Kathrine “Kay” Dana Shaw, whose legacy is etched in south Orange County philanthropy and business, died on Jan. 8. She was 102.
Before her death, she was the oldest living relative of Dana Point’s namesake, author Richard Henry Jr., but she was something of a local celebrity in her own right through her work as a publicist and play producer in the 1950s and transition to entrepreneurship and charity later in life. Shaw was pivotal to the early history of south Orange County, moving to La Verne, where she died, five years ago.
Born Kathrine Dana in Mesa, Arizona, on April 28, 1921, Shaw was born to be a leader and businesswoman, said her daughter, Cynthia Bowers. As a child, she moved to California with her widowed mother and eventually was adopted by her uncle, Ilif Ross Dana.
“Instead of choosing a writing career like her family wanted,” said Bowers, “she chose to pursue a life in acting which she thought would be the solution to save her mother, siblings and herself from abject poverty.”
In her 20s, Shaw started Catherine Coleman’s Charm School, an etiquette school, while also working on the production of “The Drunkard,” a popular temperance play, in Los Angeles. There, she sold tickets for the show, acted when needed and handled the show’s promotion to the community, starting her work as a publicist.
Through the theater company, Shaw met Walter Knott, owner of Knott’s Berry Farm, who recognized her publicity skills and allowed her to lease the Bird Cage Theatre on his property. There, she produced and performed plays such as “The Streets of New York” and “Riverboat Revenge,” drawing crowds to the theater and Old MacDonald’s Farm, a petting zoo on the Knott’s property.
It was at the Old MacDonald’s Farm where she was introduced to Fulton Shaw. They married in 1959 and remained together for 40 years until his death in 1999.
Together, the couple opened a marionette stage in Mission Viejo, Bowers said, and devoted their time to supporting businesses and community organizations within the San Juan Capistrano community, such as the Chamber of Commerce, Fiesta Association, Rotary Club, Women’s Club of San Juan and various political and religious organizations.
In addition to her businesses, Shaw worked with abused children and at-risk youth as well as corresponded with prisoners through a Bible study program called “The Narrow Way,” Bowers said.
“Kay, like her relative Richard Henry Dana Jr., devoted her life to the poor and disadvantaged,” said Bowers.
Kay and Fulton Shaw were also some of the founders of the famous Swallow’s Day Parade in San Juan Capistrano. Kay Shaw even served as the parade’s grand marshal in 2008, a position she only agreed to, Bowers said, if the city could promote ways the community could help incarcerated people through her prison ministry.
“It’s in the Dana strand, we’ve all been taught to look out for those who are less fortunate,” said Bowers. “My mother also looked out for the powerless.”
Recently, Shaw and family members visited the O’Neill Museum in San Juan Capistrano to read from her book, “Mover and Shaker: Remarkable Woman Making Her Mark In A Man’s World.” The book, which came out in March, tells the tale of Shaw’s life, outlining her ongoing support for the Mission Viejo, Dana Point and San Juan Capistrano communities through her own eyes.
Bowers hopes people read her mother’s book, in honor of her memory, to learn more about her family’s history.
Shaw was a longtime resident of San Juan Capistrano until she relocated to La Verne in 2019. She is survived by her three children Cynthia Shaw Bowers, Carl Coleman and Barbara Christine Coleman Meadows as well as her two stepchildren, Patte Shaw and Syril Shaw.
Details regarding a memorial service will be announced at a later time, said Bowers.
