Karen K. Field, 73, of Bel Air, MD, passed away peacefully surrounded by loving family at University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, MD on Friday, May 10 following a brave battle with cancer. Born September 30,1950 on Tachikawa AFB, Japan to Col. (Ret.) Harvey and Gwen Kennedy, Karen spent her youth in Arlington, VA, attending Washington-Lee High School and Radford University. Ultimately settling in suburban, MD, she raised two sons with her first husband, the late Thomas “Holly” Garber, wherein she had successful careers with the Justice Department under former Attorney-General Griffin Bell in the 1970’s and early 1980’s and later managed the offices of painting contractor Myers-Christiansen (1986-1999). After the loss of husband Holly to cancer in 1996, love and joy found Karen once again, and she married Greg Field in 1999, gaining three loving step-children and re-settling in Annapolis until Greg’s passing in 2019. Following the untimely loss of a husband for the second time, Karen spent her remaining years in Bel Air, MD in close proximity to her family which includes several grandchildren and her beloved “Granddog” Charlie.
Lovingly remembered as a woman of profound intellect, Karen possessed an unquenchable thirst for knowledge and untiring sense of adventure. She was confidently at ease in any setting and able to converse on any number of topics, from current events both local and global, to social movements, to all things academic. She courageously spoke her truth even if it wasn’t the status quo. With an innate moral compass, Karen remained ever humble, kind, generous, thoughtful, and always seeking to do the “right” thing. Hence, Karen was a delight to all who had the pleasure of her company. She was quick to make friends and, moreover, faithfully committed to keeping them. Above all, Karen’s greatest joy and love was that of her family which misses her inexpressibly.
Karen was preceded in death by her father, Harvey, and mother, Gwen, and two husbands, Thomas “Holly” Garber and Greg Field. She is survived by brother Harvey (Maggie) Kennedy of Simpsonville, SC, sister Leslie Kennedy of Valencia, CA, her sons: Ted (Rachel) Garber of Leesburg, VA and Kennedy (Samantha) Garber of Bel Air, MD, her three step-children: Lindsey (Rob) Frazer of Landenberg, PA, Jeffrey (Katie) Field of Springfield, PA, Casey Field of Ypsilanti, MI, and her nine beloved grandchildren Robbie, Ali, Riley, Evan, Reagan, Sydney, Delaney, Eliza, and Quinn.
In lieu of flowers, gifts and contributions may be sent in memory of Karen to The American Cancer Society, which remained her favorite charity.
