Catherine Livingston Titus

Catherine Livingston Titus, age 92, passed away peacefully in Santa Barbara on April 16, 2017. Cathy was born in Berkeley, CA, to Alfred Livingston, Jr. and Enid Levis Livingston. Her family moved many times during her childhood, but her fondest memories were living with the family in a one room cabin in Valyermo, CA on her father's 140-acre homestead. Cathy remembered a very simple life there enjoying the outdoors, reading and family sing-alongs while her father played his guitar. The family eventually moved back to Los Angeles where Cathy attended John Marshall High School followed by Pomona College where she made life long friends. During the summers of her college years, Cathy worked as an LA City lifeguard. One year she was asked by MGM Studios to try out for a movie role. She got the part and spent three months practicing synchronized swimming with thirty one other ladies for the iconic closing scene of Esther William's movie "Bathing Beauty." In 1948 she married Stephen Titus and moved to Hancock Park where they raised their four children. Summers were filled with weekdays in Newport Beach and weekends on their Cal 36 at Catalina Island. Sailboat cruising and racing were a big part of their lives as well as occasional camping trips. Volunteerism was important to Cathy and she found great pleasure giving her time to the Assistance League, Junior League, Larks singing group, Needlework Guild and docent programs at the Los Angeles Natural History Museum and the Workman-Temple House. Cathy found fascinating work with the L.S.B Leakey Foundation as the Lecture Coordinator where she got to work with the likes of Jane Goodall, Diane Fossey and Mary Leakey. In 1986, Cathy moved to La Quinta, CA and there volunteered for the Living Desert Museum and was part of the "Great Masters Program" bringing art to Coachella Valley school children. In 1998 Cathy made the move to Santa Barbara where she was active as a docent at the Botanic Garden. Cathy was an adventurous traveler all the while being a terrific grandmother to her nine grandchildren. Cathy is survived by her sister, Toby Considine, her children James (Margy), Stephen (Patrice), Theresa Essen (Rich) and Louise Casey (Tim), as well as grandchildren Nicolas and Bolton Titus, Hilary and Hope Titus, Brian (Danielle), Scott and Eric Essen, and Cameron and Kevin Casey along with her great-granddaughter Kensington Casey. The family requests that should friends desire, donations be sent in her memory to The Pomona College Annual Fund, 333 N. College Way, Claremont, CA 91711. The family plans a private memorial service at a later date.