Erin
DEBBIE KIMBALL - MEMORIAL SERVICE
Debbie was born on January 27, 1938 in Boston, Massachusetts to a young single mother. She was placed in foster care and adopted at age 21⁄2 by Robert and Virginia Kimball. She was their only child.
At the time, adoption records were closed. Debbie invested much of her energy as an adult searching for her birth family. With the help of Jean Patton, pioneer in the adoption and reunion field, she was able to find her birth mother and siblings. She also discovered she had Quaker
roots,
The family left Massachusetts to follow her father's profession as school administrator in several private schools in California and Texas. Debbie finished high school at St. Stephen's Episcopal School in Austin, TX where her father was headmaster. She received a scholarship to Smith College, in Northampton, MA, where she earned her Liberal Arts degree in 1958, majoring in Art History. A college roommate remembers her as 'somewhat sarcastic' but likeable. Her wry sense of humor and dedication to justice would continue, with her sometimes making people uncomfortable. She kept in touch with college roommates for the rest of her life.
After college, Debbie traveled through Europe for some time, reaching Russia just as American spy, Gary Powers, was shot down in his U2 plane while flying (reconnaissance) over Russia. Lively discussions between Debbie and her hosts ensued.
Returning to the U.S. she lived in San Francisco where she was involved with various community and political groups and worked for the Red Cross as Program Coordinator. Debbie also lived and worked in Washington, DC for some years, working as Staff on the DC Commission on the Status of Women.
From 1968-1969, Debbie held a fellowship assisting with a new cooperative in a rural village in Cali, Colombia. She then traveled on her own through South America to study political conflict.
Back in the U.S. Debbie earned a Master's degree in Public Policy and Administration from the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 1972. She continued her education well into adulthood, taking post-graduate courses in Political Science, Religion, and Sociology at University of Hawaii - Manoa.
Debbie initially came to Hawaii following a love interest which didn't work out. She stayed and continued her life's work for social justice, both in Honolulu and Kauai where she lived for a number of years. The issues Debbie worked on - as her list of employment shows - focussed on peace and non-violence, economic justice, and equal rights for all.
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Often Debbie worked as an independent contractor for various government or non-profit agencies in the community, including the YWCA, League of Women Voters, and many other public policy groups. She was especially passionate about the Friends Committee on National Legislation (FCNL) and their work in Congress.
In 1975, Debbie began attending and was actively involved with Honolulu Friends Meeting (Quakers), including its social justice arm -- the American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), and later Hawaii Peace and Justice. She joined the Peace and Social Concerns Committee of Meeting, attended Pacific Yearly Meeting, was especially involved in women's issues, and attended all social functions. She always looked forward to the annual Retreat/Spring Gathering. Independent by nature, she never officially joined the Honolulu Meeting, but considered herself to be a Quaker.
Debbie joined the Adoption Circle in Hawaii, a group that encompassed members from all parts of the adoption process from adoptees to birth parents. She formed supportive and long-lasting relationships within the group. In 2016 she used her extensive advocacy skills to help the Adoption Circle persuade the Legislature to open adoption records in Hawaii. This was a major feat! In 2016 there were few states with open adoption records for adult adoptees.
Her other interests included Re-evaluation Co-Counseling, a peer-counseling organization, She loved dancing (all