Winter steps aside for Cathy Cummings
Heavenly weather arrives in time to march home a saint of the 405 diningscape
Rare is a sun-splashed Oklahoma afternoon in February as warm as it was yesterday, which felt like a special dispensation from above as the community gathered at The Village’s City Plaza to celebrate the life of Cathy Cummings.
At least 500 people must’ve shuffled through the gathering in the park she had a hand in building for the city of The Village on a Sunday that couldn’t feel much holier.
Cathy was known broadly for two decades as the owner/operator/chef of Vito’s Italian Ristorante. Her concern for community inspired her to run for public office several times, but she found her civil service niche as a city council member and mayor for the tiny bedroom community where she and her husband Sean lived.
The Cummings moved here to Oklahoma in 2000, seeking a fresh start. Sean, a celebrated chef in their hometown of Kansas City, opened a seafood restaurant called Boca Boca in Collonade Square that year. She would open Vito’s a few blocks south on May Avenue three years later.
Cathy had her own restaurant background, starting at the age of 12 when she worked at her parents’ deli in Kansas City. Whether Pumpernickel Deli left an indelible mark on Kansas City sandwich lore is irrelevant because it will forever be known as the training ground for the finest front of house operator these parts have ever seen. Someone pointed out that when Cathy passed through a room, folks half-expected animated bluebirds to follow and flit about her.
Once she opened Vito’s, Cathy ensured delicious homestyle Italian food, including house-made bread, was hot and ready for service then as customers arrived, the hugging began.
The hugging continued from 4 p.m. until dark on Sunday. People from the many worlds Cathy touched collided on a day so inexplicably beautiful for the season that it was hard not to believe angels she’d just hugged were in on it.
Hugging Sean’s neck on Sunday was everything. He’s holding up as well as one can be expected. Sunday’s event, which followed burial services last week in Kansas City, showed the breadth of lives she touched. The turnout was a sign Sean will only grieve alone when he wants to.
Thanks to Cathy’s many friends in the food-service community, the chow line was massive on Sunday. Before it opened, we heard “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes, words of encouragement from Rev. Dr. Lori Walke of Mayflower UCC, and a funk band created a soundtrack for the whole affair. Just beautiful.
Vito’s operated throughout Cathy’s illness, and that remains the plan going forward. Cheers to that, and cheers to Cathy who left this world a better place. Not only did she leave us footsteps to follow, but a fantastic family restaurant. The Civic Plaza where we celebrated her was also part of the tangible legacy she leaves.
To show our appreciation, now it’s time for us to make sure Sean has all the hugs he needs – especially after he’s gone nose-to-nose with Hitler Youth. Cathy also raised five children: RoseMarie Curiel, Danielle Torbeck, Angelina Curiel, Gabriel Cummings, and Kyle Cummings. Her siblings also made the trip to The Village on Sunday: Julie Copenhaver, Jim Bradley, Tom Bradley, and Chuck Bradley. Blessings and peace to all of them.
The family asks anyone seeking to further honor Cathy to go to the GoFundMe campaign set up in her name to donate to fund set up to alleviate school-lunch debt.