Finding love and adventure

Catherine (Kate) was the only daughter of Patricia Ann Caya and David Ivan Randolph. Kate was born in Boston, MA, on January 20, 1963. Kate’s eldest brother is David Jr, and her next-oldest brother is Thomas. Here’s a 2011 photo of the whole family gathered in Lake Tahoe, CA for Dave Jr’s wedding.

(L-R) Kate’s husband Jim Malapanes, Kate, David Jr’s wife Cheryl, Thomas, David Jr., David Sr., and Darlene Dougherty

Kate and Mom (Pat) attended…on and off…Our Lady of Consolation in Valley Station, and Kate was Baptized in 1975.

At the age of 5, she and her family moved to Valley Station, KY, where her father was stationed at Fort Knox. Here’s a Polaroid photo of a very young Kate, newly arrived in front of the house on Prairie Drive.

Kate entered the local advanced program in the second grade, attending Kerrick Elementary, and ultimately graduated from the advanced program at Pleasure Ridge Park High School in Louisville.

In 1987, while in Alaska on Air Force Active Duty, Kate met her soulmate and partner in adventure, James (Jim) N. Malapanes. They were married on January 26, 1992, during the Superbowl and after a morning of Ice Rescue training.

They joyously celebrated their 30th Anniversary, just before Jim died in 2022.

Kate and Jim were a team, and all of the great outdoors was their playing field. Kate even bagged herself some wild game from time to time.

They were volunteer firemen in every location they lived. Here’s a photo of Kate during firefighter training in Alaska, back when she was still on US Air Force active duty.

They were also active Lions and would frequently serve Thanksgiving dinner at the local Lions Club, or even mixing their passion for Search and Rescue with Lions Club activities.

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