Page 26 - San Diego Woman interactive pdf

Women of Distinction

As she brushed the dark, shiny coat
of her youngest dog, a sense of pride came
through her voice as she gleamed. “I have
two dogs certified with Love on a leash, a
nationally recognized pet therapy pro-
gram. Volunteering with Palomar Paws at
the Palomar Medical Center has brought
tremendous joy to the patients, visitors,
staff, the dogs and also to me.” Her dog
confirmed by licking her hand.
This particular day Cathy invited me
over to see her latest art creations. I knew
she had been making stained glass lamps
shades but I had no idea to what extent. She
had set up an entire room filled with boxes
of colorful glass. As she leaned over her
soldering tool, my eyes moved behind her
to see her latest finished lamp.
The intricate and complex glass capti-
vated me with color. This was no ordinary
lamp and I knew I was looking at an excep-
CATHY husband, Bobby, breed and raise Rottwei-
not downright entertaining. Cathy and her
tional, one of a kind piece.
lers and are involved with Southwest Search
Dogs, an organization that trains dogs to
SCHULTE find missing people. They work with the
San Diego Police Department and aid them
in the field locating the subjects. It was
A Heart of Gold always fascinating to hear her stories.
It became evident that Cathy looked at
her dogs like her own offspring and I could
Feature & Photos by Dawn Nicoli see the love in her eyes as she trained them
to the sound of her voice and the look in
I met my good friend, Cathy Schulte her eyes. I timidly asked her what made her
several years ago when she counseled me Cathy started volunteering with two lamps so unique. Lowering her protective
through the most difficult transition of of her dogs at the local hospitals, doing pet eye piece, Cathy took a break to educate me.
my life. She spent 39 years working in the therapy work for the elderly and disabled “I began working with stained glass in
field of chemical dependency and teaching children. It was then I saw a warmth sur- 1991. I took lessons at Blue Dolphin Stained
at City College in their Alcohol and drug round her like never before. When she put Glass Studios where I was introduced to
programs. Cathy helped me through the her uniform on, her dogs would run to the Keiichi Yamamoto who taught me how to
demise of my marriage and through our car with no doubt as to where they were make the Tiffany reproduction lamps.
counseling we became friends and I learned going. It’s the Tiffany design that makes these
many things about this multi-faceted lamps so superior. Louis Comfort Tiffany
woman. (1848-1933) was trained as a painter but
Cathy spent many years creating jewel- developed glassmaking techniques includ-
ry and sold it through the Marriott Hotels ing the opalescent effect which combines
and boutiques. For my birthday she would colors and layers to give the glass a three
sometimes give me a one of a kind piece dimensional look. Previously, glass artists
and I knew she had a special talent. would merely paint on the glass but Tiffany
Occasionally I would find myself wan- was able to create layers of color in the glass
dering aimlessly in the neighborhood and itself.”
meander over to Cathy’s for some stabili- I watched as Cathy meticulously hand
zation. She is one of those people who can cut her pieces and noticed band aids on
help you make sense of any confusing issue some of her fingers.
and feel at peace with it. She explained that each piece of glass
Joining her at her kitchen table with her is hand cut and then ground down to fit the
three Rottweilers was always invigorating if pattern. When she told me she ended up

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