Kyria Hontalas Petuskey Memorial Scholarship

Kyria Petuskey was born Kyriaki Lee Hontalas in 1966 at San Francisco Children’s Hospital. She spent her early childhood playing on Ocean Beach across from her family home on the Great Highway, just north of San Francisco State University. Years later, she returned to the Sunset District of San Francisco to begin her lifelong career at Shriners Hospitals for Children, then located on 19th Avenue.

Kyria is survived by her husband, Steve Petuskey; their sons, Alek and Demetri Petuskey; her parents, Susan and Chris Hontalas; her brother, George Hontalas; and a wide circle of family and friends. Kyria was an exceptional woman who excelled in everything she did. She was a brilliant scientist, a loving wife and mother, and a compassionate soul who lived a life deeply committed to those around her.

Kyria’s dedication to movement science led to a long and distinguished career in pediatric medicine. After earning a B.A. in Physical Education from UC Berkeley and an M.S. in Kinesiology from UC Davis, Kyria went on to dedicate her professional life to Shriners Children’s Hospital of Northern California where she applied her education to improve the lives of children. To honor her lifetime of service, Kyria’s family has established The Kyria Hontalas Petuskey Memorial Scholarship in Kinesiology at San Francisco State University. This scholarship provides financial support to the next generation of kinesiologists as they prepare for careers serving children with disabilities.

Fueled by passion and a commitment to excellence, Kyria built a twenty-seven year career in Motion Analysis at Shriners. Here, she developed surgical and therapeutic intervention strategies for children with a wide range of conditions that affect mobility including cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, and muscular dystrophy. Kyria’s speciality was in gait analysis–one of the most technically demanding areas in her field. Her work required expertise in biomechanics, human anatomy, and neurology as well as a mastery of highly complex technology that uses infrared cameras to track how children move. After collecting and interpreting advanced three-dimensional motion analysis data, Kyria collaborated with physicians to develop personalized treatment plans that improved mobility and often transformed the course of a child’s life.

Kyria’s contributions extended far beyond the lab. She was a vital part of the broader care team and infrastructure that made possible programs like BikeFit, a Shriners initiative that provides custom adaptive bicycles and tricycles. With features like modified pedals, supportive seating, and safety features, these bikes give children the chance to play, explore, and simply have fun.