Cathryn Ann Culver

Cathryn Culver, a resident of Niwot, CO for 34 years, passed away peacefully at home with family, friends and caregivers on Jan. 10 at age 81. Cathryn was born in San Diego, CA to Watson and Virginia Culver. After attending Grossmont High School, Cathryn went on to San Diego State University and the California College of Medicine, obtaining her Doctor of Medicine degree in 1967. She interned in New York then moved to Topeka, KS in 1968 for residency and a fellowship at the Menninger School of Psychiatry. She began her career as a psychiatrist as a member of the medical staff at C.F. Menninger Memorial Hospital and was board certified in Psychiatry in 1976. Cathryn brought knowledge, dedication and compassion to her private practice in child, adolescent and adult psychiatry in Boulder and Longmont until her retirement in 1995.

Cathryn met her future husband, Thomas Giddings, in 1977 on a group hike to Chasm Lake on Longs Peak. In their first conversation, she told Tom that she thought she had Parkinson’s Disease. When Tom questioned her self-diagnosis, she informed him of her medical training and was proven correct soon after. Cathryn became an active participant in the Boulder Parkinson’s Support Group and many exercise programs including the GZ Sobol Parkinson’s Foundations class at the Mapleton YMCA, events sponsored by the Davis Phinney Foundation and the Dance for Parkinson’s program by 3rd Law Dance/Theater. She continued to ride her recumbent tricycle, walk around the neighborhood and participate in dance class by Zoom until the last weeks of her life. Cathryn also became an avid painter after retirement. Her success in living a rich and rewarding life with PD inspired all who knew her.

Cathryn is survived by her husband Tom, her sister Carolyn Stieber (Wayne), her brother William (Carmen), four nieces and nephews, six grand nieces and nephews and four great grand nieces and nephews. We are deeply indebted to the Movement Disorders group at the University of Colorado Hospital, to Cathryn’s loving caregivers and to Tru Community Care Hospice. Donations honoring Cathryn may be made to the Davis Phinney Foundation, the Parkinson's Association of the Rockies or the 3rd Law Dance/Theater Dance for Parkinson’s Program.