Her life’s work reflected a deep commitment to compassion and understanding. Katherine built her academic foundation with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and gender and sexuality studies from New York University in 2006, followed by a master’s degree in social work from University of Southern California in 2010.
Education wasn’t just a credential for her—it was a tool. She used it to support real people facing real struggles, choosing paths centered on care, empathy, and access to support.
Beyond her formal training, Katherine lent her voice and time to mental health advocacy, including efforts connected to Bring Change 2 Mind. The organization’s mission—reducing stigma and opening honest conversations about mental health, especially among young people—aligned with the values Katherine lived by. Her work focused on creating safer spaces where vulnerability could exist without judgment.
A quiet presence in a public world
While she came from a well-known family, Katherine chose privacy over spotlight. She appeared only occasionally at public events alongside her father—premieres, theater gatherings, and the Vanity Fair Oscar Party—but never sought attention for herself. Friends described her as grounded, thoughtful, and deeply present with the people around her.
Katherine Short (L) and Martin Short attend Vanity Fair\’s 17th annual Oscars party at the Sunset Tower Hotel. (Photo by Donato Sardella/WWD/Penske Media via Getty Images)
Her passing adds another layer of heartbreak for a family already shaped by loss. Years earlier, the family endured the death of Dolman after a long illness, a period her father later described as profoundly difficult. In reflections shared publicly, he noted how loss often feels abstract—until it becomes personal, reshaping life in ways no one expects.
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