Longtime Santa Ynez Valley Publicist Dies at 59

Laura Kath (Photo: Facebook)

By edhat staff

Laura Kath, the longtime publicist for all things Santa Ynez Valley, died Thursday at age 59 after a long battle with cancer, reports Santa Ynez Valley News.

Kath owned and operated her consulting business Mariah Marketing for 30 years specializing in marketing Santa Ynez Valley events. She previously was the Vice-President of Sales & Marketing for Vintage Hotels in Santa Barbara and also served as the first Director of Sales for the Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce/Conference & Visitors Bureau from 1985-88. 

Born in Michigan, Kath wrote on her website that her communications career began when she requested a typewriter from Santa at age five, as well as her future hospitality career when she began playing "restaurant" instead of "house" with her tea set. In 1982, Laura graduated with honors from Michigan State University with a Business Administration degree in Hotel-Restaurant Management and Tourism Marketing. 

Since 1983, Laura has served as a volunteer with the Arthritis Foundation. In 1998, she was honored with the Mary G. Kendall Award for Outstanding Service and in 2005 as a “Community Hero”. Laura is Past President of the Santa Barbara Branch, serves on the Board of Directors; originated a self-help group for youth and was a Camp Esperanza counselor for kids with arthritis from 1989-94.

Her leisure pursuits include travel, aqua aerobics, reading, and music. As the lyrics from the Lerner & Lowe song say, “Like the wind they call Mariah, (Laura) blows the stars around and sends the clouds a-flying" with her positive energy and joyful celebration of life, according to her website.