How I met Cathie. 

It started the Fall of 1970. My roommate and I went to the cafeteria to get our badge photos taken and also stayed to watch the girls get their photo taken. I saw Cathie, made her laugh and then she left. I kept seeing her the whole year but we never sat down or talked. Junior year, Fall 1971 my roommates and I moved into a new facility and we decided to have a party in order to meet girls. I turned a corner on campus and saw Cathie sitting on the floor waiting for her class.  I sat down next to her and asked her to the party. She said yes. That Saturday night I picked her up and brought her to our apartment. We had fun getting to know each other, plus a few Harvey Wallbangers. As the party was winding down we decided we'd had enough to drink and I would walk her home. She wanted to see the new facility so we walked up the stairs to the main campus then we hit the half flight down to the cafeteria. Cathie had a death grip on my arm. She missed the first step, went tumbling down and drew me down with her. As we lit at the bottom we were laughing so hard you'd think it was the funniest, funnest  thing we'd ever done.  We dusted ourselves off and I walked her home without incident. The next day I drew her a card featuring Snoopy and Woodstock with a short poem. I put it on her doorstep for her to find. She loved it. She told her roommates, this one's a keeper. 

Who knew that 51+ years later we'd be living here in Santa Rosa, home to Snoopy and Woodstock. I miss you Cathie. 

I'm so sorry Cathie is gone.   I still hear her laughing and see her smile.  I have fond memories of our walks, especially the Sausalito ones where we’d talk about our students, sharing ideas and problem solving.  Ed and I tried Bob’s and Cathie’s softball team and dancing with my 2 left feet.  I could always pick Cathie’s brain for good gift ideas for our little grandchild.   

I once offered Cathie my semi-formal dress for an event.  It would show some skin. She said something like she couldn’t wear a slutty dress like that!  I laughed so hard instead of feeling insulted.  She never could believe that she said that.   We laughed about that for years.  

We moved to Oregon to be near family during Covid and I lost my walking buddy.  Life has become too complicated with Ed’s and my health issues so we cannot be with you to celebrate Cathie.   We will be there in spirit though.  I miss my old friend.  

So sad to hear of Cathie’s passing. Wish we would have had more time to get together and get to know each other. 

All my love to you and your family Bob. Wish we were closer so that I could come to Cathie’s memorial. 

Lots of love and prayers for you and your family.  

Cousin Mary Jo.  ❤️🥲❤️😞❤️

My condolences to Cathie's family. I remember our bus ride to tranquillity high everyday ! I was reading your obituary and sounds like you had a wonderful life ! You will be missed by all your family and friends ! 

This was a 38 year story...it started when I moved to the neighborhood where Cathie and Bob were already a part of...it was clear that they would become my "go to" peeps...providing the support and love and true definition of what dream neighbors should be. I worked at the airport and had to get there very early, so the routine became my daughter heading over to C&B's house and soon becoming a part of their family as well. I couldn't have done it without Cathie. 

Flash forward to the pandemic. The kids were all grown, and we were now little islands, afraid to venture far or breathe anyone else's air and possible COVID germs. C&B had joined my newly minted dance class at the Community Center and now we were unable to be inside as well. So we set up our dance class at the intersection of Sheffield and Joyce, dodging FedEx and Amazon and the multitude of other deliveries and neighbors who patiently tolerated us. Bob would bring out a little table and we'd locate it closest to their wifi signal. And the rest of the week, Cathie would call me about 2, or sometimes I would call her if she was late...and the 3 of us would walk Hawk Hill in various formats, talking and exercising and getting fresh air. Honestly, I don't think I would've survived those years without them. Cathie never passed by a dog without greeting it, and always stopped to admire the view--it sometimes seemed redundant, but now, in retrospect, it was "so Cathie"...radiant, cheerful, and positive. 

So Cathie, keep dancing in heaven, keep walking, and know that you are terribly, terribly missed. Sending lots of love up there. Note: I have to choose what my relationship was to Cathie, and have chosen to say Family. I hope that's okay. She was way more than friend...