In Memory – Kathy White
Mon, Aug 24, 2009
Working in the VFX industry, you have the luxury of passing thru many people’s lives. As a freelancer, it is common for artists to jump from one studio to another and pretty quickly build a very large pool of familiar names, friends, and colleagues. But no matter how many names and faces you recognize down the hall, it is still a very difficult thing to accept when a familiar name comes across your screen and you find out that they are gone.
One sometimes doesn’t realize that these peers, which you work so closely with for so many long hours a week on projects, somehow become family. And when one of our own is gone, it leaves a very big empty space. The passing of Kathy White was not only sudden, but has also taken many of her peers by surprise and filled them with tragic loss of a very beloved friend.
TSP contacted Suze Datz, who was a very close friend and extended the opportunity for her to give us all a little more insight about Kathy. For those who knew her, it would be a wrap up of Kathy’s wonderful achievements, and for those who didn’t, a chance to read more about a pioneer that was responsible for the change of many people’s lives… with a simple and kind smile.
KATHY WHITE: January 12, 1959 -July 26, 2009
The Visual Effects industry lost one of its early innovators last month with the passing of Kathy White.
Born and raised in Florida, Kathy left at age 18 to attend Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, graduating with a BFA in Motion Picture Production and a minor in Computer Science in 1983. Kathy arrived in California at the end of 1984 and in 1985 began working at legendary Hollywood studio, Robert Abel & Associates as a Technical Director. As a TD, Kathy worked on award-winning commercials, such as Hawaiian Punch’s “Chain Reaction” and the Benson & Hedges “Gold” series.
In 1987 Kathy moved on to Digital Productions and later that year joined the fledgling Rhythm & Hues Studios as one of their first employees. Kathy spearheaded much of the early Rhythm & Hues production methods including acting as the first modeling department manager. Over the next 10 years Kathy helped pioneer an industry: creating groundbreaking effects work for commercials, theme park attractions and feature films.
Kathy, lovingly known as Kate, built the city of Paris for the EuroDisney attraction “Le Visionarium,” a circlevison experience; performed an interstellar emergency C-section on a giant alien creature for “Star Trek the Next Generation;” was Senior CG Supervisor on the Universal Studios’ Ridefilm Attraction “Seafari, CG Supervisor on “Batman and Robin”" and Lighting Director on Universal Studios’ “Spiderman” ride.
After her achievements at Rhythm & Hues, Kathy worked for the next four years at Disney Feature Animation as a shot finalist on several films.
The winner of numerous Clio Awards and Emmy awards for groundbreaking computer graphics work during the 1980s and 1990s, Kathy’s greatest and most loved productions were those of her two sons, Max Weinberg, 19, and Sam Weinberg, 13 who survive her along with her parents Boyce Robert White and Geraldine White, sisters Sabrina White and Lisa White, nieces Jessica Kelly and Olivia Bluma, Pudgie and Brain (cat and dog) and ex know-it-all husband and friend, Larry Weinberg.
A quiet, classy, kind, and well loved woman, Kathy White will be missed by everyone who was ever lucky enough to have known her. We wish her peace.
Memorial Service
A memorial celebrating the life of Kathy White will be held Sunday:
September 6, 2009 from 2pm-6pm
Rhythm & Hues Studios
5404 Jandy Place LA 90066.
You can also RSVP to the service and write your memories about Kathy at the Kathy White Memorial on Facebook.
We also encourage Kathy’s friends to write memories after this article, as it will immortalize Kathy in cyberspace. If you would like to contribute an image of Kathy for the gallery, please email us info (at) thescratchpost (dot) com with the title “Kathy White Pictures”.
Credits:
TSP will like like thank Suze, Lisa and Robert with help in creating this article.
Biography: Suze Datz
Photographs: Robert Lurye & Lisa White
Tags: Disney Feature, In Memory, Kathy White, Rhythm & Hues
Quiet,classy and kind, indeed. I knew Kathy since she was a young girl in Florida and she was in one word, darling. A rare person that very much loved what she loved and that was very interested in what you loved as well. A compassionate, interesting and accomplished woman. The world is a better place from Kathy sharing her soul and spirit in it. Live on. JG