Catherine Lee Byrd

Catherine Lee Byrd, age 65, passed away on July 19, 2024, due to complications stemming from her Multiple Myeloma, diagnosed in 2015. Residing in Plymouth only since 2005, she had become a beloved member of this small town through her dedicated work in bookkeeping and administrative support for many local organizations including the Michigan Philharmonic, the Plymouth Community Chamber of Commerce, the Plymouth Community Arts Council and St. John’s Episcopal Church. She was an avid reader, spoke fluent German, some French and Italian, loved classical music (especially anything Baroque), Irish fiddle music, anything sung by Judy Garland or her childhood hero, Linda Ronstadt, and she especially loved cats, her felines in particular. 

Catherine was born on May 28 on a US Air Force base in Wiesbaden, Germany, to her parents Leonora (née Crall) and Robert Byrd. After her parents’ divorce, her mother moved back to San Francisco with her two young children, older sister Rebecca and Catherine. Catherine was always proud of having grown up in San Francisco and taking the city bus to attend the esteemed, high-ranking public magnet school, Lowell High School, graduating in 1977.

She then studied viola performance and German at the University of California at Santa Cruz and spent her year abroad studying in Vienna. She took a break in her academic studies to work in the “real world.” During this time, she played her viola in the Community Women’s Orchestra, a project of the Women’s Philharmonic in San Francisco where she first met Nan Washburn, the CWO founder and conductor. Catherine later went back to complete her BA degree in German at Mills College in Oakland and soon was working as the Education Assistant and Assistant Box Office Sales Manager with Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Returning to her education, she completed an MA in German at U.C. Davis in 1992 and further graduate studies at UCD in Comparative Literature, concurrently working as Graduate Instructor and Research Assistant. Catherine’s interest in photography was also growing and led her to take courses at the Golden Gate School of Photography, Sacramento’s The Darkroom, and Diablo Valley College.

She graciously moved with her partner Nan Washburn to Pacifica in 1996 for Nan’s new teaching position at San Francisco State University. Catherine worked as the Administrative Assistant for the musical presenting organization, Old First Concerts in San Francisco, and as a photographer’s assistant to two Bay Area wedding photographers. She also worked on her own free-lance photography.

In 1999, the Plymouth Symphony brought Catherine and Nan to Michigan and Catherine began work in Accounts Payable at JAC Products in Saline while continuing her photography work. She specialized in musician headshots and performance “action shots.” In addition, she volunteered doing photography for the American Red Cross, Washtenaw County Chapter in Ann Arbor. With another move to West Hollywood, CA, from 2002-2005, she was Production Coordinator for New Light Media in West Hollywood and then worked as one of the Internal Accountants at Holthouse Carlin & Van Trigt LLP, CPAs, in Santa Monica.

Catherine and Nan moved to Plymouth Township in 2005, purchasing a home and settling in to the community. With a Professional Bookkeeper Certification in 2007, Catherine found another couple of bookkeeping and office manager jobs, but with long days of commuting, she decided to focus all her attention on working solely for non-profit organizations right in Plymouth.

Catherine had an extra ordinary life with many turns and twists, all showcasing her numerous skills, eclectic interests, and immense talents—something that she would say was any good Gemini’s calling card. Intermittently, she found a way to play music, whether it be on violin, mandolin, or percussion, occasionally performing with the second violin sections of the Michigan Philharmonic and National Women’s Music Festival, or helping out the Michigan Philharmonic Youth Orchestra playing percussion and drum set.

All combined, her bright, mercurial energy, charmingly quick wit, kindness, adventurous spirit, and dedication to her work and to those she loved created an utterly unique human being, taken from us far too soon. 

Catherine is survived by Nan Washburn, her partner/spouse of almost 38 years, her sister Rebecca Dickenson, nieces Christine Smith (Tim) and Sara Lee, great nieces Victoria Zuniga and Amie Smith, great nephew Michael Dickenson, and a great many friends who will all miss her dearly.

 A Celebration of Life is being planned for Sunday, August 25, 2024.  Please contact the Michigan Philharmonic for details at 734-451-2112.  In lieu of flowers, please consider honoring Catherine Byrd by donating in her memory to the Michigan Philharmonic https://michiganphil.networkforgood.com/projects/230717-memorial-for-catherine-byrd  in Plymouth.  (As the Philharmonic’s bookkeeper, she always worried about having enough money to pay the bills. Donations would indeed help her truly Rest in Peace.)