Kay Peaslee

From Cvillepedia

Catherine "Kay" Peaslee was a Charlottesville journalist and political activist. She founded The Charlottesville Observer, the area's first weekly newspaper in the modern era in 1978 alongside her husband.^[1]

Biography

Peaslee attended Miami University, graduating in 1944. She was already active in politics there, meeting her husband in the school's political club. She earned a master's from George Washington University in 1963 and taught at several colleges, including George Mason University, Dalhousie University, and National Taiwan University.

She came to Charlottesville at age 50 to attend the UVA School of Law after leaving the Foreign Service over discontent with President Richard Nixon. After years of community involvement, Peaslee moved in 2010 to Indianapolis to be with family. She died there in 2012.^[1]

Community Involvement

Peaslee was quite active in the Charlottesville community. She was among the founders of the Venable Neighborhood Association and the Federation of Neighborhood Associations. She also worked toward the eventual nixing of the notorious UVA party "Easters."

After founding The Charlottesville Observer in 1978, Peaslee and her husband Sandy Peaslee owned and wrote for the paper. They sold the paper in 1988, but Peaslee continued to write for the new owners.

After selling the paper, Peaslee continued her activity in the community, serving on boards for nonprofit organizations like the United Way and Planned Parenthood. She remained a political activist and "yellow dog" Democrat throughout her life. Her husband ran an unsuccessful 1990 race for U.S. Congress in Virginia's 7th District, losing to D. French Slaughter (R). She also was a force behind the 1996 effort to revert Charlottesville to a town.^[1]

Peaselee was named by the Women's Forum as its woman of the year in 1980. ^[2] She recveived the same award in 1995 from the local chapter of the National Organization for Women.^[3]

References

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} Web. Remembering a local journalism pioneer, Bryan McKenzie, Daily Progress, World Media Enterprises, January 13, 2012, retrieved January 18, 2012. Print. January 14, 2012 page A2.
2. ↑ Web. This Day in Charlottesville History, City of Charlottesville, retrieved April 18, 2012.
3. ↑ Web. Observer founder Kay Peaslee has died, Hawes Spencer, The Hook, Better Publications LLC, January 14, 2012, retrieved January 23, 2012. Print. January 19, 2012 , 1103,  page 19.