Kathleen Dougherty

Kathleen Ann (Sweeney) Dougherty passed away on September 7, 2026, at the age of 83. Her sister, Maureen, was with her when she suddenly died in her assisted living apartment at Charlestown Senior Living Community. She had Parkinson’s Disease for years as well as many other ailments.

Kathleen, one of nine children, was the eldest daughter of Joseph and Mary (Kelly) Sweeney of Relay, Maryland. She was a 1961 graduate of Trinity Preparatory School in Ilchester and graduated from the University of Maryland in 1965 with a degree in microbiology. After graduation, she worked for the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) conducting scientific research in Beltsville. Kathleen switched careers after many years and was a technical information specialist with the USDA’s National Agricultural Library (NAL) where she worked until she retired in 2004.

After retirement, Kathleen volunteered her expertise to the NAL Special Collections unit where she organized and cataloged publications of botanical and horticultural interest for the U.S. National Arboretum, and most notably, cataloged the NAL Smokey Bear collection of original artwork, publications and memorabilia, making much of that historic material accessible to the public for the first time.

Kathleen was active with many of the Parkinson's groups in the Maryland and DC areas, serving in leadership and fundraising efforts. She participated in studies at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Parkinson’s Research Center and upon her death, donated her brain to researchers looking at the genetic origins of the disease.

Kathleen is survived by her siblings Dennis Sweeney (Gerry), Daniel Sweeney, Paul Sweeney (Kathy), Sharon Keech (Tom), Charles Sweeney (Dianna) and Maureen Sweeney Smith (Rick), her thirteen nephews and nieces, her extended family, her Charlestown family, and many friends. She was predeceased by two brothers, John Sweeney and Joseph Sweeney, and her sister-in-law Brenda Sweeney. She was previously married to Edward Dougherty.

A celebration of Kathleen's life will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2026 at 11 am at the Charlestown Refectory, 715 Maiden Choice Lane, Catonsville, MD 21228. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to The Parkinson's Foundation of the National Capital Area, 3570 Olney Laytonsville Rd #490, Olney, MD 20830.