Catherine McCammon

Catherine McCammon passed away suddenly on March 19, 2025 in her home on the Mesa. She lived her life on her own terms with her own agenda of what she wanted. She loved her cats, her cactus and succulents, her jewelry making, and her ceramics. She loved Santa Barbara, and worked tirelessly for its preservation and wellbeing.

Born Catherine Gwendolyn Smith on January 22, 1944 in Los Angeles to Denise (Berjerac) Smith and Harry Smith; she attended Marymount High School, graduated with a Bachelors in International Relations from USC and a Masters from UCSB. She went on to secure her law degree from the Santa Barbara College of Law and was admitted to the California Bar Association.

In July of 1967 she married Michael McCammon. After living four years in Pullman, Washington, while Mike taught at Washington State University, they both returned to Santa Barbara.

Cathie then began her lifelong involvement with Santa Barbara: The American Association of University Women, League of Women Voters, Harbor Commission, Land Use Board, Citizens Planning Association, Allied Neighborhood Association, La Vista Home Owners Association, La Mesa Improvement Association, the Environmental Defense Center, and the Democratic League. Not just as a member, she became an officer, often President, of many of them. Cathie ran for City Council in 2009.

Cathie was an avid member of the Cactus and Succulent Society, both as an exhibitor and as a judge. She cultivated this interest for decades, including tours with Mike through Zimbabwe, Namibia, South Africa, and Madagascar.

Cathie’s interest in jewelry and ceramics kept her enrolled in Santa Barbara City College’s Lifelong Learning Program, repeatedly taking jewelry, fused glass, and ceramics classes.

Cathie lost her beloved husband Mike to cancer in 2008. After his passing she continued pursuing her interests including traveling with her friend Hans Meissner to Germany, Peru, Brazil, Mexico, and a cruise on the Baltic Sea.

Cathie is survived by Mike’s three siblings, Dan McCammon of Madison, Wisconsin, Beth Feldman of Interlaken, New York, and Tim McCammon of Cottonwood, California.