Catina "Cat" Amiri Cureton, an animal enforcement officer, died of a heart attack Sunday at University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus. The Dickeyville resident was 41.
Born in Baltimore, she was the daughter of Keith Cureton, Baltimore City employee, and Gwendolyn Mullen, a city schoolteacher. She was raised in the Village of Purnell near Forest Park and Dickeyville and attended Hilton Elementary School and Garrison Junior High School. She was a 1991 City College graduate and studied theater at the Community College of Baltimore County.
She worked in animal control at the Baltimore County Humane Society, the Maryland Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals on Falls Road and at the Baltimore Animal Rescue and Care Shelter.
An animal fancier, she had a Siberian husky and a tabby cat.
"She had a distinct personality and a sharp and biting wit," said Charlie Vascellaro, a friend. "A lot of people when they first met her were intimidated by her demeanor. She had a strong presence. ... As I got to know her, she was sweet and was an affectionate person. When I met her, she would hug me."
Ms. Cureton also worked occasionally checking IDs at the door at the Mount Royal Tavern on Mount Royal Avenue, where she had many friends.
Chloe Rayson, a Mount Royal bartender, said, "She had a unique personality. She liked what she liked, and she would tell you what she didn't like. There were no apologies there."
"She was a one-of-a-kind person. She was a powerful character," said Alison Haygood, who lives in Baltimore." She had an encyclopedic knowledge of movies and actors. She told some crazy stories about working for animal control. She told us about going out to get a bat in a home. She got alligators and all sorts of things."
In her free time, she made jewelry and was a movie enthusiast. She also played drums in a punk band, the Bitches of Babylon.
A memorial Mass will be offered at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at St. Bernardine's Roman Catholic Church, 3812 Edmondson Ave.
In addition to her mother, survivors include her partner, Azephra Hamilton of Philadelphia; and cousins, aunts and uncles.