Submitted by Karen Amoia Milano
(May 22, 2026) — Each year the Killingworth Lions recognize a local individual with their “Citizen Of The Year” award, highlighting community members who demonstrate exceptional service with contributions such as volunteerism, leadership and philanthropy. Nominees are selected based on their positive influence in our town and the award itself aims to inspire others to engage in community service.
This year the Killingworth Lions have selected Kathleen Amoia, who was honored at the Lions “Night Of Giving” event recently held in the pavilion at Parmelee Farm. For more than twenty-five years Kathleen has served our community in many ways. She served on the Board of Directors of the Killingworth Library Association and was a longtime volunteer at the front desk. She continues to run the monthly Tuesday Book Discussion Group, expanding horizons with a wide range of material. She served on the board of the Killingworth Community Foundation and its successor, the Killingworth Community Fund at Community Foundation of Middlesex County. You may recognize her as having worked election polls for many years and she’s been a member of the Killingworth Democratic Town Committee for decades, including many terms as Secretary. She was the author of Meet Your Neighbor articles, popular in the local news publication, The Killingworth Krier. These articles highlighted many businesses, volunteers, politicians and interesting residents. In a town with scant news outlets, her contributions were vital. Kathy is an active member of the Beechwood Community, speaking up for fellow residents regarding things like fair rent, helping to keep them informed and involved.
Says Cathy Iino, former First Selectwoman, “Kathy doesn’t ever seek the spotlight, but she has enriched the town in many distinctive ways. What runs through all of her forms of service is her commitment to encouraging lively, engaged civil discourse, something we sorely need in these times.”
Her daughter, Karen Milano, reports that her generous spirit was evident long before she moved to Killingworth to be close to her family and she raised her two daughters to be independent and civic minded as well. As a teacher on Staten Island, she collected clothes and other items for families in need and was a volunteer with several local organizations there, including Sailors Snug Harbor.
Longtime Killingworth resident and former Selectman in our community Jamie Young said, “Kathy has served as a quiet, selfless mentor to many women throughout our town and has calmly, rightly and astutely called on officials and volunteers alike to be better, kinder, and more engaged to good effect. She does the hard work behind the scenes helping others to do more and be better. Her work on the Killingworth Fund Committee helped provide the solid foundation of that organization, which has in turn impacted many more lives and encouraged others to do the same.”
Photos provided by Killingworth Lions. Above, Killingworth First Selectman Eric Couture presents Board of Selectmen proclamation to Kathleen Amoia.
