Catherine Mary Straub

Dec 18, 1963 -

Sep 1, 2023

Catherine Mary Straub passed peacefully at home on Sept. 1, 2023, at the age of 59, following a valiant battle with breast cancer. She leaves behind her loving husband of 35 years, Jeff Loughrey; their two children, Tyler and Erica Loughrey; dear family friend, Denali Culver; and extended family and friends across Alaska, Idaho, Hawaii, Florida, and beyond. Cathie is preceded in death by her parents, Robert and Patricia Straub.

Cathie was born in Columbus, Ohio, on Dec. 18, 1963, and called Ohio home throughout her childhood and young adult life. Cathie was a proud graduate of Dublin High School and went on to earn a bachelor's degree in both finance and accounting from Miami University. Cathie's parents relocated to Alaska when Cathie was a senior in high school and after graduation from Miami, she joined them in Anchorage, where she built her life for the next 38 years. It was in Anchorage where she met Jeff, the true soul mate who shared her passion for adventure and zest for life, and they married on Sept. 10, 1988. Throughout their marriage they shared a love for the great outdoors, gourmet cooking, fine wine, music and travel, but most of all for the family they created together.

Adopted at birth, Cathie had a lovingly expansive definition of family. She was a devoted daughter, daughter-in-law, mother, sister, aunt and friend to so many. Once in Cathie's orbit, people never left; she touched the lives of people from Alaska to Europe to Australia. Above all else however, she was the proud, caring mother of Erica, 25, and Tyler, 28, who were the center of her life, yet she still found room to welcome Denali, 25, into the Loughrey family as her "bonus daughter" later in life.

She cherished times spent on family outings all over the world and memorialized them in her famous photo journals. Cathie was an avid hiker, skier, scuba diver, paddle boarder – the list goes on. Active throughout her life, Cathie was scuba diving with penguins, sea lions and whale sharks in the Galapagos just four short months before her passing, a testament to her passion for adventure.

Cathie's extended "family" included her many work colleagues and clients as her professional life was an integral part of Cathie's world. Cathie began her long and successful career at Ernst & Young CPAs, followed by 18 years as a partner in Financial Resources Inc. Cathie joined Alaska Permanent Capital Management in 2009, transitioning into her role as an owner/Director of Alaska Wealth Advisors when it formed in 2014. Cathie never slowed down, managing clients and mentoring young staff and interns up to her final days.

Cathie leveraged her professional success to make a difference in her community. She lent countless hours to nonprofits and other organizations predominantly focusing on the needs of women, healthcare and the environment. These organizations were quick to recognize her extensive skill set and often tapped her to lead. As President and later Capital Campaign Chair, she was instrumental in securing funds for the YWCA's new building in 2002. They later recognized her as a Women of Achievement in 2015. She led such organizations such as the Rotary Foundation, the Midnight Sun Republican Women's Club, the Anchorage Athena Society, Hospice of Anchorage, Alaska Public Media and most recently as the chair of the Great Land Trust. So extensive were her gifts to her community she was given the Mayor's Award for Public Service. Her compassionate legacy will be felt for years far into the future.

The impact that Cathie had on her loving family and extensive network of devoted friends will be forever remembered. A Celebration of Life will be held on Sept. 20, 2023. Please contact the family for details. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate support for the Alaska Community Foundation, specifically the Catherine Straub-Loughrey Legacy Fund, https://alaskacf.org/funds/catherine-straub-loughrey-legacy-fund/.