Cathy & Gayle Memorial Fund

Born June 26, 1970, Cathy was raised in Medway, MA and graduated in 1988 from Medway High School. She attended the University of New Hampshire where she graduated with a degree in family studies. While in college, she spent one year studying in Australia and upon graduation, worked as a nanny in Milan, Italy.

Cathy then moved to California where she had always dreamed of living on the beach and being that “California girl”.  She worked as a Montessori teacher and enjoyed living in California more than anywhere else she had traveled. No matter where Cathy’s travels took her, she made everlasting friendships.  She always made that extra effort to keep in touch with all her friends, new and old.

Those who knew Cathy felt lucky and honored to have had her as their friend. While in California, Cathy was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s disease. She battled the disease for more than two years, never giving up or giving in.  Before she died, one of her wishes was to have her friends donate a beach wheelchair to one of her favorite beaches.  She loved the beach and wanted to make sure those who weren’t able to walk in the sand, could still somehow enjoy being on the beach.

Cathy passed away at home on April 7, 2001, with her loving family by her side.  Although she died at such a young age, she never once felt she hadn’t lived.  As she saw it, she traveled to beautiful places, accomplished many great things, and made such wonderful friends, that her life had truly been fulfilling.

Thanks to the donations of her high school friends, in May 2002, a beach wheelchair was donated in her memory to Wingaersheek Beach in Gloucester.  Another wish was to have her California friends donate a bench overlooking the ocean so anyone could sit and enjoy the sunshine and water.  The bench is located in a beautiful spot in Solana Beach where Cathy had lived.

Cathy is missed by so many and for that reason we have established this memorial fund.  Our initial fundraiser in 2004 was so successful that we were able to make a generous donation to The Wellness Center in Newton and present a 2005 Medway High School graduate with a generous scholarship.  Our goal is to raise money each year and donate to such worthy causes that had meant so much to Cathy.