Contributions from Friends and Family

Michael J. Kenny

I very recently found out about Cathy’s death doing a Google search involving ACHS, and a link to her obit popped up. I then found this site, and saw the comments. I wondered would something said by someone who knew her in grade school in Margate be of any interest and perhaps comfort to her family and friends? 
I came to know Cathy in a singular way. Her family bought the house on Nassau from the parents of my first best friend, Clay Rolley. I learned to swim in the pool. Clay’s parents were great friends of my parents, so I have many early memories of that house. They moved away, and then Cathy appeared at the Union Avenue school. When I told her she moved into the house my best friend had lived in, this seemed less significant to her than to me.
But I soon saw how Cathy was a remarkable person. Boys and girls aged 6 or so did not interact much, and Cathy’s being very pretty and very self assured made her seem somewhat intimidating. But she was always very nice to everyone. She was also very smart, but in a quiet sort of way, never overly competitive. Cathy also seemed more mature than everyone else. She stood out, stood above, the rest of us, at least I thought so. She was a remarkable and memorable person to have as a classmate. We were not close friends, but I think she knew I admired her.
We were classmates all through Union Avenue, and went to the Tighe school together. My family moved away from Margate in 1968, and I never saw Cathy after that. But coming to this site and reading about her life, she was in later life true to that remarkable person she was in grade school. She was always like that, and so all the good things people said about her and her accomplishments do not surprise me at all.
That time may seem very long ago, but life goes by quickly, and in Cathy’s case far too quickly. 

Harold Appel

I worked as a doctor in the NYC jails for more than 30 years. My memories of Cathy are vivid. She would appear on Rikers Island asking me questions about what I was doing and for quite awhile seemed like the only person in the world who cared about what was happening there. I had only a vague idea about the Board of Correction at the time. It was so important, though, to know that someone cared. As the years went by, I learned how much. It was so sad for me to discover that she is gone. Her memory and work will live on.

Audria Russell

I met Cathy in 2002, when I began working at the Board of Correction. She was an inspiring teacher and mentor, who was selfless in her pursuits to enhance the lives of countless individuals. I remember one of my favourite conversations that I had with her in 2003 about sharing resources, her tagline was "We don't have to like each other, but if I find something that can help you, I will definitely share it with you". This was Cathy, kind, selfless and inspiring. I miss you much!

Louis A. Cruz Esq.

I regret that remnants of a cold kept me from attending the "Cathy Potler Celebration" at NYU. My heartfelt condolences to her beautiful family & BOC Staff. In my +12-years on the Board until 2004, I came to respect & admire Ms. Potler's dedicated professionalism & positive staff interaction: Yes, Cathy was - always - a cut above the norm, to say the least (Kudos to Richard Wolf for bringing Cathy on board as his Dep. Exec. Dir.)

I never tire of the family photos so generously shared with us.Thank you. May G-d Bless her family, giving them the strength to endure and understand that Cathy will continue to inspire, guide and comfort all of you. Sincerely, Louis

Christine Hayashida

I first met Cathy during the co-op interview for our building in Brooklyn. I had never dealt with a co-op before, so admittedly, I was a bit anxious that night. I distinctly remember Cathy's friendly approach to the interview which immediately put me at ease. Little did I know at that point that I would later be on the flip side of the interview process, with Cathy providing invaluable insight and guidance to the entire process with her years of service to the building in many capacities. 

I would often run into Cathy in the mornings and she would always invite me to walk with her on her daily commute across the Brooklyn Bridge. This always made me chuckle because I worked in Midtown and it would be quite a hike, but I always marveled at the fortitude and perseverance of her choice to continue this commute day in and day out. What a strong woman, indeed.

Much love to Martin and Natan. I will truly miss my friend and neighbor, Cathy.

Michele Perlman

I cannot remember a time that Cathy didn't greet me or my daughter with warmth and enthusiasm. Even in these small chance encounters, I somehow knew I was in the presence of a great woman. The halls already feel more empty. She will be missed. My deepest sympathies to Martin and Natan.

Max Marinoff

Cathy's unwavering kindness and warmth always made me feel at home when I visited the Vega Potler residence.  Prior to her passing, I knew very little about her fight for human rights in Latin America.  It is interesting coming to the realization that I knew so little about the life's work of someone I spent so much time with.  It is at once surprising and not surprising that the woman who refused to let me leave her house without doggy bagging some Paella is the same woman whose human rights work I am now hearing about for the first time; that someone who treated me like a member of her family never talked about her dedication and accomplishments.  I think the fact that she rarely spoke about her career on the many evenings I spent at her house is a testament to her selflessness. The amount of time and energy she devoted to others is an inspiration. 

Dan Moynihan

I first met Cathy when she started in the Continuing Ed program for ceramics at LIU. Bob Barry was teaching the class, I was the studio manager and was in the studio all the time with her. Cathy's love of other people, zest for life, her thoughtfulness and caring were simply contagious. I loved working on a wheel next to her and talking to her, learning about her family, her work, her life. She was more interested in learning about me and speaking of others than herself, pure Cathy. She truly was a person who served others. I asked if she wanted to work as a studio assistant and she said yes, I was so happy. Bob said I was stealing one of his star pupils. Sorry Bob. My gain. I will always cherish the last night Jarret and I spent with Cathy. It was with Martin, Natan, our friends Jenny and Patrick. Surrounded by family and friends at Ample Hills Ice Cream in Brooklyn. What a wonderful night. Cathy we will always miss you and love you.

