Obituary of Laura Elizabeth Kath

Los Alamos resident Laura Elizabeth Kath, youngest daughter of Charles and Anna Hubble Kath, was born July 26, 1960 in Pontiac, Michigan, and died February 6, 2020 at UCLA Medical Center Los Angeles of complications from head and neck cancer.  In 1985, Laura enthusiastically adopted Santa Barbara County as her forever home, and over the decades became one of the region’s most animated supporters.  

Valedictorian of her 1978 graduating class at Pontiac Northern High School, Laura went on to Michigan State University where she majored in Hospitality and Tourism management and earned her BA degree with honors.  An unmatchable overview of Laura’s professional accomplishments - in her own words - can be found on the website for Mariah Marketing  - the business she founded in 1989.  http://www.mariahmarketing.com/about-mariah-marketing   At Mariah Marketing, Laura “unlocked the mysteries of communication” by offering comprehensive marketing, special event and writing services to a diverse service-oriented clientele.  She also authored books and publications, appeared on radio and TV, and orchestrated multifaceted tours, festivals, and events. 

Laura’s extensive community activism included founding membership in the Santa Ynez Valley Visitors Association and the Santa Barbara Book & Author Festival, as well as philanthropic involvement with the Los Alamos Valley Men’s Club and Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital Foundation, to name a few.  Her tireless community activities garnered comprehensive articles in local news media with headlines calling her “Santa Ynez Valley Cheerleader”  and “Champion of Community Events”.   (Santa Maria Times, February 7, 2020 https://santamariatimes.com/news/local/laura-kath-santa-ynez-valley-s-community-cheerleader-dies-at/article_c31d5082-02ae-5c79-b3a7-9f960bbb6886.html  and Noozhawk, 2/14/2020 https://www.noozhawk.com/article/laura_kath_remembered_for_role_as_community ) 

Laura is survived by her partner Jeff Marsh of Los Alamos; siblings Bill (Julie) Kath of Durham, New Hampshire, and Shirley (Bob) Nixon of Seattle, Washington; nephew and nieces John (Lisa) Kath, Amanda (Cam) Kliem, and Jennifer (Bill) Weld; great-nieces/nephews Alex and Eli Kath, Alexandra and Caroline Weld, and Anna Kliem.

A Celebration of Laura’s life will be held at 2 PM Saturday, February 29, 2020 at St. Mark’s in the Valley Episcopal Church, 2901 Nojoqui Avenue, Los Olivos, California 93441.

Laura’s decades-long volunteerism on behalf of the Arthritis Foundation has prompted her family to create a special fundraising team “In Memory of Laura Kath” for the Arthritis Foundation Central Coast Chapter’s “Santa Barbara 2020 Walk to Cure Arthritis”.   Your contribution to this team will help continue the amazing efforts Laura made through her years of passion and enthusiasm to raise funds for vital resources and research to find a cure. https://events.arthritis.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.participant&participantID=199363

Donations in Laura’s memory may also be mailed to:

Arthritis Foundation Central Coast

2261 Las Positas Rd.

Sant Barbara, CA  93101