Kathleen Gerus-Darbison

Born in Detroit, Michigan to William George LaPonse and Julia Elizabeth (Radachy) LaPonse on December 7, 1957. Kathy grew up in the suburbs along with her five siblings. She went to public school and then started college at a local community college. She worked full time while attending college full time until she earned enough money to go on to Wayne State University. It was in her first semester there she met and fell in love with her first husband, Michael Walter Gerus. They married in 1983 and had their daughter, Stephanie, the following year. After the death of her husband, Kathy became involved in the AIDS Awareness movement. Through educational workshops and personal talks she touched many young lives with life-saving information. Through this work she met a couple local Detroit Independent filmmakers. She was featured in a couple PBS series called City For Youth. After that she was featured in the 2 hour documentary style film called An Everyday Eulogy, filmed and produced by Stephen R. Palackdharry. Another filmmaker was intrigued by Kathy's non-profit organization called Stitches Women's Initiatives, that works with girls and women dealing with health and life challenges. Another documentary film came out of this connection. The film is called No Day Promised, by Diane Cheklich. She also collaborated with Kathy and her second husband Bill Darbison to make her black and white film Drain Baby, a short comedy. In recent years Kathy spent most of her time going back to University to get 2 degrees and focus on her non profit work. Since entering menopause she has become a blogger, painter, and was recently part of the short film, STICKS//STONES, by Kathi J. Moore.