Cathy Groth

Cathy (Carpenter) Groth died April 24 after a long battle with breast cancer. She was 55.

Groth was born March 9, 1961 in San Luis Obispo, California to Bill and Gail Carpenter. She spent her childhood years in New Hampshire, Guam, before finally settling in Livermore in 1972 when her dad landed a job with Lockheed Missiles and Space Corporation.

Groth attended Junction Avenue middle school and graduated from Granada High School in 1979. She then attended Chabot Junior College in Hayward. In 1979 she met her future husband Curt Groth via a blind date set up by her very good friend Wendy Wells. In 1980 she took a job in Sunnyvale as a secretary for System Development Corporation and then accepted a job at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory late in 1980.

Groth and Curt were married in 1982 and they had two children Christie (1991) and Katie (1999) who both brought immense joy to them. Groth loved being a mother and she really excelled in that role.  She was the perfect blend of a loving mother and fair, yet firm disciplinarian.

She enjoyed watching her daughters play sports and was always there, cheering them on. She drove her kids everywhere and they had many fun times together, shopping, eating out and just going places. Some of her favorite things to do included being in nature, listening to music, dancing, landscaping and she had a flair for interior decorating. She loved being with her family and was always teaching. She loved any and all places that had a beach, her favorite place was Maui. The family spent much time in Carmel as that was another family favorite location.

At the young age of 39, Groth was diagnosed with breast cancer. Three years later, after a 23 year career, she decided to leave the Lab so she could be with her kids. She fought very hard to beat metastatic stage IV breast cancer.  She will be remembered as a loving mother; a great listener, a fun person and someone who made people feel understood.

In addition to her immediate family, Groth leaves behind her brothers Steve and Jason Carpenter and a sister Marla (Bennett) and their respective families. She is predeceased by her parents Bill and Gail Carpenter.

A Celebration of Life is planned for May 21 in Livermore.