Catherine Marie Doherty

Katey was born August 10th, 1947 in Darby, Pennsylvania to parents Anna Grace Doherty (nee Mooney) and Daniel John Doherty. Grace Hughes, Elizabeth Leonard, and Daniel Doherty were her siblings.

Katey attended Georgetown University, where she developed her lifetime love of theater and the arts. After living as an aspiring actor in New York and D.C., she joined Arena Stage, where she worked as part of house management staff, costume and wardrobe crews. Additionally, Katey served on a development team to research, edit and write several proposals seeking support as well as acted as an embassy liaison with Arena Board and reps of major foundations, corporations, and government funding sources for many years. During the mid 90s, she joined the National Endowment for the Arts, where she worked in multiple divisions, keeping the agency humming and her colleagues laughing. Katey’s job there was to make everyone’s lives easier. She was ultimately a caretaker for the entire agency, not just in handling the details but also by simply being there for people on a personal and not only a professional level. She brightened the place up even during the darkest times.

Throughout her life, Katey faced every challenge with resilience, kindness, laughter, and story. Katey adored her daughter, her family, her friends, theater, her community, her church, and her legendary triple chocolate cake, not necessarily in that order, and everyone who knew her adored her back. She will be ferociously missed.

Katey is survived by her beloved daughter Anne Doherty of Silver Spring, Maryland, her son Brandon Jason Dorgant (Allie), her brother Dan Doherty, and many nieces, nephews, and devoted friends.

A funeral mass and a celebration of life reception will be held at St Peter’s Capitol Hill (313 2nd St SE, Washington, DC 20003) on June 23rd, 2026 at 10:30am. Please note that there is only street parking and it’s best to carpool, ride share or use the Metro. Capitol South Metro is a block from St. Peter’s.

In lieu of flowers, contributions to the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) Hemorrhagic Stroke Research Program would be appreciated.

Donations can be sent to the address below or https://fundraise.massgeneralbrigham.org/give/808277/#!/donation/checkout

MGH Development Office

Attn: Kylie Baruffi

125 Nashua Street, Suite 540

Boston, MA 02114-1101