Catherine Ann Presto

Palm Sunday, April 5th, 2020.

Frank Peter Vogel and Mary Alice Vogel welcomed her birth on April 26,1929 in Erie, PA. where they both were born. She has been reunited with both her parents as well as her older sister, Alice Mary, and joins her loving husband, Leon Anthony Presto, to whom she was married for 60 years. Kay was a local beauty queen and school secretary in Erie prior to marrying the local football star, Leon. The newlyweds had their first daughter, Debby (Presto) Ford, before venturing west to CA. Richard A. Presto, Lee A. (Presto) Barron and Anthony Presto would all be born in The Golden State.

Kay is also survived by sons-in-law Terry Ford and William Barron, and daughters-in-law Karen (Santoro) Presto and Leticia Presto. She adored her granddaughter Kimberly (Ford) Cox, husband, Andrew, great-grandchildren, Aiden, Keegan and Ashlyn; grandson Gregory Ford, wife, Jessica and great-granddaughter Whitney; granddaughter Amy (Barron) Luening, husband, Justin, with newest addition great-granddaughter Hazel Grace.

Kay was a graduate, and later Alumni of the Year, of The Villa Marie Academy in Erie. She was a dedicated student in school, as well as in life. Kay never stopped learning. She was self taught in most areas preparing her for a multifaceted lifelong career.

Kay Presto was an award-winning book author, television and radio producer and broadcaster, photo-journalist, public relations expert, and owner of her own motorsports website. She covered motorsports for over forty years, reporting on every type of racing from Formula One to motocross. She not only covered the competitive side of racing, but also was an expert on the technical side, covering such subjects as superchargers, downforce, and other items that make the race cars competitive.

Her photo-journalism has been published in the hardcover coffee-table book, High Octane. Ninety-eight percent of the photos in this outstanding book on CART racing are hers. She was also the author and photographer for the award-winning book Power Basics of Auto Racing, and was the co-producer of the video of the same name. Her photo-journalism has also been published around the world, in such famed magazines as Sport, Autoweek, Circle Track, Car Craft, National Speed Sport News, Corsa, Richard Petty Magazine, and many more.

Her stories are published in four Chicken Soup books – Chicken Soup for the NASCAR Soul and Chicken Soup for the Soul: NASCAR, Chicken Soup for the Coffee Lovers’ Soul, Chicken Soup The Spirit of America, Chicken Soup My Amazing Mom and Ultimate Christian Living. Other publications in which her work is published are Wake Up…Live the Life You Love – Giving Gratitude, which was No. 6 on the Barnes and Noble Best-Seller List, and various books in The Heart series.

She had been a television producer and on-air sportscaster for CNN and ESPN “Speedweek,” and has broadcast racing on many major radio networks, including Mutual, ABC, and NBC. She has done public relations for race teams, legal firms and businesses throughout the United States, and was the Director of Public Relations for the Ontario (Calif.) Visitors’ and Convention Bureau at the Ontario Convention Center.

Her love of writing led her into writing books for children. Becoming a member of the international Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), she completed the middle-grade adventure novel, Chasing the Checkered Flag, and twelve other books for children.

Kay was also an enthusiastic speaker and mentor serving as an incredible resource to Toastmasters District 12 as well as Founders District (for LACE) and District 100 (for Learning Lab).

For her work in motorsports, Kay received over 100 national and state awards in television and radio broadcasting, journalism, photography, and website, and many other numerous national honors. Her achievements are currently listed in Who’s Who of American Women, Who’s Who in America, and Who’s Who in the World.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to the Ontario USO at 1940 E. Moore Way, Ontario, CA. The Kyle Petty Victory Junction at victoryjunction.org, or the Salvation Army at donations.salvationarmy.org.