Remembering
Cathy Nelson by Seymour Weiss
Cathy Nelson was a loving wife, mother and grandmother; she was also the most tried and true friend anyone could want. Cathy left this life on February 13 after a brief illness and the dog world has become a lonelier place without her.
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hose who knew Cathy also knew that she was a brilliant dog person and her breed choice, the Dandie Dinmont Terrier, presents unique challenges in breeding, keeping and showing to all who accept those challenges. Cathy met every challenge head on with resolute determination and the will to succeed – and succeed she did, in spades! She acquired her first Dandie from Nancy Mann, whose Woodbourne prefix is associated with many of the breed’s finest. Cathy was from the Chicago area and eventually relocated to Potomac, Maryland where she spent the rest of her life. However, she didn’t stay in Potomac, but became a world traveler with numerous trips to a host of places many of us can only dream about. China, South America, continental Europe, Great Britain and Antarctica were just some of the places she visited, explored and recorded for her own pleasure and for that of many others. Cathy was an accomplished artist. Many of her renderings were delightfully whimsical in nature while 30 Dog News
others were more serious and her illustrations depicting a number of breed standards allowed countless fanciers to better understand the dogs with which they share their lives. As a breeder Cathy was preeminent, testament to which are the 83 owner-handled homebred champions Cathy produced. She was always a serious contender and gave the best of herself in the ring, in the studio and wherever else this remarkable person applied her prodigious talents. Cathy Nelson set the bar very high for all her peers. Numerous honors went back to the home in Potomac. A
multitude of Specialty and Group victories went to Pennywise Dandies for many years, but perhaps the most memorable show ring triumph was the 1993 Westminster Group for the unforgettable Ch. Pennywise The Butler Did It. The picture of Cathy in her beautiful costume and Butler looking the picture of the Dandie Standard with both performing perfectly is a vision those friends of the breed who saw it will never forget. Cathy also always paid it forward. Just as her dogs were always impeccably presented, she also shared her artistic talent for grooming to all who sought help. Likewise in breeding, Cathy was a fountain of help and precious information for all. She served the Dandie Dinmont Terrier Club of America in numerous capacities including many terms as president, and had just begun a judging career. Everything she did truly benefitted everyone around her. Cathy was also a proud member of the Montgomery County Kennel Club, president of Columbia Terrier Club of Maryland and the National Capitol Kennel Club and was active in other clubs in Maryland and environs. Will the dog fancy ever fully realize what we have lost? Not likely. We can, however, consider ourselves blessed that Cathy Nelson was in the dog fancy, in the Dandie breed and in our lives. To her sons, Douglas and Jeffery, her daughters in law and her grandchildren, we share your loss and will remember together this amazing friend. Before concluding this tribute, I would be remiss not to mention her great friend and fellow road warrior Norma Ryan. This pair hung together, showed together and worked together for the benefit of Dandie Dinmonts and everything that made the dog game special. Rest well Cathy Nelson, legions of people will never forget you.