Karen Jean
Marcdante
Memorial Visitation
Saturday, February 17th, from 2-4pm at Heritage Funeral Homes (16880 W. National Ave. New Berlin)
Memorial Service
Saturday, February 17th, starting at 4pm at Heritage Funeral Homes (16880 W. National Ave. New Berlin)
Karen Jean Marcdante
(nee Kohn)
Age 68, of Greendale, WI passed away Wednesday, February 7, 2024. Karen is survived by her loving husband Anthony Marcdante, sisters Beth (late Anthony DiFrances) Kohn, Barbara Kohn, Kathryn (late Orlando) Monfreda, Claudia (late Clement) Helminiak and Judith (Thomas) Beimel. She leaves several nieces and nephews, Amanda (Jeff) Laden, Beth (Ryan) Haffenbredl, Christopher Monfreda, Adam Kohn, and Devin Kohn (godson). She leaves great-nieces and nephews Steven and Heather Dabrowski, and Andon, Alyssa, Breelynn and Harper Monfreda, and Melaina and Elliana Santiago-Dabrowski. She is preceded in death by her parents, Willard and Beth (Maule) Kohn.
Karen was a graduate of Menomonee Falls East High School, attended Marquette University and graduated from the Medical College of Wisconsin in 1980 as a Doctor of Medicine. She continued her education and began her career as a Resident in Pediatrics in Milwaukee. Her outstanding clinical and leadership skills led to her appointment as Chief Resident in Pediatrics at Children’s Hospital. She sought further training in the premier program at the University of California San Fransisco Medical Center and at the world-renowned UCSF Cardiovascular Research Institute for the research component of her followship training, which she finished in 1987. She then returned to the Children’s Hospital in Milwaukee to work in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) and joined the faculty at the Medical College of Wisconsin to continue her academic career.
Because she was such a natural leader, and because she was able to develop and articulate a vision for how clinical care should happen, she was on a myriad of Hospital and Medical School committees concerning care delivery, physician training, and evaluation. She served as Chair of the Children’s Hospital Medical Executive committee, President of the hospital Medical Dental staff, Chair of the Credentials Committee as well as serving as Chief of many clinical enterprises.
Her role as advisor to clinical programs extended to national organizations including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Society of Critical Care Medicine. Her leadership was recognized nationally by the Society of Critical Care Medicine and at the Medical College of Wisconsin (MCW) with the MCW Distinguished Service Award.
Karen was also a committed educator, participating in and leading multiple educational activities in the Division of Critical Care, the Department of Pediatrics and the MCW more broadly. She was the Vice-Dean for education and maintained multiple roles on multiple educational projects throughout her tenure at MCW. She received many awards for her teaching from students and residents at MCW. She received multiple awards from multiple national organizations for her innovations and research in medical education. While she often presented at national medical conferences, a more accurate reflection of the power of her ideas about innovative approaches to medical education is suggested by the long list of invited presentations; people all over the country wanted to know what she thought about solving problems in medical education.
Karen was an amazing physician, a great educator (both as teacher and researcher), and a powerful leader. She had great intellectual capacity, extensive training, boundless energy, a strong drive to succeed and superior emotional intelligence.
She was humble and never flaunted her professional stature or positions. Many people were unaware of her stature within the field of Pediatrics and Medical School education. She would introduce herself as “Karen”.
Karen loved her family deeply. They meant the world to her. She was extraordinarily generous and selfless. She provided housing for family trips which were attended by sisters and their husbands, nieces, nephews and great-nieces and nephews. Wonderful memories for multiple generations were created during these times. At the time of her passing, she was weeks away on closing on two homes that were designed to allow multiple family members to peacefully coexist in what was to be “Marcdante Manor” (also known as the “Kohn Compound”). It was her desire to have her family close and always protected.
Karen fought a 20 -year valiant battle with metastatic breast cancer. She beat the odds multiple times and worked more than full time until she retired in the Summer of 2023. She did not like being retired and continued working until her last few days on this earth.
Family will receive friends Saturday February 17, 2024 from 2:00 PM through 4:00 PM, with a memorial service to begin at 4:00PM, at Heritage Funeral Home – New Berlin located at 16880 W. National Avenue, New Berlin. Family welcomes the sharing of tributes and memories after the memorial service.
Karen cared deeply about the health and well-being of all, but particularly of medical students. Prior to her death, she established a fund to assist medical students facing food anxiety. She was deeply concerned that medical students would not be successful in their education if they were food anxious. She additionally encouraged their continuing education and wished to help fund non-reimbursable travel expenses for travel to educational seminars throughout the country.
If desired, friends may make memorial contributions to the Karen Marcdante-Project # 3309864 through the MCW Giving website (https://www.mcw.edu/giving). Please cite “Karen Marcdante-Project # 3309864” in the boxes labeled “Other” and “Special Instructions”. You may cite “Karen Marcdante, MD” in the box labeled “Make My Gift a Tribute”. Donations will be used to supplement dietary needs of medical students and to assist in the funding of travel-related expenses educational seminars and conferences. Additional instructions for making a contribution to the Karen Marcdante-Project #3309864 will be available at the memorial service.
