Real Producer: Cathy Cruz

CATHY CRUZ

HELPING HANDS AND A SERVANT’S HEART

Photography By TresPiña Photography Written by Ruth Gnirk Hair and Make-up by LuLu

When young Cathy was in fourth grade, her parents bought their first house. The family’s new home quickly became a place of safety and joy. “Sometimes we would clear everything out of the large living room and turn it into a ballroom,” recalled Cathy.

Extended family and friends would come to Cathy’s house for shelter during bad weather, or when life was getting tough. Their home was a safety net for the whole family. Cathy’s parents didn’t have a lot, but what they had was always shared generously with others. Cathy helped out as a hostess many times and loved serving others and bringing them joy.

Wanting to set a good example for her three daughters, Cathy’s mother earned her GED and then a degree from Del Mar College. “I remember that we studied together at the table,” said Cathy. “It meant so much to see her achieving her dreams.”

Unfortunately, both of Cathy’s parents experienced traumatic setbacks. Cathy’s mother suffered a life-altering assault while she was working. Cathy’s father had severe heart and kidney troubles. Financial difficulties soon followed, and when Cathy was in high school, the family lost their house.

Cathy looked for ways to help ease the stress and care for her younger sisters, ages eight and ten. Remembering how much their home had meant to so many people, Cathy started exploring rental houses that her family could move into. She collected and compared data like a junior real estate expert.

Not long after the family had relocated, another relative was looking for a new home. Cathy’s dad encouraged Cathy to help with their search because he recognized her talent. Soon, any time someone was looking for a house, Cathy was invited into the process. She loved helping!

Cathy was the first high school graduate in her family. Though her family was excited, no one knew to encourage her to participate in career counseling or to consider college. None of her extended family had careers that they truly enjoyed, or positions that utilized their skills and talents. They simply had jobs that paid bills.

Cathy’s daughter Gabby was born shortly after graduation. Cathy worked at a retail job for a few years but knew she wanted something more. After helping a family member navigate through a legal issue, Cathy became fascinated

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by the story of Erin Brockovich. Cruz decided she wanted to pursue a degree in paralegal specialties.

Following her mother’s example, Cathy enrolled in Del Mar College. She attended classes in the morning, worked as a runner at a prestigious defense litigation firm in the afternoon, and worked her retail job in the evenings and weekends. Her parents and sisters encouraged Cathy to keep working toward her dreams. They brought Gabby to practices and cheered her on at games when Cathy couldn’t be there.

In 2002, Cathy obtained her associate’s degree in paralegal studies. The law firm hired her on fulltime to work for two junior associates. Soon she was promoted to work for one of the main Partners of the firm. Cathy enjoyed the work and was motivated by her desire to help her family.

It was in this seemingly impossible time in life that someone invited her to church. Cathy felt hopeful again! Cathy felt that she needed to move on from her position at the radio station. She didn’t know what she would do next, but Cathy knew she needed to close this life chapter and help people another way.

The day that she respectfully turned in her resignation, the transplant hospital called her. They found a kidney donor for her father, who had a rare blood type and had been on the list for years. In turn, the donor’s family member needed a kidney, for which Cathy was a perfect match. “At first my dad said ‘no’; he didn’t want anything to happen to me,” Cathy recalled. “But then I reminded him that if we did our part, another father and daughter would have a chance to make more lifetime memories.”

Cathy’s brother-in-law planned to attend Corpus Christi Real Estate Institute, but he didn’t want to start by himself. Remembering how much joy it brought to her family and others to find the right home, Cathy enrolled in the program, as well. She became a licensed REALTOR® by early 2005.

A woman at church who was part of a small brokerage warmly invited the new REALTOR® onto her team. Cathy kept her full-time job at the litigation firm for a stable paycheck and health insurance. Cruz showed houses in the evenings and on weekends.

Many REALTORS® struggled in 2008, and Cathy was no exception. For her, the cost was too high, and the return too low. So she set aside her real estate dreams and spent the next three years helping others connect by managing marketing and advertisement for a local radio station.

Her life, and relationship, started to get complicated. Her father’s health was declining, and the pediatrician detected that Gabby had a heart condition and needed surgery. In the midst of this, the choices of others caused Cathy and Gabby to be evicted from their home.

