seemed inappropriate largesse. But in retrospect I see better how it was her way of expressing without speaking the gratitude she felt towards those who loved her and stuck with her despite all the difficulties doing so; I dearly wish I had been more accepting and less judgmental at her "crazy" excess. Thank you, Katherine, for these objects still on my wrist, in the kitchen, in my closet, on the wall in front of me, which daily bring your memory to my mind's eye.

I would have liked to have arranged a Zoom birthday party, like I did in 2020 when Katherine's cancer was in its earlier stage and losing her hair from chemo seemed like a big deal (losing life to the disease really puts that in perspective). But today it is too soon, the grief too raw, the stack of still-undone tasks too high, and I am all tapped out -- I just don't have the strength in me. Noting that this day in 2023 will be a major event, her "Big Six Oh", for that I promise special activities, special celebrants (as many of you reading this as possible), and special presents. And cake. And Zoe promised a card.

In the meantime, Happy Birthday, darling. Miss you.

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Judith Butler published a tribute .

I remember Katherine as brilliant and kind and I was very proud to mentor her at Johns Hopkins University. She brought philosophy to life as a linguistic form, and she had an understated way of being spectacular. I send my heartfelt condolences to her family and friends.

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Eileen M published a tribute .

I’m saddened to hear of Katherine’s passing. Having had the pleasure of being a student of hers, I remember her as a unique, immensely brilliant mind. She had a wealth of knowledge on many subjects, and her own insights were full of depth and never lacked in originality. Her mind left an imprint on me. I’ll won’t forget her light smile and laughter. She will be missed dearly. Her family and loved ones are in my thoughts.

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Zachary Phinney published a tribute .

I was thinking wow I never got to say goodbye to my English Teacher from my freshman year of highschool she also died; and my history teacher from my junior year of high school died . So I would like to say goodbye here because it is the only way. Life is so fragile I think we should all cherish our relationships here because they could be gone in an instant!

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Felipe Ferreras published a tribute .

When I think of Katherine, I think of the conversations we would have on a variety of topics. It didn’t matter what it was - Katherine could contribute, analyze, and respond to any event. I was in awe of her intellectual ability. I wish I had became friends with her sooner than 2018 (the Rudolph-Larrea’s lived across the street from my family’s home in Providence, RI!) to enrich my life more with her knowledge to share. I won’t forget the first time we connected - she noticed a copy of Descartes’ ‘Discours’ in my car…and I’m sure you can imagine the rest. After that, it was dinners in East Greenwich, RI, cocktails in her garden, or fun airport trips to JFK . My beloved friend. You will be so missed.

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Wolfgang Schaar published a tribute .

Lieber J.J., liebe Zoe, liebe Karin!
Unser herzliches Beileid.
Katherine war so tapfer mit all den Schwierigkeiten, die sie hatte.
Sie kämpfte und war voller Lebensgeist. Eine starke Frau.
In Liebe Wolfgang und Luis

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Judith Huemer published a tribute .

Dear J.J., Zoe and Karin,
I'm sending you a blue sky for Katherine from my Blue Sky Monument collection. I think she likes it. Katherine was full of energy, open minded, interested in many things, with a big and wide horizon, she loved strong colors and a clear focus, many aspects symbolized in Blue Sky Monument.
For Katherine Blue Sky by Judith Huemer

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Carla Lobmier published a tribute .

A post script to my previous message. Evidence of my happiness for your marriage. All these years my place card from your wedding has remained in a drawer in a small cabinet I inherited from my great grandmother. xx

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Carla Lobmier published a tribute .

Dear J.J. and Zoe, I am awash with memories of times spent with you and Katherine. Perhaps, not together as frequently as one would wish, but always memorable, lively and marked by fun when being together could happen. This photograph was taken Halloween 2010, when you and Katherine joined Chris and I at a friend's party in Bushwick. There was dancing! Katherine was not dancing at this party, but dancing is an activity I associate with our times together. Dancing at the Brooklyn loft! Conversations were always smart, thoughtful and thought-filled; respectful in the exchanges. For all the smart talk, there was always time to give a good dress attention and dote on fashion as a topic worthy of analysis. I hold dear the memory of those times! J.J., your written chronicle of Katherine's last months speaks to her strength. Her stamina was thoroughly tested, but in true good Scorpio form, she soldiered on with scrappiness, intelligence and wit. My bountiful admiration for these qualities, as well as for Katherine's integrity. She was filled with kindness and love towards those she knew. Conversely, Katherine felt your love and kindness all throughout her life. You honored one another. Chris and I share in your grief and send our love and condolences to you both. Katherine is in our hearts and in our heads(!) and her memory will remain so. A line from a Mark Doty poem titled "Beach Roses." "And we talk as if death were a line to be crossed. Look at them, the white roses. Tell me where they end." Katherine did not simply visit this world. She lived with curiosity in pursuit of beauty. Carla and Chris

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Kelly Oliver published a tribute .

