Catherine Elaine (Tracy) Dickinson

Catherine Elaine Tracy Dickinson was born in York, Pennsylvania on October 28, 1946, to Edward Earl Tracy, Sr. and Margaret Elinor Tracy. Her father was in the US Army and as a child Cathy and the family moved wherever he was posted. Cathy was living near Mito Japan, when her sister Rosemary “Mimi” Tracy was born. Mimi was followed by another sister Patricia in two more years. The three oldest girls shared a strong bond that lasted many years. Soon more Tracys were born to the family, Edward Earl Jr., John, Joseph, Martin and Margaret. When the younger ones were born, the older children took on duties to help their mother; they have all related stories of being encouraged, scolded, advised or helped by their oldest sister. The family eventually settled in El Paso, Texas, and Cathy attended and later graduated from the Loretto Academy, a school run by the Sisters of Loretto nuns. It was at Loretto that she met David B. Dickinson and they began dating after meeting each other as opponents in a debate competition.

Cathy first went to college in St. Louis, but later transferred to the University of Delaware to be closer to her mother’s family as the Tracy family moved to Germany. She resumed her relationship with David as he joined her at Delaware. She studied Political Science in school, but it was only after graduation that she discovered her true vocation. After she and David were married on August 24, 1968 in El Paso, she started teaching and David took a job with El Paso Natural Gas. In February 1970 they welcomed their daughter Moira. Shortly thereafter they moved to Houston, Texas so David could attend the University of Houston Law Center. In December of 1971, their son Jarad was born. Cathy worked to support the growing family and eventually became a bilingual kindergarten teacher at a small school called Pugh Elementary.

As she continued to teach, David became licensed as an attorney and they moved into the Spring Branch area, purchasing a home there. Cathy changed schools to Memorial Elementary and met wonderful friends, creating many memories over the years. Cathy’s children were enrolled in School of the Woods, a Montessori School, where she trained as well as met long-term friends and colleagues. Cathy was a passionate and dedicated kindergarten teacher who worked to not only improve her own teaching but also those around her. She offered guidance, advice and shared “war stories” with many fellow educators and friends and found a way to bring out the best in each child she taught.

As her children changed schools Cathy met and soon became a “sewing, fixing and problem solver” at the Kinkaid school. Cathy and the other Drama Mamas helped keep the high school drama to a low roar so that the various productions could run without a hitch. The teachers, staff and students all knew that they could rely on the Mamas to solve many problems.

As her children went away for college, Cathy decided she needed a challenge and wanted to be in a smaller, more family-like environment and so took a job at the St. John’s School. There again she met wonderful people to support and was especially close to her fellow kindergarten teachers. She always seemed to understand you make the best music with a trio. During this time she also completed a Master’s in Education from the University of Houston with her husband David sweetly typing all her papers while she dictated. Throughout her career she resisted moving into any job position that would detract from her daily contact and teaching of young children, her “friends.” Many of her former pupils still can recall a lesson, story, or activity they shared with her.

During her time at St. John’s she began having issues with her vision, particularly on the left side. After visiting from one specialist to another her issues with ordering and memory along with the vision problems were eventually diagnosed as Visual Variant Alzheimer’s Disease, an uncommon form of Alzheimer’s that begins in the visual cortex.

Cathy loved people, especially children, and could be your best advocate and a loving friend. She was eternally optimistic (called a “Pollyanna” by many) and could talk to anyone, whether it was an in-depth conversation with the grocery clerk or long, deep and occasionally meandering conversations with friends and loved ones. She was a bright, shiny light and will be missed.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you consider a tax-deductible gift to School of the Woods, The St. John’s School or the Houston Public Library Foundation. If you are donating to the schools please mark your check “In memory of Catherine Dickinson”, or if you wish to donate to the Houston Public Library Foundation please send your check to their address at 510 McKinney St. Houston TX, 77002 and mark it accordingly or go to https://www.houstonlibraryfoundation.org/. Alternately please consider making a donation to a charity of your choice.

A celebration of Cathy’s life will be held at St. John’s School in the Fine Arts Annex, next to the VST Fine Arts building on Saturday, September 15th from 1-3pm.

https://www.sjs.org/page/quicklinks/campus-map--directions

Please enter Gate 9 on Alabama Rd. security will provide additional directions.