Honeoye, NY — Gary Catt, 77, of Honeoye, NY died January 21, 2023. He was born December 6, 1945 in Columbia, South Carolina, the son of the late Elizabeth Ann (Valko) Catt, Ortolani. He was raised in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.
He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1964. He served in multiple foreign duty stations for three years before being discharged with the rank of SP/5. Following his discharge, he attended photography school in New York City. It was a vocation he never pursued professionally, although he remained an avid amateur photographer throughout his life. He began his professional career as a journalist first with the Pottstown (PA) Mercury where he won several statewide reporting awards before moving on to the former Reading (PA) Times where he filled multiple reporting and editor positions over a dozen years including covering state government from Harrisburg.
After moving to New York, he worked at editor positions in several metropolitan newspapers and newspaper chains. He put journalism aside in the early 1990s to join the public communications arm of Saatchi and Saatchi, the global advertising agency, where he rose to be senior communications counsel. His client base included several divisions of DuPont, Kodak Professional, Frontier Communications, and others including Wegmans.
He was a former chairman of the Varick, NY Town Planning Board, a member of the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network, the Honeoye Valley Watershed Assoc., American Legion, the Canadice Lake Writers’ Group and Ontario County Republican Committee.
In addition to his mother, he was predeceased by a sister, Elizabeth Lee Hunsberger of Douglassville, PA and Dagsboro, DE and is survived by his sister Joan Ann (Catt) Hawkins of Douglassville, PA. He was the father of 2 children, his daughter Elizabeth Catt, his son Christopher M. Catt (Alexis Ogra) of Victor, NY and their soon to be born daughter, as well as six nieces and nephews. He also leaves behind his beloved Jack Russell, Patch.
Friends may call Thursday, February 2, 2023 from 4-7 at the Kevin W. Dougherty Funeral Home Inc., 8624 Main Street, Rte 20A, Honeoye, NY. Private burial will be held at Sampson Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Romulus, NY. To send a condolence or share a memory please visit: www.doughertyfuneralhomes.com
I recently learned of Gary’s death and wish to send condolences to his children and surviving relatives.
I participated in the Canadice Lake Writers Group with Gary. It was a very social as well as professional group. I got to know him through his writing—he always got right to the point, a habit I suppose that came from his newspaper days. He used to jokingly give me a hard time for making my paragraphs too long.
He liked writing fictional stories and was good at creating suspense. One particular story I recall concerned a hiker falling off a steep cliff (something that I hope did not come from personal experience). And he was skilled at describing colorful characters.
I was briefly in touch with him via email after he received his diagnosis and moved in with his son and daughter in law. He asked me to send him some of my recent short stories to read, which I did.
I am saddened at his passing and will miss his wit, humor, friendliness, and readiness to have a good time.
Goodbye, Gary.
You will be remembered.
Sincerely, Mary Drake
Chris, Alexis, and family:
I am so profoundly sorry for the news of Gary’s passing. He was one of a kind: humourous, great wordsmith (his writings in Owl Light News were enjoyable reading), and above all, enjoyed the many stories he shared in his years in the media field. Without a doubt, Gary was a positive contributor in helping our town be all that it can be as a member of the Planning Board, Comprehensive Plan Committee, and as a member of the Town and County GOP committees.
But above all, I cherished his friendship, widsom, kind words of encouragement and support. Gary will be missed but not forgotten.
RIP Gary. Your advocacy for walking and biking in Richmond will be appreciated by all every time someone slows down when driving by a “share the road” signs in town. You will be missed
Chris, Alexis and family,
I am so sorry for your loss. I enjoyed getting to know your dad.
Daryl and Ide
RIP “Butch”, I am sure you are in Heaven with your
Cousin and good friend Joe Varady. You two had a great friendship all your life and you were a great cousin to Joe.
Wonder man , easy going , so friendly. Will be missed the family ,family to be , great grand daughter , and his best friend that JACK. Thoughts and prayers.