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May 15, 1986 — Dec. 20, 2012
Katie Osterday was born in Placerville, Calif., on May 15, 1986. For the past seven years she resided in San Diego, Calif., most recently in La Jolla, where she was a Doctoral Candidate and outstanding researcher in the Aeronautical and Mechanical Engineering department of the University of California, San Diego.
Katie was a member of a talented and prestigious network of scientists that spanned the world’s top universities, from Harvard and Princeton to the University of Beijing, and she was often invited by those scientists to share the techniques she was developing. The new methods developed by Katie for exploring and understanding the interactions between particles within living cells are currently used by those same researchers to understand how our cells perform functions, such as fighting off infections.
Most people who met Katie, however, would never have thought of her as a scientist. Beyond her passion for research, she had an infectious love for life that defied peoples’ perceptions of what a scientist was supposed to be. She surfed and performed yoga daily. She was an avid photographer. If she found a topic interesting she would learn everything about it. If she found a hobby fun she would pursue it to perfection. She was a philosopher and a dreamer, and while she lived, she shared her passions with those she loved, enriching all of our lives.
Her bravery and passion knew no bounds. She hiked the Grand Canyon, rode horses on her parent’s ranch, surfed the shores of Bali with her beloved boyfriend, paraglided over the sea-side cliffs of San Diego dressed as a super hero, skydived … these were only a few of the things that Katie enjoyed doing. She set an example for living that is matched by few and envied by most.
Katie is survived by her parents, Rosi and Kelly Osterday; her sister, Avalon; her brother, Sean; her boyfriend, Clayton Claiborn; her grandparents; and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and friends.
Friends and family of Katie will gather on Saturday, Jan. 5, at 1 p.m., at the Chapel of the Pines in her hometown of Placerville to celebrate and remember her life. To leave your condolences and or to contribute to her memorial fund please visit facebook.com/RemeberingKatieOsterday. In lieu of flowers the family is requesting people donate to a memorial fund through El Dorado Savings bank, savings account No. 29001537.
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AlklJanuary 09, 2013 - 12:47 am
Amazing woman
kinjalJanuary 09, 2013 - 2:28 pm
Katie was indeed an amazing spark of life and all its possibilities. Prayer & Blessings to her, wherever she is now.