Former political activist Catt dies

Thursday, Oct. 10, 2002 | 9:48 a.m.

Virginia Ann Catt, a former Las Vegas Democratic national committeewoman who participated in nearly every major party event locally from the 1950s through the mid-1980s, has died. She was 71.

Catt, who had residences in Las Vegas and Raleigh, N.C., died Sept. 27 at her home in Raleigh following a lengthy battle with cancer.

"She lived and breathed the Democratic Party," said longtime friend Jeri Winter, secretary to U.S. District Judge James Mahan.

Harriet Trudell, political director of Democratic Party headquarters, called her longtime friend "a vibrant activist in the party."

Catt was a Nevada delegate to every Democratic National Convention from 1960 to the early 1980s.

She was a member of the Clark County Democratic Central Committee from 1955 to the early 1980s, serving as chairwoman in 1960. Catt also was a member of the Nevada State Democratic Central Committee from 1956 to the 1980s.

In the early 1970s, Catt was elected national committeewoman. She later served as state chairwoman for the get-out-the-vote campaign for Jimmy Carter.

"The election of Democrats on every level is important to me," Catt said in 1972. In the mid-1980s, she and husband Charles Catt, a local investor and attorney, moved to Bermuda. He preceded her in death, friends said.

Catt is survived by two daughters, Trudy Catt of Raleigh and Julie Catt of Los Angeles; and a son, Donald Catt of Las Vegas.

Services were held in Raleigh. No Las Vegas services have been announced.