In Memoriam | Artha Freya Kass

||| FROM DEE HEIN |||

Artha Freya Kass (nee Artha Freya Schwartz) died peacefully in a beautiful hospice house following cardiac arrest on November 27, 2024, at the age of 84, with her daughter Julie by her side.

Artha was the firstborn child of Jerome and Yetta Schwartz, soon followed by her younger brother Alan. She was born in Schenectady, in upstate New York and her family moved to Kew Gardens, Queens, in New York City when she was three years old. Because her father was a member of the communist party, Artha’s childhood and early girlhood were marked by an atmosphere of unease.

In contrast, while they weren’t a family of great means, Artha’s father set high priority to live music and theater, and Artha would recall fondly the world-class performances she got to experience. Artha’s dad’s passion for politics and the arts greatly influenced her life.

Artha attended Queens College for her undergraduate education, then Fordham University, graduating with an MS degree in Social Work before marrying playwright and screenwriter Jerome Kass. After a vibrant time circling in the world of New York theater and film, Artha and Jerry moved to Los Angeles where they adopted their two children, Julie and Adam. Eventually they divorced and Artha became a single parent. She began her long career in the arts; working as an executive on the television series, “The Second Family Tree”, then as Director of Operations and Executive Director for the Jewish Television Network, where she launched programs ranging from news to cultural documentaries. After this, Artha worked as Executive Director for the Galef Institute, a non profit that helps schools enhance their goals for students.

Artha then went to work as Executive Director at TreePeople, one of the largest environmental movements in Southern California. All of this work held great meaning and purpose for Artha.

Once her kids were grown, at 56 Artha courageously moved by herself to remote Orcas Island in Washington State, where she would spend the rest of her life. Knowing no one, Artha set about establishing home and community. She purchased the home she loved and lived in during most of her time on Orcas, where she enjoyed her 4 acres of cedar, pine and fir trees, where deer would wander through and her favorite alstroemeria flowers grew abundantly in her garden. Artha quickly found ways to be engaged in the community, working as concierge at Cascade Harbor Inn where she took great joy in sharing the beauty of Orcas with tourists. It wasn’t long before she was working in the arts again, at Orcas Center for the Arts, as Front House Manager. This was a true passion of Artha’s: she cared so deeply about community theatre, and bringing quality performances to the island community.

When reflecting on who Artha was to so many, she was love, support, guide, mentor, a true friend who was always there for you. She was clear in her opinions and didn’t hold back in letting you know them; she felt strongly about and was engaged in island politics. Artha was whip-sharp, passionate, sassy, funny, engaging. A few of her most favorite and informative adventures were her trip to Israel with her life-long friend Elio, her horseback riding and camping trip at 50 in the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana with her friend Mimi, and her two summers spent on a small fishing boat, exploring the wild beauty of Alaska.

Artha’s great joys in the last years of her life were her close friends, her beloved cat, witnessing her children finding love and healthy living, the treasured little girls she was Nanna to, Domino and Nova, volunteering for Island Rides and the library, watching basketball- both pro and the local high school teams, and of course, seeing live music and theater. In Artha’s later years, she took another courageous journey, a journey of spirit. She studied Buddhism with her Friday Zazen group, and explored her spiritual curiosities through books, wise council, and inner reflection, which brought great calm, understanding and resolution to her life.

Artha was active, smart, engaged, dynamic right up to the end. And her heart was full. When asked how she was feeling shortly before she passed, she replied “Loved.”

“Yehi zichra baruch”; May her memory be a blessing.

Artha is survived by her brother Alan Darcey of LaConner,WA, her daughter Julie Kass of Seattle,WA, her son Adam Kass of Elsinore, CA, her two grandchildren-by-love Domino and Nova Matisse Duke of Orcas, WA, and her beloved kitty Tanjie.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Orcas Center on Saturday, January 18th at 2pm. In lieu of flowers, donations made to the Orcas Center or Island Rides in Artha’s name would make her smile.