IN LOVING MEMORY OF KIMBERLY L CATES (MARCH 6, 1967 TO OCTOBER 4, 2009)

Kimberly Cates

We, the comrades of Unit 1012: The VFFDP, will always remember Kimberly Cates who died on this date, October 4, 2009. We care for all victims, regardless of race and country. We offer our utmost sympathy and condolences to the loved ones of Denise. We will remember how she lived on this earth and not how she died. We encourage all to donate money to the Kimberly Cates Memorial Scholarship Fund. 

Please go to this previous blog post to learn more about the case.

To remember how she lived on this earth and show support for the family, we will present two articles from David Cates, her husband:

INTERNET SOURCE: http://www.wmur.com/news/nearly-5-years-later-cates-family-reflects-on-how-far-theyve-come/27941596

Nearly 5 years later, Cates family reflects on how far they've come

Scholarship in mother's honor helps students

UPDATED 6:32 PM EDT Sep 08, 2014

MONT VERNON, N.H. —Nearly five years ago, Kimberly Cates and her daughter were sleeping in their Mont Vernon home when four men broke in, attacking them with knives and a machete.

Click to watch News 9's coverage.

Kim Cates died, and her daughter, Jaimie Cates, survived.

Jaimie and her father, Dave Cates, spoke with News 9's Amy Coveno about what life is like now.

Jaimie Cates is now a junior at Souhegan High School. On a recent day at Amherst Country Club, she seemed happy and relaxed as she talked about looking forward to prom this year.

She was 11 when she and her mother were attacked on Oct. 4, 2009. She and her father still live in their home on Trow Road.

"I think we're doing fine," Dave Cates said. "You know, she busts my chops a lot. I bust hers. We're doing fine."

"I have my license," Jaimie Cates said. "I play field hockey currently. I'm going to be doing lacrosse in the spring, along with GSE, which is another league I do in the winter. Not sure if I'm going to be doing ice hockey."

On Oct. 3, the annual Kim Cates Scholarship Golf Tourney will tee off at the Amherst Country Club. The tournament, now in its fourth year, shifts the focus back to Kimberly Cates and her growing legacy through the scholarship fund.

"We've done well so far," Dave Cates said. "With the help of the community, we've been able to raise over $200,000 so far, which is really big over close to four years."

Funds raised at the scramble-style tourney determine how many scholarships are made available. This year, 25 students are being supported. Many send thank-you letters with updates from college.

"As much as they don't know Kim and have never met her, it's nice being able to continue the compassion and carrying on the legacy," said Sharon Soucy, co-founder of the Kim Cates Scholarship Foundation.

Dave and Jaimie Cates have a dog now, a king shepherd named Dutch -- 115 pounds of highly trained protection. The pair said they are a family surrounded by a tight network of friends, continuing to live life five years on from tragedy.

INTERNET SOURCE: http://www.wmur.com/news/full-letter-from-david-cates-to-news-9s-amy-coveno/28375588

Full letter from David Cates to News 9's Amy Coveno

UPDATED 11:00 PM EDT Oct 02, 2014

MANCHESTER, N.H. — The following is the full letter written by David Cates to News 9 reporter/anchor Amy Coveno. David Cates is the father of Jaimie Cates, who survived a 2009 attack at her Mont Vernon home.

Kim

Kim was full of energy, excitement, and life. Her incredible smile was so inviting to all; it welcomed you. You wanted to be with her, be part of her. She gave so much to everyone she met. You just couldn’t help but smile back or give her a big hug.

Kim was a mother. Kim and Jaimie were incredible together. It was more than the usual mother daughter bond. They were like one. Kim was a warm, affectionate mom who really enjoyed spending time with her daughter. Kim and Jaimie’s love will last forever.

She was a wife, a loving daughter, a sister, an aunt, a niece and a great friend. Kim and her incredible beauty will FOREVER remain in our hearts and her spirit will always live on in each one of us who were so blessed to have shared in her life; for Kim was about life and living.

Jaimie

Now I would like to write to you about what an amazing girl Jaimie is. While she “busts my chops” constantly; she tolerates (and sometimes even understands) my buffoonery. Jaimie is a junior at Souhegan High School and is a solid A/B student. She plays high school and Granite State Elite club lacrosse. She has also played Field Hockey since she was in 7th grade. While her injuries still bother her on occasion and sometimes limit what she can do physically, she is in great shape and doesn’t let those injuries stop her from playing the sports she loves. Jaimie also just recently got her driver’s license; so apropos of nothing whatsoever, defensive driving courses are always well worth the money (he says tongue in cheek).

Family

Jaimie and I will forever miss Kim, but we still have each other and we still have family. The shape and dynamics of that family are just different. Jaimie still has mother figures in her life; I still have very close confidants. The members of our family, while not all connected by blood, have a very special emotional bond with us. Our family is also made up of people from our town, the surrounding community, work, and the school system. They all play critical roles in allowing Jaimie and I to continue to heal as well as feel loved by a family unit. Our family will survive this tragedy and strive again.

As devastating as this tragedy was it has made our families and communities stronger. In response to the question, “So how is Mont Vernon doing?” a friend wrote:

The simple answer is “We’re doing just fine, thanks.” And we are. We all get up every day and take care of our kids, go to work, pay the bills, deal with our share of the struggles of daily existence because life, as cold as it may sound, goes on. ”

This tragedy has pulled our small, close knit community that much closer. We now know that, together, we can survive the most difficult of circumstances.

Me

The first couple of years were extremely rough. My life changed in a blink of an eye. Being a single Dad of a teenage daughter also has its many challenges. But I’m not the only single Dad out there. We all figure it out. Ultimately you realize you can’t “cry in your beer” every day and choose to get on with your life. “Fate without hope is very, very sad”……I found hope in Jaimie, family, friends and in this scholarship. I also found hope in a special lady that makes me very happy. We have been in a committed relationship for a couple of years now, and while blending two families together is certainly a challenge. We are committed to each other to make it work; long term, through all of life’s ups and downs.

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The Kimberly Cates Golf Tournament tees off Friday at the Amherst Country Club. Organizers have room for five more foursomes. Proceeds go to the Scholarship Fund in Kim’s name.