White Marsh Clown Retires

WHITE MARSH, MD — The woman who for decades has delighted children at White Marsh Mall has retired. Known as "Miss Kitty," the clown-costumed character sold balloons to mall patrons for more than three decades.

After 37 years, she sold her last balloons at the mall over the weekend.

The clown, whose real name is Kitty, started and ended her balloon business because of her family.

When the mall opened, her son came up with the idea of her selling balloons, according to The Avenue News, which said she was hired on a temporary basis.

Donning a bright red wig along with makeup and clown outfit, she ended up growing her balloon gig to the point that she was working seven days a week, mall officials posted on Patch. She scaled back to Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in more recent years.

"It wasn't a decision I made lightly," Miss Kitty told Fox 45 upon her retirement on June 2, when the White Marsh Mall held a party in her honor. The people she sold balloons brought a tremendous amount of joy, she said.

Now newly retired, "I'm hoping to spend more time with my family," the beloved White Marsh Mall clown told WBAL TV. According to the station, she is a great-grandmother and said she was grateful that she was able to make a living selling her balloons.

Since the mall opened in 1981, Miss Kitty has made an impression on thousands of families. From dolphins to Mickey Mouse, the balloons she sold came in all shapes and sizes, and the experiences she delivered were just as varied.

In 2013, Patch readers shared their memories of her, ranging from parents who used Miss Kitty as a reward for good behavior to a mall worker who said watching her brought him happiness while on break.

"In the summer of 1981 I started a job in White Marsh Mall to pay for college," Patch user Bill Howard said. "Miss Kitty was there, and my fun was to watch her spread joy around when I ate lunch on my breaks. With all that has changed in the world since then, its good to see some things in life remain the same."

Kids who received balloons as little ones looked forward to seeing their beloved clown.

"Miss Kitty is awesome. She's been making our son smile since about age 2," another reader shared, noting his son was now almost as tall as the balloon lady. "One of his very first 'rewards'...was any balloon he wanted from Ms. Kitty. Even today when he sees her, he makes a point to go over and hug her."

Others agreed that the years did not diminish their fondness for Miss Kitty.

"Miss Kitty has seen me grow up; my parents used to get me a balloon from her when I was a baby and I just went to the mall to celebrate my 33rd birthday & she still recognized me :)" one woman posted.

"We were just in the mall last weekend and Miss Kitty blessed my little girls with balloons because it was my littlest's 1st birthday!" a mother wrote. "A wonderful woman sitting in the food court paid for them before we could reach for our wallet. A memory we will treasure for sure!"

What was your memory of Miss Kitty? Tell us in the comments!

Patch file photo of Miss Kitty.