May 27, 1938 - April 21, 2020
Kathie Ramm, 81, passed away April 21 at Swedish Hospital in Seattle due to complications of diabetes. She was born in Bremerton, WA to John and Emmagrace Ramm and graduated from Bremerton High School in 1956. She went on to the University of Washington to major in music.
When Kathie was in 7th grade, the band teacher walked in to her Study Hall and told the class that the band needed a drummer. He asked if anyone was interested. Kathie’s hand shot up, as she was quite bored, and that was the beginning of her life-long career of professional percussionist and teacher.
She began lessons immediately in Bremerton and later, in her teen years, traveled to Seattle every Saturday to study with Randolph Baunton, principle percussionist of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra for many years. While at the UW, she was a member of the Husky Marching Band and traveled with them to Pasadena when the football team went to the Rose Bowl in 1960 and ’61. Marching in the Rose Parade was a highlight for her. When she was a senior, her accomplishments as a band member were so remarkable that the UW Band created an award for Outstanding Senior Band Member. Kathie was the first recipient of that award.
Kathie had a rich professional and teaching career. For many years, she played as an extra percussionist with the Seattle Symphony Orchestra and the Seattle Opera and Pacific Northwest Ballet Orchestras. She enjoyed her tour to Europe with the Symphony, played for many Wagner Ring cycles, Nutcrackers, and played at the Peter Britt Music Festival in Jacksonville, OR for many summers. During a time when there were many negative attitudes about women as percussionists, Kathie, being every bit as skilled as many of the top players of her generation, was one of the first women to break into this male-dominated field.
As she made her mark as a player, she had an even greater impact through her teaching. Seattle, in many ways, was for decades the epicenter of percussion study and performance on the West Coast. Kathie was the matriarch of percussion education not only in Seattle, but throughout the entire Northwest for over 50 years. Dozens of her students went on to study music in college and beyond. Many of them found professional careers, playing in major symphony orchestras around the world.
Kathie taught and played as long as she could. Many of her students became good friends, as she not only taught them how to play well, but about life and how to live it with passion, honesty, and good humor. And all of her students, wherever they went, used proper grammar because of her correction. In fact, as the paramedics were about to take her to the hospital, she corrected the grammar of the one who said, “How long have you laid here?” “Lain,” she said. At that moment, she didn’t know exactly what was happening, but she did know bad grammar when she heard it.
Kathie loved to laugh and have a good time, and she was always able to make those around her laugh. She was a unique person, larger than life, and if you met her, you would remember her. You knew her opinion about most things, from sports to fashion to food, and especially music. She enjoyed family get-togethers, was a great cook, had an artistic eye, loved to play games, do crossword puzzles, and followed the Seattle sports teams closely.
Kathie had a life-long faith. As she got older, it became more important and real to her. Her Bible has Post-It notes stuck all through it, marking passages that meant something to her. We know that, through her faith in Jesus, that she is with her Heavenly Father.
Kathie is survived by her 2 brothers, John (Patti) Ramm of Poulsbo, WA, Bob (Beth) Ramm of Bremerton, WA, and her sister Barbara (Rich) Jayne of Cle Elum, WA, nephews, nieces, and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, sister Virginia, and great niece Jenna Farley of Bremerton.
Remembrances in Kathie’s name may be made to MusiCares.
A celebration of Kathie’s life will be held at a later date when people can gather.