Catherine Maclay

Catherine Maclay, known as Kate, was born on November 10, 1944, to Ruth Moreno Coe Romberg and Capt. Henry A. Romberg, USN. She died on October 9, 2026. Kate spent many summers of her early life in Gulf Breeze, Florida, with her grandparents, John Moreno Coe and Evelyn Shipley Coe, and had numerous relatives in the Pensacola, Florida, area.

Kate was preceded in death by her brothers, John Mansfield Romberg and James Nicholas Romberg. She is survived by her siblings, Alexandra Dorr of Wilmington, North Carolina, and Henry “Hank” Romberg of Round Hill, Virginia; her sons, Robert “Alex” Moomaw and his wife, Amy, of Norfolk, Virginia, and Matthew Moomaw and his fiancée, Angie Bidnick, of Golden, Colorado; and her grandchildren, Reece, Keir, and Rosamund.

A graduate of the Washington School for Secretaries, Kate served as secretary to the Episcopal bishop of the Diocese of the Central Gulf Coast and worked at St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church in Pensacola. She later worked for several law firms in the Washington, D.C., area before retiring in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Faith and service were important parts of Kate’s life. She sang for many years in the choir at Christ Church in Pensacola under the direction of her dear friend Ken Karadin. She was also a dedicated volunteer at St. Jude’s MCC in Wilmington, North Carolina, where she worked tirelessly to support people experiencing homelessness.

Kate loved to travel, with Central America, Kenya, and China holding a special place in her heart. She also had a deep love for animals. Among the beloved companions remembered by family and friends were her dogs Abby, Zane, Hawkeye, and Tashi; her horses, Tommy and Tonka; and her donkey, Lotus.

Kate was known for her easy smile, spirited wit, and infectious laugh. She had a wild and independent spirit, and showed kindness without limits. Her love for her boys and her family is eternal.