About us

Aunt Kathy’s Rock House Foundation was established as a way to share and acknowledge the inspirational life of Kathy Smith, and the impact it had on the Foundation’s co-creator William “Josey” Visnovske. Josey has always been led to be a helper, a protector, and a guide. Throughout his career in law enforcement, he began researching the impact of fatality fires on first responders with well known author and educator Jeffrey T. Mitchell PhD. He continued to expand his own education in Critical Incident Stress and trauma care. He is a certified trauma educator and regular speaker at International Critical Incident Stress Foundation World Congress conferences, while being a published author and a volunteer for the On-Site Academy in Westminster, Massachusetts. Though throughout his career, he still yearned to do more. Aunt Kathy was his friend and confidant. Upon his retirement from a career spanning 30 years in public service , he struggled with a loss of purpose. Aunt Kathy always told Josey that he had a message for the world, and encouraged him to share it. After her death from a prolonged battle with cancer, Josey continues to find memories of her words and her spirit.