A woman from upstate New York, known for her warmth and spirit, was among the “supermoms” tragically lost in a California avalanche last week.
Kate Petrone Morse, 45, was a devoted mother of three who originally hailed from the small town of Averill Park in Rensselaer County. She later relocated to the West Coast for her career as a pharmaceutical executive, according to reports from The Albany Times Union.
Morse was one of nine skiers who lost their lives on February 17 when an avalanche struck near Castle Peak in the Sierra Nevada mountains while she was enjoying a skiing trip with five friends.
“She was always a beautiful and caring friend, just so much fun to be around,” recalled her longtime friend Kelly Sheldon. “Growing up in a small town, she really lived life to the fullest. She’ll always hold a special place in the hearts of those who knew her.”
Having graduated from Averill Park High School in 1999 and attended Williams College in Massachusetts, Morse went on to earn her MBA from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, the newspaper noted.
She eventually settled in the San Francisco Bay Area, where she became Vice President of Commercial Strategy for Septema Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology firm based in California.
The company described Morse as “a force of bright light and unforgettable energy.” They emphasized her dedication as a wife and mother, noting how she often brought her kids to the office, serving as a role model for compassion within the team.
On what was intended to be a dream skiing trip, Morse found herself in one of California’s deadliest avalanches.
According to officials, nine out of the 15 skiers in that group lost their lives in the tragedy.
The avalanche, occurring near Lake Tahoe, has been identified as the most lethal in modern California history, as reported by authorities.
In a heartfelt statement, Morse’s family expressed their deep sorrow, saying, “We are devastated beyond words. Our primary focus now is to support the children through this tremendous tragedy and to honor the lives of these remarkable women.”
“All of them were mothers, wives, and friends, united by their love for the outdoors,” they added. “They were passionate, skilled skiers who cherished their time spent together in the mountains, living in the Bay Area and Truckee-Tahoe, Idaho region.”
Morse, a former Girl Scout whose mother served as a school nurse, maintained close ties to her home state, returning regularly for the annual Taborton Christmas party, a tradition with her high school friends.
“As a mother myself, I can’t even begin to imagine what it’s like for her father, who has faced such loss,” said high school friend Angela Labombarde. “We all knew her in Averill Park; she was always smart and destined to do great things.”
In July, a group of childhood friends had gathered for a concert by the jam band Phish at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center, a cherished memory now held even more dearly.
