Catherine Pomerans

Catherine Pomerans died on December 20th, 2021, in Raleigh, North Carolina. Katie was born on May 2nd, 1938 in Montevideo, Uruguay. She studied theatre and politics, and worked for the Peace Corps throughout South America with her husband, Dr. Mark Pomerans, before emigrating to the United States with their young children Mark and Sandra in 1970.

Her passion for public service began in the 1950s as an 18-year-old living in Israel, where her work in youth government culminated in a meeting with the Prime Minister. As a new US citizen, she continued this work in North Carolina. Katie served as the first Latina on the NC NAACP Board of Directors. She was the Hispanic programs advisor and AgrAbility Coordinator with the NC Cooperative Extension, the Hispanic ombudsman of the NC Governor’s Office, and won the Governor’s Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service in 2000. She was a co-founder of El Pueblo, a non-profit organization which advocates for Latinos in North Carolina.

During her life, Katie gave everything she had for her children and grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her loving husband Dr. Mark Pomerans, and is survived by her children Mark Pomerans and Sandra Cohn, and her grandchildren John Cathcart, Alex Cathcart, Gordon Cathcart, Zane Pomerans, Delta Pomerans, and Matthew.