Sadly, her loved ones announce the peaceful passing of a Newport icon – Catherine “Katey” Grovell.

She is survived by her loving daughter Juliet Figueiredo of Dunnallon, FL; her granddaughter Carrissa Hankins of Ocala, FL; her grandson Edward Zommer of Citrus County, FL; and a great grandson Memphis Zommer.

Katey was also a loving part of the Saccucci and Karousos families, and she will be greatly missed by Barbara, Dina, Teddy, George, Alex, Zach and Sophia. Jerry Roos, a close friend, will also mourn Katey’s passing.

Katey was known to many Newporters as the little lady who would walk up and down Broadway daily, visiting Dunkin’ Donuts, Cumby’s, and her favorite restaurant – The Hungry Monkey. Everyone knew Katey, and walking with her was like being with the Mayor of Newport. She was actually featured as one of Newport’s “Newportant People” in a published series.

Katey’s fame did not end there, as her small stature was no obstacle to her athletic abilities over an 80 year period. She starred in softball, tennis, and basketball, at Rogers High School. In 1949, Katey received the Outstanding Newport Female Athlete award and went on to receive hundreds of medals in the RI Senior Olympics over a 30 year period that ended in 2019.

When Katey worked at the Goat Island Torpedo Station, she would stop at Cardines Field on her way home and gather the bats, and balls, on the field as perhaps, baseball’s first “bat girl”. Legend has it, that Katey once played catch with “Satchel” Paige…