Kate Dubridge is an Office Administrator with the County Clerk/Register of Deeds Office and is also recognized as one of the Quality Service Employees of the 4th Quarter of 2022. Kate’s high-quality service has made a meaningful impact on the external customers of Kent County.
The individual who nominated Kate wrote:
“I’d like to say how much I appreciated the unique help Kate has offered me in a genealogical search. My project has been years long and stemmed from the murder of my great-grandmother, who was shot to death in 1902 in Grand Rapids. Because of my contact with Kate this story has become more of a family story than a murder story. In 1992 after my father’s death, a cousin gave me the Dutch names and birth/death dates of the three brothers in my family who had emigrated to America. My great-grandmother became the wife of one of these brothers and the murder victim of a second. The identification of these brothers, their wives and children, I believe came from her bible. I have the bible, but someone removed that page. Kate worked in collaboration with me, accounting for the information I have accumulated over these years and being thoughtful about county document inconsistencies, until substantiated details emerged. This inclusive approach went above any expectations I had for sorting and verifying individual lives via these documents. She offered referral to other Michigan county clerk offices, one of which led me to an archive at Western Michigan University, revealing a divorce decree drastic in its personal nature. Another murky area for me, not having grown up in a church of Dutch origins, was what appeared to be doctrinal divisions between these earlier generations. Kate offered a contact person in the Christian Reformed Church, who gave much clarification to my questions. This topic may have played a part in her death.
Thank You again for the opportunity to relate my experience with Kate. I look forward to future contacts with her, and the clerk’s office, as I continue to write about this small but significant time in my history.”
About Kate
Number of Years Employed by Kent County: 14 years
The hardest thing I’ve ever done: Starting over in 2020 in so many aspects, but I have proven to myself time and time again, I am more than capable of anything!
Three people (living or dead) I’d invite to dinner: My deceased grandpa, Anthony Bourdain, and my boyfriend so he could meet both those people too!
You’d be surprised to learn that: I love to bake – I am always trying new recipes and projects to bring in and share with my department and others.
The thing that I like most about working for Kent County: The people – I have made so many friends out of co-workers and colleagues, plus a pension doesn’t hurt .😊
Please join us in congratulating Kory and Kate for earning Kent County’s Employee Recognition for Quality Service Awards.
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