Darien, CT – Katherine VanWagenen Sperry passed away on September 1, 2023. Kate was born on September 15, 1962 in New York City, NY. Daughter of the late Albert and Janet VanWagenen, she grew up in Rye, NY, where she attended Rye High School. She earned a BA from Trinity College as a member of the class of 1984 and an MBA from Harvard Business School in 1989. While attending Harvard, she met the love of her life, Bill, and the two were married in Rye, NY on November 23, 1991. Kate and Bill raised their three children, Kara, Megan and Billy in Darien.
While living in Darien and raising her children, Kate enjoyed running, including completing the New York City Marathon in under four hours in 2000, playing tennis, sharing her talent and love of cooking with family and friends and studying history. Kate was renowned for her sense of humor and her eye for style, particularly regarding fashion and interior design. Above all, Kate’s greatest joy was her family.
Kate is survived by her husband and three children, as well as her four siblings, Bert VanWagenen, Pam Sweret, Sue McIntosh and Liz Papile and her 17 nieces and nephews. A memorial service will be held on Thursday, September 14, 2023 at 11am at St. John Church located at 1986 Post Road, Darien, CT.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society.
