On Friday, January 6, 2023, Beth Ann Danon, 68, died in the arms of her sister, Mary, and best friend, Kate Mulgrew, succumbing to a recurrence of endometrial cancer. Beth lived the last few months of her life first in the warm and welcoming home of her dear friends Susan Sussman and Scudder Parker, and then with her sister, Mary Kehoe, brother-in-law, Jeff Johnson, and niece Libby Dysart. In her last days, she was lovingly cared for by Kate, her best friend of 50 years.
Beth was born in Chicago on May 31, 1954, to William Kehoe and Joan Smith. As a young girl, Beth led her four siblings on endless exciting escapades throughout their North Side Chicago neighborhood, sneaking into hotel lobbies (Marlborough House), climbing on city statutes (Alexander Hamilton), swimming in the conservatory fountain (not allowed), and hunting for wounded turtles, birds and ducks in Lincoln Park (brought them all home). One of her favorite activities was forming clubs with the sole purpose of setting admission requirements she knew her little sister could not fulfill (like riding a bike down a long flight of stairs).
Beth began high school in Mamaroneck, N.Y., after her family moved there in 1967 so her mother could pursue her doctorate at New York University. In January 1969, while in high school, Beth led a group of activists to Washington, D.C., to participate in a nation-wide anti-war demonstration. Thus began Beth’s lifelong pursuit of justice.
Beth finished high school in Hanover, N.H., and immediately returned to New York. Beth started college at NYU in 1972 and finished at Hunter College in 1984. In the interim, she had a lot of fun, waiting tables in some of the classic folk and jazz clubs of Greenwich Village. Living in New York City enabled Beth to indulge her love of opera at the highest level. Beth went on to CUNY School of Law at Queens College, graduating in 1987. During law school, Beth provided legal services to victims of domestic violence. After graduation, she moved to Vermont to be close to her family, where she lovingly assumed the role of a third parent-figure to Mary’s children, Peter and Libby.
Beth began her legal career as a law clerk to Vermont Supreme Court justice Frank G. Mahady. After completion of her clerkship, she began practicing law as a plaintiff’s attorney. She was a partner at three law firms, most recently at Kohn Rath Law in Hinesburg, and at one time worked as interim director and staff attorney for Vermont Protection & Advocacy. In her 35 years of practice, Beth accepted cases simply because her client needed help. She was never interested in making money. She was only interested in helping people and was drawn to those most in need. Beth was a fierce advocate and highly successful attorney with the highest of ethical standards. One of her many victories included winning equal health care benefits for same-sex partners of University of Vermont faculty and staff, well before such rights became universal.
Practicing law was not enough to fulfill her ardent need to pursue justice. Beth was an early board member, and then president, of Vermont CARES. She served as president of the Vermont Bar Foundation and the Vermont Association for Justice. She was a long-standing member of the American Civil Liberties Union of Vermont. Her work with these organizations is evidence of Beth’s devotion to maintaining a fair and just Vermont community.
Beth was the least judgmental person anyone could hope to know. She always had time to listen to her friends’ and family’s problems and woes for as long as necessary, often providing profound and helpful insight. She was reliable and willing to help at the drop of a hat. She found great joy in her Birdland community in North Hero, making connections that were deep and dear. Hers was a life well lived.
Though Beth had no children of her own, she was a devoted aunt to her 10 nieces and nephews. But no remembrance would be complete without mention of her adorable dog, Lilly. Her constant and dear companion for over 19 years, Lilly passed away in April 2022, leaving Beth bereft for some time.
Beth is survived by her sister, Mary Kehoe, and her husband, Jeff Johnson, of Shelburne, Vt.; her brother Bill Kehoe and his wife, Kerstin Cmok, of Belmont, Mass.; her brother John Kehoe and his wife, Marina Kehoe, of Statesville, N.C.; and her brother Michael Smith Welch and his wife, Ami Yamasaki, of Tokyo, Japan. She is also survived by her stepfather, U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, and his wife, Margaret Cheney. Her surviving nieces and nephews are Peter (wife Raechel) and Libby Dysart; Lucas and Liam Cmok Kehoe; Leo and Eji Conger; Max Kehoe; Whitney Johnson; Kasey Murray (husband Osa Imadojemu); and Blake (wife Emily) and Steven Murray. She is also survived by her great-nephew, Cassius Dysart, and great-nieces, Sosey Dysart and Theodora Imadojemu.
Our family wishes to extend special thanks to Beth’s friends, too numerous to name, who supported her throughout her last months of life. We are also grateful for the support of UVM Home Health & Hospice; nurse Judy Johnson, whose help was both indispensable and kind; and Beth’s primary care provider, Dr. Susan Weinstein, and oncologist, Dr. Elise Everett.
