Today we honor the memory of the matriarch of the Deltec family, Cathryn Kinser, who passed away at the age of 83.  The wife of founder Robert Kinser, Cathryn helped to build the legacy of Deltec Homes into what it is today. 

Cathryn nurtured a lifelong dedication to education and volunteerism.  Her many passions included her family, friends, church, and social impact work – with a special focus on parks and youth organizations. 

In summarizing her career, you’ll encounter the same words over and over – Chairwoman. Founding Member. Board Member. Director. She harnessed her entrepreneurial, strategic, and organizational skills to drive change and actively work to make the world around her a better place.

Her career highlights include membership on the NC State Parks Board, where her exemplary service led to her membership with the National Parks board.  She facilitated the early development of the French Broad River park system through her work with French Broad Foundations and was a founding member of RiverLink. Additionally, as a member of the Blue Ridge Parkway association she served as Chairwoman for the North Carolina Blue Ridge Parkway dedication in 1987.

Cathryn’s tireless volunteerism also encompassed extensive work in youth organizations where she drove immense impact on young lives. She was an Adult Advisor to the Asheville Buncombe County Youth Council, a Boy Scout Troop leader, and served on the board of directors of the YWCA.

A long-term member of Grace Baptist Church, Cathryn created and managed the church media center for five decades, ran the after school tutoring program and actively trained other churches on library and media center creation.

At her core, Cathryn was a passionate change-maker and community builder who worked tirelessly to share her knowledge and enrich the lives of those around her.  Cathryn’s warmth, vibrancy and passion for living life to its fullest will be missed by all of us at Deltec Homes.

So much of Cathryn’s ethos is embedded into Deltec Homes. So, while she might have left us, we know that her caring for people, her commitment to nature, and her desire to make the world better for this and future generations—will be carried forth by us in what we do every day.