Rev. Richard Nahman OSA

For the ten years that I was a member of the Board of Correction I was inspired and encouraged by Cathy. People were her love and passion. I entered many a conversation with Cathy feeling weary and dispirited and left feeling ebergized. Her dedicated enthusiasm and passionate love for the dignity of the person was infectious. May she now be at peace, and may her spirit continue to inspire others to try to be as selfless as she. Thank you, Cathy, for all the lives you enabled to be elevated to the level of human dignity.

Eileen Kaspar

Ed and I are heart broken, shocked and so saddened to hear that Cathy has passed away. She was one very cool lady and our paths criss crossed over the years in many ways.

Rafael Sierra

The familia is in our thoughts and prayers. Cathy made a difference in this world and will definitely be missed. May God grant you all peace to reflect on the beautiful moments you, we had with Cathy as wife, mom, peer and friend. 

Sincerely,
Sierra Family

John Burstein

Seeing the wonderful photographs of Cathy makes me want more than ever to hear that beautiful, very special voice: somewhat deep, calm, feeling, and with that extraordinary way of speaking: her "diction"; there's no other word for it. What she said, of course, was pure insight, with interest, conviction and empathy.

We celebrate Cathy for all she did, and for all she gave us!

Bob Barry

"Bob, what kind of chocolate are we trying today", this was Cathy's question every time she met with Akiko and me at the ceramics studio. This of course led to the craziest blind folded tasting contests which invariably Cathy seemed to win, even when we tried to trick her. Our search for the best chocolate led us to many adventures and long talks and lots of laughter. We started out as teacher and student and ended up as good friends. Cathy embodied all the wonderful qualities of an artist; she was disciplined, focused, a quick learner but most importantly she followed her passions and they spoke through her work. I am so lucky to have had her spirit come into my life; I miss you Cathy.

Coleen Ceriello-Mehary

Natan and Family,

We are so sorry to hear about your Mom. We will miss and cherish our poolside chats at Berkshire by the Sea, our February "home away from home" for over 25 years!
Love, Coleen, Mike, Katie and Michael Mehary and the entire Ceriello clan

Brenda McCullough

Cathy and I were one of the initial participants of Project Will, and we both served on the ACHS Herald yearbook for the class of '71. Cathy was beautiful inside and out, with an easygoing manner and quick wit. Her life's path in the realm of human rights comes as no surprise, as she was always acutely aware of and sensitive to the issues of the time, i.e., US involvement in Viet Nam, racial animus, etc. Interestingly enough, I was recently flipping through the yearbook and stopped at the Herald staff's picture. There was Cathy in her jeans and army jacket, looking cool, approachable, optimistic and terribly young. My condolences go out to her family during this difficult time.

David Weiss

I live in Margate City where Cathy and I grew up. Cathy's family and my wife's family lived across the street form each other. I got to know Cathy when she did a summer clerkship in a law firm where I was working in Atlantic City. What I remember most about Cathy in those early days was her sincerity and distinct inner beauty that matched her outer beauty. I can only imagine the sadness that her parents and family are feeling at this time and hope that they can take comfort in the extraordinary and profound accomplishments Cathy achieved in her lifetime.

Liz Rudey

Cathy's lovely parents invited Kirk and me to a cocktail party on their porch in Hillsdale (we are up the street) and I met Cathy for the first time. She told me about loving to make pottery. I told her I had a studio but also taught at LIU Brooklyn which has a community arts program. The rest is LIU pottery history. She made beautiful pots, mixed glazes, fired kilns and was loved by all. I miss her.

Juan-Carlos Pérez

Cathy was a very special person who represented a lot to me at a crucial time in my life. There is nothing like feeling that we are leaving a better world than we found when we were born. I am sure she thought she did her share. You are a great example, Potler!

Simon Glenn-Gregg

Much of my time was spent hopping between households growing up with a busy single mother. I spent a lot of time, often longer than a few days at Cathy and Martin’s apartment in Brooklyn Heights. Whenever I was there, I never felt like a guest or an outsider. Cathy always made me feel like a part of the family, both by watching out for me as my own mother would, but also by challenging me and making me think about things I would shrug off as trivial or inconsequential. She helped me learn how to think about issues of social justice and human rights. 

When I was struggling to choose my major away at college, I remember calling Cathy, who took time out of her hectic days at the Board of Correction to talk about my options, and help steer me towards human rights. We talked for close to an hour as I nervously paced the tight quarters of my dorm room. She spoke to me as an accomplished lawyer, and as family, helping to ease the stress of my decision. 

I will cherish the memories of laughing so hard at the dinner table with Cathy that I couldn’t eat the deliciously spicy food that Martin had cooked. I will still chuckle when I remember these nights, but most of all I will miss Cathy, my second mom.