Longtime Pacific Palisades resident Catharine Rose Oliver Pratt Silver passed away peacefully at home on February 9. She was 92. She was born on June 17, 1918 in Surrey, England, to Dr. Oliver B. Pratt and Catharine Rose Winckley Pratt. In 1938 she graduated from Charlotte Mason Teachers College, in Britain’s beautiful Lake District, and proceeded to build and operate a small elementary school in the village of Shrivenham. Catharine shared many of her memories of prewar and postwar life in Europe, especially the times when she was with her future husband, Alexander Silver, an American army officer who was stationed for a time in Shrivenham. After the war, Catharine traveled to the United States in a converted military aircraft and married Alex. From 1947 to 1949, she taught a variety of seventh-grade classes at the Westlake School for Girls in Holmby Hills, including European history and geography, French language and customs, beginning geometry and physiology. She also took the girls horseback riding on the property that is now Paul Revere Middle School. Interestingly, reflecting that era, she was told to use her maiden name, Pratt, rather than her married name Silver. Catharine and Alex had two daughters, Judith Ann (in 1950) and Joan Catharine (in 1952). Catharine was a devoted mother, introducing her daughters to art, literature, music and many trips to visit family and friends in the UK and France. She was also a Brownie and Girl Scout leader. Catharine was active in The Daughters of the British Empire organization since the 1960s, serving as chapter secretary and state regent. A Pacific Palisades resident from 1971, she was also a season ticket holder at Theatre Palisades and a member of the Palisades Garden Club. After Alex’s untimely death in 1975, Catharine took on the majority ownership of Industrial Polychemical Service. Alex had invented the adhesives for plastic pipe (PVC) in the early 1950s and had built a thriving chemical corporation. Catharine sold the company several years later and ‘retired’ to a life of learning her fourth language, Spanish, and proceeded to teach ESL to adults. She also traveled to Spanish-, French- and German-speaking countries, often staying with local families. She was fascinated with the varied child-rearing practices of different cultures. A depiction of Catharine’s life would not be complete without mentioning her devoted Welsh corgi, Laddie. She and Laddie were well known for their walks in the Palisades parks and countryside. Catharine is survived by her daughters, Judith and Joan; a stepson, Joseph; and two grandchildren, Rachel and Michael. She is resting by her beloved husband, Alexander, in the Veterans Cemetery in Westwood. Contributions may be made in her honor to Doctors without Borders (888-392-0392) or Save the Children (800-728-3843).
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