So very sorry to hear of the passing of Karen. Condolences to the Kohn family for your loss.
Karen’s love and selflessness extended far across borders. Despite her uphill battle, she found time to mentor a small group of physicians in my small country of Belize. We will forever be grateful for her inspiration and guidance. Our deepest sympathy goes to her family.
Please accept my deepest condolences on the passing of our dear mentor, teacher and friend,Karen. May her gentle soul rest in perfect peace.. She left an indelible mark on our collective psyche here in Belize. Gone but not forgotten, she shall be remembered by what she has done. Good night, Karen.
Dr. Marcdante, I am speechless typing this. I will never forget the admiration and respect you effortlessly obtained from so many (including myself). May you be at peace. -Nidra, RN
What a legend! Dr Marcdante was so foundational to our education/training and always made the PICU a little brighter. May her memory be a blessing to everyone she touched.
Dr.. Marcdante was a true advocate for all. She was an excellence clinician and educator, a trusted advisor and truly a gift to all who knew her. I am a better physician for having her in my life. My deepest sympathy to her family.
Dr. Marcdante’s patience, kindness, and wisdom will continue to inspire through all the students, residents, colleagues she has taught and mentored over the years. She led by example and always found a way to bring out the best in others.
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My heart goes out to the family at this most difficult time.
I have many memories of Dr. Marcdante’s kindness and support while working with her at MCW. She was a great confidant and a caring friend. She would frequently stop at my desk to add to the “button artwork” a tradition that she started (see photo for example) that would ensue as we would have great conversations, and many laughs. She did love her lemon tootsie rolls!!! She is already greatly missed, and I will have great memories of her always.
My deepest sympathies….
I could sit and listen to Karen talk for hours. She always had the most interesting facts of the conversation at hand. She was the reason I was in the Medical Education department. She seen something in me, no one else did. She truly was a pleasure to be around and will be greatly missed.
I was fortunate to work with Dr. Marcdante for a bit at the Medical College of Wisconsin. about 4-5 years ago. As her obituary states, she was indeed humble and kind. It was clear she loved her work and was passionate to see things succeed, whether it be programs, students, residents or her faculty colleagues. I am saddened to learn of her death but feel fortunate that our paths crossed. May she be at peace. Sending thoughts of comfort to her family at this difficult time.
My deepest condolences to Karen’s family. Her passion for education and patient care was evident every day.
Deepest condolences to the family and loved ones. I had a brief encounter with Dr. Marcdante while interpreting for a family whose child was in the PICU a few years ago. It left me with a lasting impression of her compassion, patience, and humility which have been an inspiration to me. May she rest in peace.
My most sincerely condolences go to Dr. Marcdante’s relatives. It takes a spark to burn a heated land. That spark that Dr. Marcdante left within us (a group of physicians who work in the ER, for almost 20 years, at the Karl Heusner Memorial Hospital Authority in the country of Belize, C.A) is burning while instilling within ourselves the need to learn eagerly and serve selflessly to the people who needed most in the country of Belize and elsewhere. May the Lord keep Dr. Marcdante in eternal peace. Blessing to Dr. Marcdante’s family members.
I am so sorry this world lost such a kind soul.
Karen and I worked together at MCW and shared many laughs, sprinkled with some colorful venting sessions. I was lucky enough to be invited to help her pick out her first wig when her hair loss started. It could have been a very depressing visit, and I must admit I felt nervous. But we both tried on several wigs, and I almost had her talked into a very Farrah Faucett blond look. Of course, she ended up with one very similar to her own style because she “didn’t want to scare her patients.”. The owner of the store said it was her best experience with a customer and she was happy there was laughter. Even in those situations Karen could find the fun.
I loved her smile, her explosive laugh, and her ability to nudge you farther then you thought possible. We were planning to get together when she “managed the side effects of this drug”. I wish we wouldn’t have waited.
We are deeply saddened by the loss of our colleague and friend! Karen always stepped up to help everyone but especially in the PICU. There was no task or barrier that Karen would shy away from when taking care of critically ill children. We have lost an incredible role model for everyone in the task of providing complex medical care. We miss her!
I am very saddened for the loss of such a valued and beloved member of our MCW community. My deepest condolences go to Karen’s friends and family. She will be greatly missed.
Karen was an examplar, role model, and humanitarian extraordinaire. The world has lost someone who made it a better place. Condolences to her family, friends, and community.
Karen was an amazing human being and such a delight to work with — she was one of my most special mentors. My prayers and thoughts are with her family, friends and community. Love, Alyssa Stephany
Saddened by the loss of such an amazing mentor, role model, educator and human! Karen’s legacy will live on in the lives of all those she impacted. Condolences to all who loved her.
Simply a wonderful and caring person. I worked with Karen for many years at MCW. She always had a smile, always willing to do more for someone else, particularly the students. You will be greatly missed but you have a left a little piece of yourself with every person you touched. My sincerest condolences to her family.
+Truly a leader, mentor and peer! My prayers and support are with her family!
Just heard. Rest in peace Karen Kohn.