Katie “Starbucks” Spencer, 35, of Worcester, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 28. She was 35 years old.
According to her obituary, Spencer was born in Chestnut Hill and went on to become a multi-sport Special Olympics athlete (basketball, soccer, bocce, floor hockey, bowling and unified softball) with a collection of 114 medals to her name. Her career spanned more than 25 years.
“She was strong and resilient, refusing to let her cancer diagnosis keep her from attaining her goals of competing at Winter State Games in York in March 2023, Fall State Games at Villanova in November 2023, or Summer State Games at Penn State in June 2024,” her obituary says.
In recognition of her career, fundraising efforts (she personally raised nearly $100,000 over the years for Special Olympics, Variety – The Children’s Charity, and Best Buddies Pennsylvania), service as a Global Ambassador and membership with the Montgomery County Athlete Leadership Team, Spencer was inducted into The Special Olympics Pennsylvania Hall of Fame during the Summer State Games at Penn State University on June 6. She is one of fewer than 100 athletes who have been so honored.
Spencer served as a Variety Ambassador for more than 25 years, earning a Presidential Volunteer Service Award in 2004 and an “Ace of Variety” recognition in 2018, her obituary said. She has also been named a recipient of the Sheetz Family Award of Excellence in 2021, the “Leave Your Mark” award from Carson Wentz’s A01 Foundation in 2019, and the Jimmy Medal from the Philadelphia Charity Ball in 2019.
Spencer received a commendation from the City of Philadelphia and a Certificate of Congratulations from Senator John Rafferty in 2018 and a Walmart Community Playmaker by the Philadelphia Flyers and Walmart in 2017.
In 2021, Congresswoman Madeleine Dean of Glenside awarded her a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition after being selected to virtually participate in Special Olympics’ Capitol Hill Day to encourage continued funding in support of inclusive education and health initiatives for people with intellectual disabilities.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Katie’s memory may be made to Special Olympics of Pennsylvania (2570 Boulevard of the Generals, Suite 124, Norristown, PA 19403), Best Buddies Pennsylvania (640 Freedom Business Center Drive, Suite 115, King of Prussia, PA 19406) or Variety-The Children’s Charity (PO Box 609, Worcester, PA 19490).
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Photo: Legacy.com