Catherine Leone Cody

Catherine Leone Cody
Catherine Leone "Cathy" Cody passed away on Oct. 30, 2025, following complications related to a recent illness. She was 85. Cathy died at The Enclave at Rye, New York. She had lived in New York City for many years.
Born in New Canaan, Cathy was the daughter of the late Therese Fish Cody and the late Dr. Thomas P. Cody, a longtime and well-known New Canaan physician and civic leader. She was a fourth generation New Canaan Cody and, on her mother's side, a descendent of Roger Williams, founder of Rhode Island. She attended the New Canaan Country School and the Low-Heywood School in Stamford and was graduated from Boston College with a M.A. in Social Work.
Cathy built a meaningful career as a licensed clinical social worker, spending many years as a psychiatric social worker at Greenwich House, an early settlement house in Manhattan where she led group counseling and individual therapy sessions supporting individuals facing addiction and mental-health challenges. She believed in the dignity of every person she worked with and was skilled in opening meaningful conversations during difficult sessions.
Her life-long love of movement began early – swimming and tennis at the Shore & Country Club in Norwalk, skiing in northern New England, and running, including finishing the New York City Marathon twice! She never missed cheering the Marathon runners as they passed her building on Fifth Avenue across from Central Park.
She was also devoted to the daily practice of Tai Chi and became a Senior Teacher at the New York School of Tai Chi Chuan, traveling most recently to Sardinia to join an annual Tai Chi Retreat. She also became a devoted student at the Arica School of spiritual enlightenment, integrating both Tai Chi and Arican practices into her understanding of compassion, balance and personal growth. One of her favorite reflections was "Tai Chi is about strength through softness, balance and gentile fluidity". Until the very last days of her illness she joined a daily Tai Chi 'zoom' where friends and fellow students met to practice together.
Throughout her years in New York, Cathy always returned home to New Canaan. She especially loved Waveny Park summer concerts, swimming in the pool, and the Memorial Day Parade -- after which she made it a habit to visit local cemeteries to honor friends and family before rejoining relatives for the traditional picnic.
Cathy is survived by her sister, Terry C. Spring of New Canaan; her brothers James J. Cody (Tania), George F. Cody, William J. Cody and sister-in-law, Judith Cyr Cody (Tom) and by 13 nieces and nephews – James W. Spring, Elizabeth H. Spring, Thomas C.C Spring (Laura); Dr. Heather Cody Hazelett (Gary), Christana Cody Laycock (Bill), Rachelle Cody Cather (Robbie), Alyssa Cody Guthrie (David), Rebecca Cody, Dr. James J. Cody (Amanda), Jennifer Cody Castillo (Carlos), Sharon Cody Wyatt (Dr. Nathan), Caroline Cody, and John Cody (Kelly) -- as well as many great-nieces and grand-nephews. She is predeceased by brother Thomas Hayde Cody (Judith) and her longtime partner, Warren McClendon. A private burial is planned in St. John's Cemetery in Norwalk. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations to Doctors Without Borders.