Welcome to Threadlines, our monthly blog dedicated to celebrating the passionate supporters who inspire our brand. This month, we’re delighted to shine a well-deserved spotlight on Cathy Curtis—birthday girl, my serene, blonde beauty of a neighbor, a devoted mother and grandmother, boutique manager, loyal Mansawear enthusiast, and a true embodiment of the virtues of Patience and Love.
A Lifelong Connection
Cathy and I have been neighbors since 2000. She lives just two houses down from me, in a home that beautifully transforms with each season. Her house features a tranquil Zen garden that was a regular stop on the local Garden Tours before COVID-19. And, as you can see from the photo below, Santa never misses the Curtis household!
Cathy and I became especially close when she cared for my daughter, Mansa, after school. The school bus would drop Mansa off, and she spent many joyful afternoons with “Dobby,” as the children affectionately called Cathy, doing arts, crafts, and “cooking.” Before she helped me with Mansa, Cathy was also one of Mansawear’s earliest supporters—opening the boutique during the lunch hour rush in our early days. Not only was she our first salesperson and manager, but she also crafted beautiful headbands from leftover fabric scraps for the shop.
A Testament to Resilience
Despite facing a major health crisis early in life, Cathy lives with remarkable grace and hope. While working as a young nurse at the now-defunct Genesee Hospital, she was injured by patient. That incident led to the discovery that Cathy was pregnant with her first child, Emily and began a long journey dealing with chronic back pain and its unintended consequences—including a lifetime of managing pain with medication.
An Oasis of Serenity
Cathy and her beloved husband John, married for over 40 years, are avid gardeners who created a stunning Zen-inspired oasis in their backyard. Before COVID-19, their home was a regular stop on the local home and garden tours, admired for its beauty and tranquility This Asian-inspired garden is unparalleled, with its focus on native plants, a fish pond full of koi, and tranquil music that emanates from well-hidden speakers. Some evergreens are hinoki, cypress, juniper, rhododendrons, and azaleas. Deciduous trees include Japanese maples, weeping larch, and crabapple trees. These are the “bones” of the garden. Each season has its own unique flowers. Spring: tulips, snowdrops, daffodils, irises, and crocuses, to name a few. They add summer annuals for season-long blooms. There are phlox, a variety of hostas, cannas, shasta daisies, coneflowers, lavender, and clematis, to name a few. Most of these flower through fall.
A Heart for All Children
Cathy is a devoted grandmother to Elijah and Gabriel, and a proud mother to Emily and Jack. But more than that, she’s “Dobby,” to countless neighborhood kids—from Mansa to the McCarthys, the Bonaccis and the Jandiks. Her front yard even served as the unofficial Halloween photo backdrop for the kids growing up on our block.
I’m constantly in awe of Cathy—her resilience, her calming presence, especially with children, her genuine love for others, and simply her sweet, good-natured spirit. I’m so glad that Cathy is a good friend and Mansawear supporter. Let’s raise our coffee mugs to Cathy, just like we do during our cherished Monday morning coffee dates, our serene, stylish blonde muse and neighborhood gem. Happy Birthday, Cathy!
To see Cathy’s favorite Mansawear styles, check out the Pencil Dress and other made-to-measure pieces at https://mansawear.com/collections/womens-dresses/products/2014-pencil-block-dress.
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