Katherine and I were colleagues at StonyBrook... and friends. We team-taught courses together too. Katherine was brilliant, sharp, witty, clever, and funny. She had an incredible light and passion. She was always smiling and laughing and ready for life.
We were amused that students got us confused. We both had blonde hair and the same haircut and I guess to students, their professors all looked alike.
She had a playful spirit and teased me relentlessly for drinking milk, especially chocolate milk, during the breaks in our seminar.
I was always in awe of Katherine, even a little intimidated at times, I have to admit... even though we were close. She was elegant, beautiful, cultured, worldly, and so smart and articulate whereas I was raised by wolves in the woods of Montana.
I couldn't believe it when Katherine was diagnosed with MS. She was always so strong and exuded health. Even more astounding was the way she met the disease head-on and never lost her strength, grace, and force.
I last saw Katherine in Vienna maybe six years ago. She was just as vibrant and elegant as ever, a presence in a crowd. And she still had that playful side I loved.
You are missed dear Katherine.

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Lucia & Sophia published a tribute .

Dear JJ, Zoe and Karin! Thank you for your wonderful words about Katherine and her life. She was a dear friend and we cherish fond memories of her and your family and of lovely joint holidays and great social and cultural events. Katherine was a remarkable woman and to all of us an inspiration how a difficult and challenging situation can be nevertheless a motivation to embrace life fully in the light of love. She will always be with us in spirit and remembered for her strength and perseverance. Lots of love, Lucia & Sophia

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Iris Klein published a tribute .

It was 1996 or 1997 perhaps. New York City was still relatively new to me although I had not lived in Europe for over a decade at that point. I went to an event, some film event, connected to the former Austrian Cultural Institute. I don’t remember who the film director was, but I do remember that on that evening I met Katherine for the first time. She was a beautiful woman, stylish, elegant, graceful, sharp, and super smart. She was German born, I Austrian so besides English we also could switch language at leisure if we felt like. I am not an intellectual per se as she was, but we connected with an ease, talking about “god and the world – or nothing and everything” as a saying goes. Film, art, literature, society, all was game. And she was passionate and so was I. It so happened that I had a large loft in Brooklyn and Katherine was teaching at Rhode Island but loved to be out and about in New York City. It did not take long that she came to stay with me on some weekends and we started to paint the city on and off red together. Our friendship deepened and she became a very important person in my life. She was so interesting to talk to and made me feel comfortable to express myself. I worked as a cultural administrator but was a conceptual photographer – at that time still struggling to get my work out – and Katherine became an earnest, thoughtful and ardent supporter of my work. She was very interested in concepts of femininity, and she wrote beautiful essays about my art and even initiated a big exhibition. She was an excellent critic and art lover, a gifted writer and thinker and really a beautiful friend. She kept on insisting for me to go out (I was certainly more shy than she was) and I will never forget one evening when we went to some event on the USS Intrepid and we came across a rather famous downtown artist. He seemed to be open to an encounter with her, there was quite a bit of flirting going on. However, at that time she had just met JJ, her future husband, and unbeknownst to him, but very known to me, she had fallen in love with JJ as soon as she had seen him. It was incredible. I could not believe it at first – after all we were brainy women. But she felt that he was the one and no other. And so it came to be. A year or a year and a half later they were married. Kismet. The wedding chic and later mask themed like Kubrick’s “the eyes wide shut”. Katherine so fashionably cool, she had such great style. JJ and her went on honey moon and soon Zoe was joining them in their lives. Sadly just a few short years years after Zoe was born, Katherine was diagnosed with MS. What a fate! This vibrant busy active woman suddenly squashed with a doom of such brutality. And yet - as JJ describes so touchingly in his tribute - Katherine became a warrior and fought – fought with everything she had. Her diligence, perseverance in intense research and seeking out so many doctors, all over the world, not just the US, to find treatments that would help her stop the cruelness of this disease – the loss of control of her body. It was hard, so hard to watch. I went with her to a few treatments, was there for a little while, but then life and circumstances made me leave her. My life brought me to the West Coast and we lost touch. Katherine continued to fight and with some success halted the progress to a degree. Not soon enough by any means. She lost the ability to walk and stand when I saw her a few years later with Zoe, and Zoe overheard us talk about some of our adventures, it dawned on me that Zoe seemed surprised and I realized she did not have much of a memory of her mother walking and dancing and moving any way she wanted. The graceful slender hipster intellectual. The super cool gorgeous cultured cerebral woman. Katherine luckily never lost her intellectual strength, her beauty as a person that manifested itself in her curiosity and her appreciation of life and its finer sides. Her eyes that one got lost in. Her chiseled face, her little smile that was so big nevertheless.

But Katherine did lose a lot, had to fight hard to learn to survive amidst this physical assaults, and to learn now that she had to meet cancer of such devastating nature after fate had given her such a bad hand of health already makes me very sad. I am so grateful that she was in my life, that we shared so much with each other. She made an unforgettable mark in my life and I am thankful for her importance for me. It is impossible to forget her. Rest well dear Katherine. We will miss you. Indeed.

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Russell Potter published a tribute .

Such sad news. I knew Katherine best through our work in RIC's M.A. program in Media Studies, of which she was a founding faculty member. The entire program bore her imprint, and its students benefitted so greatly from her teaching and guidance over many years. Her lively, questioning spirit will be missed by all of us.

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Janelle Freiman published a tribute .

My respected, revered professor and Thesis advisor. I hold a deep place of respect and awe. If only I could have had the opportunity to communicate one more time to tell her the mark she left in my world. Inspiration hardly says it. Gone too soon

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George Dauda published a tribute .

My favorite professor of all during my undergraduate studies. She was the one who first taught me that asking questions can bring serenity if you'd want them to. And that we are all more silly and humorous than we'd like to believe! A beautiful warrior in the truest sense. Rest easy <3

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