I knew

GOD

was working, and that

He was bringing a

SEASON OF RESTORATION

to my life.

God provided for the needs that Cathy and Gabby had during the vulnerable time, two months before the surgery, and after, as Cathy recovered and wasn’t working. The procedures went well. “Somehow, in the end, there were six people in surgery that day,” Cathy said through tears of joy. “My dad and I helped two other families!”

While recovering from the surgery, Cathy volunteered at her church, Grace Point Church in Portland. One day, she struck up a conversation with a volunteer, and Cathy explained that she was currently recovering from a kidney donation but hoped to find a new job soon. The woman asked what kind of experience Cathy had.

Cruz humbly shared about her promotions as a paralegal, her real estate experience, and her recent marketing stint. The woman disclosed that she was on the hospital administration team and that upon hearing Cathy’s story about donating a kidney in honor of her father, she was very moved by Cathy’s character and drive. She recognized Cathy’s gift for helping others. She offered Cruz a full-time job at the hospital, serving as her administrative assistant in the Quality and Risk Management department.

Soon after, Cathy met Billy, the man who would eventually become her husband. “I knew God was working, and that He was bringing a season of restoration to my life,” said Cruz.

Cathy worked as an assistant for a couple of years, and then she was promoted to the role of Hospital Risk Management Coordinator. Working in the hospital allowed her love of legal things to bloom again, and it allowed her to visit her dad when he was hospitalized with increasing health issues.

After stepping down from her job at the hospital, Cathy was able to spend time with her parents for a year before her dad passed away. She shared memories and made new ones, and is so thankful that she was able to invest time in family. Three months after her father passed away, her mother died suddenly. It seemed her broken heart never healed.

A few hours after her father had taken his last breath, Cathy got a phone call from her pastor and his wife, asking if Cathy had time to show them some homes that day. When they found out Cruz’s dad had just passed away, the pastor apologized for the distraction. Cathy said, “I had such peace as I was helping them look at houses. I was doing what I was created to do, and it was exactly what I needed that day!”

Cathy has been helping others as a REALTOR® for the past four years. She wants to help people improve their lives, starting at home and working out into her community. “Success isn’t being at the top, it’s helping people, and making their lives better. Making money is just icing on the cake,” said Cathy Cruz.

I am not trying to be the best REALTOR® out there.

Her life was back on track, but as Cathy Cruz was helping others, she became increasingly burdened with the desire to help take care of her own father. As Gabby was graduating from high school and was planning to start college, Cathy’s wonderful husband Billy encouraged Cruz to step away from her job at the hospital and renew her real estate license so she could have a more flexible schedule and be more involved with her dad. Beaming with gratitude, Cathy reminisced, “He said, ‘Cathy, you taught me how to have faith, and how to walk in faith. Now it is time for you to take this step of faith.’”

“I have God’s love, favor, and blessing. Now I’m in a position to help,” smiled Cathy. “I fill my time helping others by using my gifts and talents, and I have a great love for people.” Her husband is a daily blessing. “Billy takes care of me, encourages me, and supports me as I pursue what God created me to do.”

Cathy Cruz’s priorities are God first, husband second, daughter and extended family third, community fourth. She is actively involved in her church. Cathy also serves on the board of the San Patricio County Association of REALTORS® and is chairperson of its Community Service Committee. Prior to covid restrictions, Cathy was preparing to help with the San Patricio County CASA organization, which is a voice in the court system for children who have been displaced from their homes. She uses her position on the community service committee to organize clothing and toy drives to benefit those children.

Cathy Cruz was voted the 2020 San Patricio County Associate of REALTORS® Agent Of The Year. It was an honor bestowed to her by her colleagues and community leaders, based on her character and community impact, not her volume. This year Cathy was nominated for Best of San Patricio County Real Estate Agent, and The Caller-Times Best of the Best Real Estate Agent.

Humbly, Cathy says she’s just being the person God designed her to be, and that her parents raised her to be. “My dad told us no matter what we do, do it to the best of our ability, and with honor. He taught us that how we carry ourselves is a reflection on God, and on our family,” Cruz said.

“I am not trying to be the best REALTOR® out there. I’m just trying to be The best ME! I want to have the impact I was created to have, in my little sphere of influence. I’m just here to love God and love people. That is true success.”

I’M JUST TRYING TO BE THE BEST ME!

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