A service to celebrate Beth’s life will be held on Saturday, January 21, 2023, 4 p.m., at the First Unitarian Universalist Church, 152 Pearl St., Burlington, VT.
Should anyone wish to honor Beth’s life with a gift, in addition to holding her memory close to heart, we suggest a donation to either the Vermont Bar Foundation or the Humane Society of Chittenden County.
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This article appears in Jan 11-17, 2023.
Beth was one of the kindest people I have been honored to know. She helped me during some very difficult times and I will be eternally grateful to her. I am so very saddened to hear of her passing. I extend my deepest condolences and a wish for peace and comfort to Beth’s friends and family. I am so terribly sorry. Laura Gans
Beth embodied the best qualities of a good friend. She was kind, honest, supportive and thoughtful. Her sense of humor was one of her very best attributes, as was her Irish proclivity for telling a good story. She was naturally optimistic, though the political shenanigans of the 45th president shook the foundation of her faith that there was good to be found in all people. I will miss her greatly, and I will not be alone in that regardnot by a long shot. To know Beth was to love her.
Dee Steffan
Beth was one of the kindest and most generous people I have known. She was generous with her time and considerable expertise, many times giving me advice and insight. Beth was an inspirational human. I’m so sad. My heart goes out to her family and friends.
Beth was my very good friend in elementary school at Alcott. We spent many days together that I will cherish forever. My heart goes out to Mary, Bill, John and the rest of her family. Beth was always my “moral compass” even though we did some pretty daredevil stunts as kids. Will miss her smile and sense of humor. She will be missed and was one of the kindest human beings I’ve had the honor to have known.
Beth was a wonderful human being. She was a mentor to me as she encouraged me to apply for leadership at Disability Rights Vermont (formerly Vermont Protection & Advocacy) and guided me through my first challenging months. Over the years when I needed someone caring, smart, worldly, intelligent and who could maintain good humor through tough times, it was to Beth I turned. Her passing is heartbreaking.
Beth was such a genuine wonderful soul and i am so grateful we crossed path. I will miss her so dearly.
Sending her family whom she absolutely adored, my most sincere condolences. Condolences to her friends whom loved her so much, too.
I am sure Tiger Lilly is now beside you.
Love you, Beth.
Marie (Montreal)
Beth was a wonderful human and a compassionate lawyer.
Its hard to be a compassionate lawyer in private practice, as the economics pressures of the practice push lawyers hard to evaluate cases in financial terms, even if they would rather not. Beth always seemed to find a way to be helpful to clients in need.
We were fellow members of an informal group of lawyers who represented employees in employment disputes, and Beth was generous in our efforts to learn all we could about our practice area and to pass on what we knew to younger lawyers
We shared our common love for our dogs. When my dog, Baxter, passed away, Beth knew how much it hurt and was so kind in consoling me. My current dog, Sophie, and I, enjoyed a walk in the park with Beth and her beloved Lily, not long before Lily’s death. Beth knew the end was near for Lily, and I could see how hard that was for her.
I will miss my friendship with Beth. Clients who need her help will miss her deeply.
She left us far too soon.
Rich Cassidy
I am saddened to hear of Beth’s passing. She was my attorney for two cases with my RN license. You would think I was her only client. She had a way of making me feel like it. She was a special soul, and we always had a connection above the case, as she cared about the person, not just the problem. I am so grateful to have met her. I hope her family finds some peace in these words.
I knew Beth as one of my sister’s best friends from Carolyn’s first jobs out of U VM with Vermont Legal Aid. Ever since then I have felt if Beth was a “chosen family member” whose compasionate legal and political work as well as love her devotion to her dog, Lily, and the outdoors were some of the best stories I heard about my sister’s life in Northern New England. Beth’s joining our family in Hawaii for Carolyn and Derik’s wedding was a great part of that special gathering me and my wife. Her willingness to drive 4 hours to snorkel in Oahu’s unique flooded crater made me put that on my bucket list. I know everyone whose life was touched by Beth will miss her. Her memory will certainly always be a blessing.
Her memory is a blessing for anyone Beth’s life touched.
Truly, a remarkable person, a remarkable human who fought for justice and equality. I had the pleasure and honor of knowing her and Lily. Beth got me out of a few little “messes” without ever thinking of herself. She was a true humanitarian. We bonded over our love for our canine kids, and our love of both Vermont and our alma mater, NYU.
I will miss our heart-to-heart, talks and sharing a meal together. Your laughter truly lit up the world.
I light a candle for you, Beth. Thank you for your generosity of spirit, and your ever so gentle and unsolicited kindness. You leave a hole in so many hearts. May the good Lord wrap you and Lily in His loving arms for all eternity.
Law Zabriskie of Greenwich Village, and central Vermont.