Kathleen Marie Meyer

April 28, 1984 - April 16, 2026

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Katie Meyer, beloved wife, daughter, mother, sister, grandmother, and friend, passed away on
the morning of April 16 after a courageous battle with cancer.
Katie will be remembered for the way she lived: fully, generously, and fearlessly. She was
brilliant, vibrant, thoughtful, and kind. Her spirit, humor, and compassion left a lasting mark on
everyone who knew her.

Her loss is immeasurable, but so is the impact she leaves behind in the countless lives she
touched around the world, in her community, and in her family.

Katie was a proud Covingtonian; wherever she was in the world, Covington was always home.
She grew up in Old Seminary Square, attended Sixth District and Latonia Elementary, and
graduated from Covington Latin in 2000. While in high school, she competed on behalf of the
United States in the 1999 Trampoline & Tumbling World Championships in South Africa.
Katie earned a bachelors from the University of Kentucky and a Masters in Urban Policy from
the New School in New York City. She travelled the world during her studies, immersing herself
in South and Central America, working in public administration in New Delhi, India and in British
Columbia, Canada. Yet her heart remained in Covington, and she returned here in 2010.

When she returned, she embraced a mission to improve our city that she would never let go.
Her dedication to that mission was profoundly evident in her work as Executive Director of
Renaissance Covington from 2010 to 2019. Katie was a driving force behind the revitalization of
downtown Covington. She championed economic growth, supported small businesses, and
helped to cultivate Covingtons vibrant sense of place that so many continue to love today.
Katie was instrumental in launching and growing community events including the Farmers
Market, RoeblingFest, Art Off Pike, the Covington Night Bazaar, and the Running of the Goats,
while also helping to lay the groundwork for the citys long-term sustainability and success. In
2015, she became a published author when she co-wrote Walking Cincinnati, a guide that
highlighted the history and culture of many Cincinnati and NKY neighborhoods. In 2017, the
national organization Main Street America awarded Renaissance Covington the Great
American Main Street Award in recognition of Katies accomplishments.

In March 2012, Katies drive to build community led her and her wife, Bonnie, to open Pike
Street Lounge, a vibrant gathering place built around creativity and hospitality. It stood as a
reflection of Katies gift for bringing people together and creating spaces where others felt
welcome - all while she was continuing her important placemaking work in a variety of other
roles.

After helping to create a public internet network in Covington, Katie joined Cincinnati Bell in
2019 to lead UniCity, the companys national smart cities initiative. While at Cincinnati
Bell/altafiber, Katie worked with cities around the country, from Honolulu HI to Dayton OH, to
broaden access to the internet and technology.

In August of 2023, Katie became the CEO of the Downtown Dayton Partnership, where she
championed economic development, supported small businesses, and helped create a more
vibrant, connected, and inclusive community. While in Dayton, she served on the Board of
Directors of Heritage Ohio, YWCA Dayton (OH), Boys and Girls Club of Dayton (OH). The Boys
and Girls club of Dayton described Katie as a remarkable leader, a courageous voice for
equity, and a radical champion for young people.

Katies sense of leadership and civic duty was also evident through her roles in numerous other
organizations, including serving as a board member for organizations such as Be Concerned,
the Covington Business Council, the Kentucky Foundation for Women, and Skyward. Katie
served on the development committees of the Esperanza Latino Center and the Life Learning
Center, and chaired the Outstanding Women of Northern Kentucky Awards in 2023.

Yet there was perhaps no endeavor that illustrated Katies fiercely inclusive spirit better than her
work with Northern Kentucky Pride and the NKY Pride Center. Katie was the incredibly
tenacious and deeply organized driving force behind so much of the Northern Kentucky Pride
Centers work. She didnt just believe in making Northern Kentucky a safer, more inclusive, and
vibrant place for the LGBTQ+ community, she actively made it happen.

She was a true advocate with a rare talent for turning ideas into action and making people -
from first-time volunteers to long-time advocates - feel welcomed, valued, and essential.
Whether she was helping lead the creation of the NKY Pride Awards, coordinating PrideFest
and the parade, or simply connecting members of the community, Katie showed up when it
mattered most. Always. Her impact will continue to be felt in the community she helped build
and the example she set for others.

Katie was also a devoted and beloved mother, and her children wish to share what she meant
to them. She taught them to dream bigger than they ever imagined, and to believe they were
capable of achieving anything - including traveling to places they once only dreamed of. She
widened their perspectives on life in ways too countless to name and was both a mentor and a
hero to them. Katie is, and always will be, the light of their world. In her final year, her grandson
Dax brought her endless joy - she was so very happy to be his Kkay and we are so deeply
grateful that she got to spend that time loving him and being loved by him.

Above all, Katies greatest love was her wife, Dr. Bonnie Meyer, who was the center of her world
and her trusted partner. From the moment they met in 2011, they were inseparableit was love
at first sight. They wed in New York Citys Central Park in 2012, and together they built a life
filled with love and passion - for each other, for their friends, and for a better world.

She is also survived by her loving parents: Joe and Dale Meyer; children: Alyssa Nickles and
Kyle (Jade) Nickles; brothers: Chris (Megan) Meyer, David (Marisa McNee) Meyer and Jon
(Maranda) Meyer; grandchild: Dax Nickles; niece: Lydia Meyer and nephews: Lucas Meyer and
Ryan Meyer.

A celebration of Katies life will take place on Sunday, May 3, 2026 from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM at Hotel Covington, 638 Madison Avenue, Covington, KY 41011. Her family looks forward to
gathering with all who loved her to honor the extraordinary life she lived.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly asks that contributions be made in Katies memory to the
NKY Pride Center, an organization close to her heart.

Katies life was a gift, and her legacy will continue to live on in the communities she shaped and
the people she inspired.