Catherine M. (Prezioso) Prestejohn, proprietor of Cabot’s Ice Cream in Newton, died at her home on Apr 26, 2013. She was 91.
Catherine and her husband Joseph E. Prestejohn became proprietors of Cabot’s in Newtonville, where she worked with her daughter and son, daily until shortly before her death.
Funeral arrangements can be found here. Cabot’s will be closed on Monday.
I didn’t know Mrs Prestejohn, but I definitely did know her smiling face from many years of frequenting Cabots’ “Crazy World of Ice Cream”.
Today, as every year, the NewtonSERVES event finished off at City Hall with free ice cream for hundreds donated by Cabots. Those hundreds of smiling people today, with ice cream in their hands were a tribute to Mrs Presetejohn.
She and the rest of the Cabot Family have done so much to make Newton a great place to live. I hate to use the term “pillar of the community”, but they have been that and much more. And I always remember that Mrs. Cabot tended to add just a bit more ice cream to every cone I bought there in years past. She will be missed.
The Prestejohn family have been incredible supporters of the community, and humble ones at that. John was truly taken aback when we acknowledged his contributions and the Economic Development awards last year.
More importantly though, Cabot’s itself is just a wonderful and incredibly grounded family place, and I suspect that to be a reflection of the Prestejohn family. It’s my daughter’s favorite, and Mrs. Prestejohn always seemed to be there. We will miss her.
Our family loves Cabots! My kids are second generation there. They have supported our local public school (and it is not in the Cabot’s neighborhood) with fundraising, which motivated me to go there more often. Support local business! We are lucky to have the Prestejohns supporting local schools and the community, and we are lucky to have Cabots around to celebrate little league games (win or lose), great summe nights or any reason for a burger and ice cream.
From Cabot’s web site:
Cabot’s is one of my favorite places (and my grown children’s and my grandchildren’s as well). And Mrs. Prestejohn was one of my favorite faces. From her perch atop the last stool before the counter end, she would rise and greet and serve her customers with a consistently friendly smile. If her joints hurt, she didn’t show it; if something troubled her, her customers never felt it. Even now, she remains a constant source of happy thoughts to those of us who encountered her, even if diets kept us away more than we meant to be. Kind of like a delicious ice cream cone.
Greg thanks for letting us know. Cabot’s has been a special place for me going on 4 decades. The Prestejohns’ generosity allowed us to get the Newtonville Community Ice Rink off the ground last year, and supplied the hot cocoa for the night skating. Mrs. Prestejohn will be missed and my heart goes out to her family.