Anita Catherine Look

Anita Catherine Look passed away peacefully on September 24, 2026.

She was born on October 1, 1937 in Oakland, California to Charles Richard Schad and Elisa (“Lee”) Marie (Knops) Schad. As a small girl, she moved with her parents to Peoria, Illinois, where she then spent her childhood and welcomed a younger brother, Richard, in 1946. In 1961, she graduated from Bradley University in Peoria with a B.S. in Speech Therapy. Shortly thereafter, she married Lance George Look, a fellow graduate of Bradley, and the two moved to Los Angeles, California, where Lance began his career in the aerospace industry. In those early years of marriage, Cathy was able to develop her love of the arts, beginning her work with pottery. She also became a mother, giving birth to her son, Brandon, in 1966.

Cathy moved to Traverse City in 1968, when Lance accepted a job with the Parsons Corporation. In the 1970s, Cathy taught pottery at Northwestern Michigan Community College and became a very active and lifelong member of the local arts community. After Lance’s untimely death in 1982, she built a house and studio in Omena, where she continued with her work in pottery and later photography.

Cathy had a large circle of loving friends, who were attracted to her positive energy, originality, creativity and inquisitiveness as well as her ability to make others felt heard.

She is survived by her brother, Charles Richard (Tracy) Schad Jr., and her son and daughter-in-law, Brandon Charles and Ingrid Look.

In accordance with Cathy’s wishes and with those of her family, no memorial service will be held.