Katherine B. Potter

PORTLAND – Katherine B. Potter passed away peacefully in her sleep on Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, surrounded by friends and family singing her favorite songs, marking a gentle end to a long decline in health. She was 89.

Also known as “Kay” “Kate” and “Kirstie”, Katherine was born in London, the second daughter of Charles and Barbara (Schieffelin) Bosanquet. During WW2, she lived with family in New York and spent summers in Gouldsboro, but returned to the UK in 1943. She pursued her passion for art at the University of Durham, an interest that deeply influenced her personal and professional life. Her love of art filled not only the walls of her home and studio but also the pages, margins, and envelopes of her voluminous correspondence and provided the foundation of her work as a therapist.

In 1961, she married Roger D. Rossen and lived in New York and Bethesda, Md. before moving to Houston, Texas in 1967, where she raised her three sons, Adam, Chris, and Justin, and later earned a master’s degree in psychology. Her marriage to George Potter led her to Portland in 1986, where she joined the Portland Friends Meeting. Her involvement in the Quaker community was an important part of her life. She was on the founding board of the Friends School of Portland, reflecting her dedication to Quaker values of peace, simplicity, and community.

Her commitment to helping others extended to numerous community activities and organizations, notably her volunteer work with female prisoners through Alternatives to Violence Project (AVP) and with Hospice of Southern Maine. She had many interests, ranging from yoga, meditation, singing to boating and travel. She traveled widely around the U.S., Europe, India, China, Mexico, Turkey, Greece, and many places in between.

Beloved as a mother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend, Katherine encouraged those around her to embrace tolerance, creativity, independence, generosity, and an appreciation for the beauty of nature and art. She leaves behind her first husband, Roger D. Rossen; sons Chris and Justin; grandsons Mireu and Garam; daughters-in-law Cali and Heejung; siblings Deborah Mott-Trille, Clare Laughton, and Jay Bosanquet; stepsons Jay, George, and Charles Potter; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Her second husband, George Potter; and eldest son, Adam Rossen, predeceased her.

A Celebration of Life memorial will be held at The Friends School of Portland on Feb. 10, at 2 p.m.

If you would like to stay in touch with the family or attend her memorial, please contact: https://ChrisRossen.com/#contact; Or visit: https://KatePotter.TQF.org/

To honor her memory, please consider a donation to The Friends School of Portland, Maine