Catherine Grace Marsh

Catherine Grace “Katy” Marsh, 24, passed on October 2, 2021 at Yale New Haven Hospital. Born November 29, 1996, she was the beloved daughter of Cathleen and Rockwell Marsh, of Madison, and big sister to Eric Marsh.

Her wide bright smile could be seen before she entered a room and her spirit, empathy and compassion left an indelible mark on all who met her.

With her brother Eric, she spent her life on the water sailing dinghies at Pettipaug Yacht Club, earning her CT boater’s license and exploring the New England coast with the Baldwin Yacht Club on board the family’s 42’ sloop “Siren’s Song”. Great Salt Pond on Block Island was her favorite harbor.

Family adventures took her: skiing, hiking in Acadia, tent camping in the White Mountains, scouting for covered bridges in VT, visiting Naples, skipping school for the The Newport boat show, Lake George, Disney, Paradise Island, & Barcelona. She toured Maine, sailed to Nantucket, the Vineyard and Cuttyhunk.

At age 8, she fell in love with horses and galloped on Hammonassett Beach for her 12th birthday. She participated in the CHJA and was a CHSA Hunter Jumper Finalist during hurricane warnings! She trained both green ponies and horses and loving riding bareback. A talented hunter-jumper riding at Cedar Brook Farm, Westbrook Hunt Club and Mystic Valley Hunt Club, famed trainer George Morris exclaimed “that girl was born to ride”. Katy excelled on the Interscholastic Equestrian Association team during high school and enjoyed teaching young equestrians at Five Star Performance Horses and Westbrook Hunt Club. She volunteered at High Hopes Therapeutic Center in Old Lyme. She mentored children at summer farm programs teaching animal care and holding a lot of chickens.

She loved: her friends, her red Jeep, anything with four legs, hosting parties, wearing cardigan sweaters, necklaces, crystals, old movies, orchids, videography, hydroponics, Airbnb’s, 80’s music, baked potatoes, clams casino, growing rare indoor plants, cooking with herbs, wearing Timberland boots, performing on stage at DHHS theater and applying nail polish.

Katy graduated Daniel Hand HS in 2015 and headed to St Lawrence University where she was a writing tutor studying film & communications. She was a teaching assistant, President/Founder of the SLU Film Club and videographer for the SLU Alumni Hockey and TED Talks. She froze in tall Sorrel boots visiting Ottawa, Quebec City and Montreal. She finished her degree cum laude at Brooklyn College and started her career in Manhattan.

As a Senior Business Development Representative at Planful Inc, Katy brought incredible energy, passion and joy for creating connections with CFOs of major companies to improve their financial planning and reporting; Katy had a special combination of empathy, talent and relentless work ethic which enabled her to consistently excel at her job. Business trips took her out West and on the last, in San Diego, she contracted, despite vaccinations, Covid’s Delta and struggled to rebound.

Katy will be so missed by her parents, her brother Eric, Dodger, Cuddles, Mishka and Laika. She leaves Aunts Judy Marsh, Cynthia Marsh, cousins Rusty, Kim, Yo, Andrew, Anna. Bill & Andrea Creaser, Barb & Ken Cook and Tom & Mary Creaser. James, Caroline, Diana, Eileen and Anna. She leaves dear friends who sat by her fire pit, those she went trail riding with and barn friends. Katy was predeceased by grandparents Bill and Eileen Creaser, Theron and Minsi Marsh and cousin Scott Wutkiewicz.

Katy loved Thoreau: “Live in each season as it passes: breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit and resign yourself to the influences of the earth.”

Katy’s Celebration of Life was held on a sunny October 16, 2021 at the First Congregational Church, Madison. Burial was at West Cemetery.

Donations in her memory: Forgotten Felines, Westbrook CT or Army’s Legacy Animal Rescue in Bristol, CT where she got her pup. https://armyslegacy.org/donate/