Kathy Ambush, aged 76, is best known as Clarence Thomas‘ first wife. Their romance kicked off in the late ’60s during their time in Holy Cross, thanks to mutual friends who played matchmaker.
Clarence was head over heels the instant he glanced at her. He dropped the L-word just a week into their relationship. Eventually, they sealed their love on June 5, 1971, at All Saints Episcopal Church in Worcester, right as Clarence was graduating from Yale Law School.
The couple then moved to New Haven, Connecticut, and welcomed their son, Jamal, in 1973, before the trio headed to the fast-paced life of Washington D.C. But as Clarence’s stardom in the legal world rose, their marriage faced challenges due to financial strains and his demanding social schedule.
This led to their separation in 1981 and a few years later, divorce in 1984. Their breakup drew intense media scrutiny, with the public hanging on every detail of the dissolution of this high-profile union.
After the storm, Kathy went for a change of pace and shifted her focus away from the limelight to her career. She chose to give married life another chance and married again, just like her ex-husband.
Her Career Revolved Around Community Service
Kathy really found her groove in the world of communications before hanging up her hat on a stellar career. After studying Business Administration at Lincoln University, she began her professional journey as a Communication Specialist at NRCC in 1979.
In her career which spanned over 40 years, she tackled public relations with gusto. She took on roles from Executive Administration to Community Relations Management. She worked across various sectors—nonprofit, corporate, political, and education.
Though now retired from her day-to-day PR roles, Kathy’s legacy includes a significant tenure at The Immigrant Learning Center, where she was all about helping, especially assisting immigrant groups get settled. She used her sociology diploma from Anna Maria College to give newcomers a voice in their new homes.
After Leaving PR, She Turned To Entrepreneurship
Kathy has shifted gears in her life and seems to be loving it. While she’s retired from her PR-heavy career, that hasn’t stopped her from staying active and helping others get ahead in life. If you take a look at her recent posts, it’s clear that she’s focused on something a little more personal: teaching people how to step out of the paycheck-to-paycheck grind and start creating multiple income streams, which sounds like a pretty big deal.
In one of her posts, she invited people to a Zoom session where she showed them the ropes of designing their best life. With all her experience in communications, she knows how to connect, inspire, and encourage others to join her in building wealth.
Moreover, her LinkedIn bio is all about staying fired up.
Life is about reinventing oneself. I am retired but amazingly “rewired” building my tech~based business from home. I take great pleasure in coaching ambitious people, busy professionals and business owners on how to “buy back” precious time in their lives and create assets on the side. Let me show you how to connect the dots to Your Best Life!
Alongside her professional achievements, Kathy is an active Amway ambassador, advocating for holistic wellness and spreading the word about maintaining a balanced, healthy lifestyle.
She Gave Marriage a Second Shot But Unfortunately, Her Partner Passed Away
Years after separating from Justice Clarence, Kathy stepped into a new chapter of her life when she tied the knot with Douglas Allen Smith.
Douglas had a pretty eclectic career path. He started off in the tech world as a programmer but couldn’t shake off his passion for cars. This led him to deflect entirely, managing logistics for luxury European cars and then moving into a sales role at Boston Volvo Village. His entrepreneurial spirit didn’t stop there; he founded The Boston Auto Advocate and also worked as a personal driver for a well-known Boston family.
Together, Kathy and Douglas created a life filled with happiness. Unfortunately, their relationship didn’t last long as Douglas passed away in 2023 at the age of 70. According to his obituary, he is survived by two daughters, Jennifer and Lea. It’s not clear however Kathy is their biological or step-mom.
She Comes From a Mixed Racial Heritage Background
The Ambush family is quite the ensemble, brimming with personalities that could easily fill a TV drama series. Nelson William Ambush, the patriarch, was a wizard with dental tools, earning him the title of master smile maker. Kathy’s mom, Shigao Gladys Sato, who belonged to Japanese ethnicity, infused rich cultural heritage into the mix, ensuring family gatherings were always a vibrant affair.
The late Ambush couple prioritized education for their children, including enrolling Kathy in Anna Maria Catholic School.
Kathy has four biological siblings, two brothers, Reverend Stephen and Benjamin, and two sisters, Karen and June.
