Kathryn Grady Stephanoff, 83, died August 8, 2012. She was the wife of the late Robert Stephanoff. Born in Boston, Mass., she was acknowledged and greatly admired as an outstanding community leader. In her role as the director of the Allentown Public Library, the library became one of the showcases for Pennsylvania libraries. She understood and profoundly believed in the importance of public libraries to cities and communities and worked tirelessly, eloquently and effectively to promote them and bring them to the attention of society. She understood how vital public libraries are to supplement schools in educating children.

As a community leader, she was chosen to be the first woman trustee of the Trexler Trust. She received numerous professional and civic awards.

Both DeSales University and Muhlenberg College awarded her honorary doctoral degrees.

She is survived by a daughter Sheila Benson; two grandchildren, Kathryn and Douglas; three sisters, Joan Goldstein of Framingham, Mass.; Sheila Leonard of Dedham, Mass. and Patricia Anderson of Sarasota, Fla.

Contributions may be made to the Allentown Public Library or DeSales University.

A memorial Mass will be held in the Cathedral of St. Catherine of Siena at a date to be announced.