Kaitlyn (Kate) Marie Vasconcellos
June 27, 1990 - May 5, 2015
Kate Vasconcellos died suddenly at St. Andrews University in Scotland on May 5, 2015. She was 24.
Kate is survived by her parents, Linda and Guy Vasconcellos of Rocklin, Calif.; sister, Brooke; brother, Craig; as well as boyfriend, Jonathan Jonas; grandmother, Dolores McCall; and 25 aunts, uncles and cousins.
We lost the light of our lives, our firstborn Kate, on May 5.
Kate was the daughter of Linda (formerly from Maxwell, Calif.) and Guy Vasconcellos (formerly from Clearlake, Calif.).
She made her entry into the world on June 27, 1990, in Fair Oaks, Calif.
When she was 4 years old her family relocated to Bridgewater, New Jersey. Nine years later they returned to the Sacramento area, opening a printing and marketing business in Roseville. The family has made their home in Rocklin since 2002.
Kate's passion was musical theater. It was a lifelong interest she developed at an early age. During high school she was in every Whitney High School theater production, and was the school's first drama club president. She also was active in community theater and directed and choreographed several children's theater productions.
She graduated from Whitney High School in 2009, going on to attend the University of Southern California's theater program.
Always adventurous, Kate decided to study economics at St. Andrews University, transferring there in 2010.
At St. Andrews University, Kate was a member of the Gilbert and Sullivan Society. She also is remembered as the lone heterosexual to serve on the board of the university's LGBT Society.
Last summer she had the opportunity to combine her passion for musical theater with her economics studies through an internship at the Sacramento Musical Theatre Co. This summer she was looking forward to putting her newly minted economics degree to work with interviews set up in the Sacramento area.
Kate was one of a select group of graduates to be awarded the St. Andrews Student’s Association Honorary Life Membership in recognition of her outstanding contributions to student life at the university. She had learned she was receiving this award shortly before her passing.
Kate was soon to complete her studies for an honors degree in economics from Scotland's St. Andrews University. Family and friends were planning to attend her graduation next month.
In late March Kate became seriously ill with an infection and spent several days in intensive care at Dundee's Ninewells Hospital. She had surgery and was treated with antibiotics.
Linda and Kate's boyfriend, Jonathan, flew out to be with her. Her recovery progressed and she was released from the hospital in early April.
Kate presented herself to the local St. Andrews Hospital two days before her death with the same symptoms that had landed her in the hospital in March.
She was given antibiotics and sent back to her dorm. As far as we know, this was the last time anyone saw her. There were no vital signs when she was discovered in her room on the morning of May 5.
Her cause of death is connected to an infection and surgery complications she had several weeks prior.
A funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, May 29, at Shepherd of the Sierra Presbyterian Church, 5400 Barton Road, Loomis, Calif.
A “Seize the Day” celebration of life ceremony will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 30, at Whitney High School Theatre, 701 Wildcat Blvd, Rocklin, Calif. This ceremony will be available via live feed for out-of-town friends. Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you would like to have the link sent to you.
In lieu of flowers a scholarship fund is being established: The Kate Vasconcellos Memorial Scholarship Fund, 1322 Blue Oaks, Blvd. Suite 100, Roseville, CA 95678.
