WESTFIELD – Kathleen Elizabeth MacLean, 71, (1951 – 2023) died peacefully at home on April 14, 2023 with her husband and daughters by her side. Kathy was born on September 22, 1951 to the late Ronald and Ethel (Dawson) MacLean in Worcester MA. She grew up in Auburn MA and graduated from Auburn High School. Her higher education at Westfield State University brought her to the area, and she made Westfield her home for over 50 years. She went on to receive her Master’s in Business Administration from WNEC.
Kathy was devoted to the Westfield community and will be deeply missed by so many she educated and influenced there. She was a hardworking and innovative educator to Westfield Public School students for over 40 years. After teaching in elementary and middle school levels, she was Assistant Principal at Smith Avenue and Southampton Road Schools, and then Principal at Southampton Road School until her retirement. Her legacy has endured at those schools, and she touched many lives. Her commitment to her community and service brought her to the YMCA of Greater Westfield, where she served on the board, and was highly involved in Westfield YMCA Swimming from 1985-2009. She was also committed to the Central Baptist Church community, where she served on the Board. For many years she researched grant funding, organized fund raisers, and brought cutting edge resources to these (and other) organizations so her community could fully benefit from their services. Kathy had a deep creative spirit and her artistic skills exceeded professional levels. Throughout her life, she taught herself how to use every medium imaginable to restore historic homes, build furniture, and create beautiful living spaces. She taught night classes at Westfield Vocational Technical School and Holyoke Creative Arts Center, teaching others how to do what she taught herself. Her resourcefulness was evident in the connections she made in her community, acquiring furniture to restore, or goods to donate to organizations. After her retirement, she learned how to master the art of intricate Nantucket basket weaving, creating studio art with pencil, oils and acrylics, and commissioning pieces for the community and holding local shows in studios. She also taught at the Holyoke Creative Arts Center, and deeply enjoyed the connections she made there.
Kathy brought love and laughter to her family and friends. She enjoyed traveling and exploring new places, and her tranquility was found in a lakeside cottage she restored on Stiles Reservoir in Spencer, MA.
She will be deeply missed by her loving husband of 47 years Vincent Placzek of Westfield, her daughters Hilary Placzek and her husband Noah Hart of San Francisco, CA and Hannah Placzek and her husband Joe Romito-Carey of Southwick, her granddaughter Zofia Hart, her brothers John and Richard MacLean, and many nieces, nephews and extended family.
Her care is entrusted to Southwick Forastiere Funeral & Cremation, and her services will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in Kathy’s name to the YMCA of Greater Westfield, 67 Court St., Westfield MA, 01085 or Central Baptist Church of Westfield, P.O. Box 95, Westfield MA, 01085. To leave an online condolence visit www.forastiere.com.
