Kate Copeland – Inspirational Namesake of the Copeland Center

The Copeland Center for Wellness and Recovery is named in  honor of, and dedicated to, the memory of Kathryn Strouse Copeland (1912-1994).  Kate was a remarkable woman–smart, warm, energetic, and vivacious. In 1949 her life circumstances overwhelmed her and she spent the next 8 years of her life in an asylum.  Her family was told she was incurably insane.  Through all her years in that horrific place, Kate never gave up hope that she would someday leave that facility and regain her life.  Recognizing her own need to talk with others, she began gathering patients together in small groups to share their experiences.  The hospital administration became uncomfortable with these meeting (the first peer support) and Kate was discharged at the age of 45.  Kate went on from there to get a highly coveted job as nutritionist in an inner city high school.  She worked there successfully for over 20 years.  And the numbers of kids taking hot lunch increased dramatically.  She went on to have a rich and rewarding retirement, filled with the love of family and friends.  At a time when recovery was touted as being impossible, she recovered.  And she led the way for all the rest of us.