Obituary of Mary Kathryn McBride

Our beloved Mary Kathryn McBride passed away at her beautiful home in Soquel on February 23 2012 with her son Joseph and dear friends by her side. She maintained her dignity throughout her illness with Cancer, keeping her optimism, grace, and bright spirit alive until the end. Kathryn was born on January 28th 1950 in New York City and moved to the Bay Area at an early age. She graduated from San Francisco's Lowell High School in 1968. Throughout Junior High and High School she was involved in Synchronized Swimming where she won national championships with the San Francisco Merionettes. She received her BA and MA in Ceramic Sculpture from San Francisco State University in 1975 and launched her teaching career shortly thereafter. She taught Ceramics for twenty years in the Bay Area before landing a prestigious position at Cabrillo College where she was a Ceramics Instructor as well as the head of the Ceramics Department. She continued teaching until just before she passed. Kathryn was highly regarded and a well liked teacher who will be missed dearly by all those whose lives she touched. She had the amazing ability to coax the inner artist out of anyone and help guide her students in the direction they chose. Kathryn was always humble, treating everyone with kindness, patience and respect, and her students felt honored by her level of dedication. Kathryn leaves behind a legacy of students, from the little children she taught in her own home studio, through her college students and seniors. Kathryn's art was a personal narrative of her journey through life. Her unique pieces were extraordinary because of her incredibly intricate work, the surprise of their life like quality, and the sense that each one held a potent story. In her own words: "I create small-scale, narrative sculpture. My goal is to share a reverence for Nature, exquisite craftsmanship, and the wonder I experience when I am fully present in the creative process. I am attracted to vintage objects from an era of quality design and fine craftsmanship, & enjoy the rich, sensuous textures of plant-life, animals, and fabrics. "Kathryn McBride's works are exhibited in museums and private collections across the country, including the Ferrin Gallery in Massachusetts, The Museum of Art & History in Santa Cruz and the Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University. Her sculptural teapots can be found in several books including: 500 Teapots, 500 Figures, and Teapots Transformed. Kathryn was a devoted mother, an avid gardener, and a wonderful cook interested in fresh local food. She took the time to be present with friends and family, giving thoughtful hand written cards, and sharing flower arrangements from her garden. She will always be remembered for her beautiful smile, sense of humor and contagious laughter, her refined sensibilities, integrity, and always doing the right thing. She is survived by her son Joseph McBride, his half sisters Mia and Aiyana, her parents Bob & Mary McBride, her sister Nancy and brother in law Kevin their daughter Julia, her brother Scott and sister in law Janice and their son Matthew and daughter Monica and husband Marshall, and Kathryn's grand nephews, Zachery and Cody, innumerable friends, students and the art community. The Cabrillo Foundation is establishing the following two funds in honor and memory of Kathryn McBride: The Kathryn McBride Cabrillo College Ceramics Program Fund (to support the ceramics instructional program at Cabrillo College) and The Kathryn McBride Scholarship Fund (to fund art scholarships for Cabrillo College students). In lieu of flowers, donations may be made by check, payable to "Cabrillo College Foundation." Please indicate on the check memo line either "Kathryn McBride Scholarship Fund," or "Kathryn McBride Ceramics Program Fund," and mail to: Cabrillo College Foundation, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos, CA 95003.