Catharine (Poydar) Pridham

     Catharine (Poydar) Pridham, (74) Daughter of Elbert and Catharine Poydar, passed away in Lexington, MA on Valentine’s Day February 14, 2024.  She fought the battle with cancer with uncommon strength and dignity.  

     Cathy was born in Dedham, MA on January 21, 1950. She graduated from Dedham High, attended Eastern Nazarene College, and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication at the University of New Hampshire.  Cathy earned her BA from University of New Hampshire while working full time and parenting her two children.  

     Cathy chose librarianship for her career. She began her  career as a librarian at Rice Public Library in Kittery. Maine, later to Jacob Edwards Library in Southbridge, MA, then Dimond Library at University of New Hampshire, and topped off her career at the Portsmouth Public Library, NH 

     At Portsmouth, Cathy was very well suited for Children’s Services with her inherent curiosity, love of reading, ability to help children at all levels of reading ability find that just right book.  She helped thousands of children (and adults) find answers to questions, make discoveries about the world, and have fun learning to read.  She was adept at matching the potential reader with the “just right” book and opening books to open minds. 

     She was instrumental in expanding story telling in Portsmouth and became an active member and leader of the Seacoast Storytellers. Cathy became an advocate of storytelling for the rest of her career and into retirement, earning a place in several storytelling workshops at the American Library Association’s Annual Meeting. She was awarded a special citation from then Governor Shaheen for her work in the Statewide Summer Reading Program.  

     Cathy was the type of person who makes  libraries so essential;  quietly helping others to find their own answers, and to become informed questioners, researchers, and discoverers

     She is survived by her husband Sherman Pridham; her son Scott Whittemore and wife Tangie Whittemore; sister Anna London and husband David London;  their children Anna Moran, Aaron London, and David Smith and his children Isabel Smith and Abi Smith; her step-daughter Shelley Moeller and her husband Dan Moeller their daughter Hallie Moeller; her step-son Stephen Pridham 

     Plans to celebrate her life and her love of life are being formulated and will take place in early Spring in the Portsmouth area. Watch for more information on Nardone Funeral Parlor’s web site: nardonefuneralhome.com as plans become formalized. 

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