Catherine Kuo Remembered: 'Local Superhero,' Loving Mom And Wife

DUBLIN, CA — Dublin's Emerald Glen Park was aglow with candles Sunday night as residents paid tribute to Catherine Kuo, a beloved Dublin Unified School District trustee, wife, mother of two and volunteer acclaimed by loved ones as a "local superhero."

Saratoga native Kuo, 48, was remembered for her commitment to her faith and family and for paving the way for local students — especially girls and students of color — to access better opportunities. She lived in Dublin with her husband for more than two decades and was exalted as a role model for local Asian American and Pacific Islander students.

Kuo died last week of injuries from a car crash. She was struck while volunteering in a food distribution event at Fallon Middle School.

Read more: Dublin Mourns School District Trustee Killed In Campus Crash

Dublin residents came together to mourn the loss of Kuo at a socially distanced event at the park. Speakers included her friends; her husband, William Kuo; her father, the Rev. Frank Choe; her sister, Anita Lee; DUSD Superintendent Daniel Moirao; and DUSD board President Dan Cherrier.

Tributes to Kuo's life and legacy continued online, where a virtual memorial was set up in her honor. And on the online fundraising platform GoFundMe, donors raised more than $90,000 to benefit her family.

A beautiful tribute in remembrance of a precious light to our community, Catherine Kuo. Rest In Peace pic.twitter.com/liFF5PTyJb
— Vanessa Thomas (@VanessaThomas13) March 29, 2021

Kuo's sister-in-law, Helen Kuo, remembered her as having a knack for entertaining as the bubbly counterpart to her quiet husband. "She was the epitome of a good mother, and I would look to her actions as a parenting guide," she said. "She loved, loved her children, and they loved, loved her so much."

Friends remembered her as a skilled violinist who could also jam with her Christian rock band. She was pretty close to perfect, even in her youth, a childhood friend wrote. Several friends remembered her as the cool girl who sang and played bass guitar at public performances.

Kuo was a cancer survivor and a humble, encouraging, cheerful woman with a passion for making Dublin better and encouraging those whom she held close, friends said. Her zest for life was contagious, loved ones wrote.

Kuo was the kind of woman who seemed to brighten the days of everyone she encountered, from acquaintances to classmates and dear friends. "The heavens are shining a little brighter," classmate Michael Au wrote.

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