Kathy Ambush is an American former public relations professional and entrepreneur. She is best known as the first wife of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
Kathy and Clarence married in 1971 and had one son, Jamal Adeen Thomas. They divorced in 1984. Kathy later worked in public relations, education, banking, and nonprofit organizations.
Kathy Grace Smith’s Profile Summary
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Kathy Grace Ambush |
| Also known as | Kathy Grace Smith |
| Date of birth | June 6, 1950 |
| Age | 76 years old as of 2026 |
| Birthplace | Worcester, Massachusetts, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Former public relations professional, entrepreneur |
| Education | Anna Maria College, Lincoln University |
| First husband | Clarence Thomas |
| Second husband | Douglas Allen Smith |
| Son | Jamal Adeen Thomas |
| Net worth | Not confirmed |
Kathy Ambush’s Age and Early Life
Kathy Grace Ambush was born on June 6, 1950, in Worcester, Massachusetts. She is 76 years old as of 2026.
Her parents were Nelson William Ambush and Shigao Gladys Sato. Her father reportedly worked as a dental technician.
Kathy grew up in a large family. She reportedly has six siblings, including Benjamin, Stephen, June, Karen, Sydney Schuyler, and Valerie Wilson.
Her Education
Kathy reportedly attended St. Peter-Marion Central Catholic High School.
She studied sociology at Anna Maria College from 1968 to 1970.
She later attended Lincoln University in Missouri, where she reportedly earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
Kathy also studied radio broadcasting at the Broadcast Centre in St. Louis around 1978 and 1979.
Kathy Ambush’s Career
Kathy built a long career in public relations and community work.
She started working for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) in Washington, D.C., in 1979. She worked in communications and helped with radio work and events.
From 1990 to 1994, Kathy worked at Milton Academy as director of the Massachusetts Advanced Studies Program.
She later became a community relations specialist at BankBoston, where she worked from about 1998 to 2002.
Kathy also worked at The Immigrant Learning Centre. She helped with fundraising and programs that supported immigrants and refugees learning English.
Her career included public relations, fundraising, event planning, speechwriting, and community work.
What Does Kathy Ambush Do Now?
Kathy is described as a retired public relations professional.
More recent profiles describe her as an entrepreneur and mentor. She has reportedly helped people with personal and business goals.
She has been reported to live in the Richmond/Chesterfield area of Virginia.
Kathy Ambush and Clarence Thomas
Kathy met Clarence Thomas while they were college students in Massachusetts around 1969.
At the time, Kathy was attending Anna Maria College, while Clarence studied at the College of the Holy Cross.
They married in June 1971. Sources disagree about the exact wedding date, with June 5 and June 18 both reported.
After their marriage, the couple moved to New Haven, Connecticut, where Clarence attended Yale Law School.
Their Son Jamal Thomas
Kathy and Clarence welcomed their only child, Jamal Adeen Thomas, on February 15, 1973, in New Haven, Connecticut.
Jamal Thomas reportedly studied economics and business at the Virginia Military Institute.
He later built a career in financial services. Reports have connected him with companies such as Wells Fargo Advisors, Davenport & Company, and Northwestern Mutual.
Jamal is Kathy’s only publicly known child. He is also Clarence Thomas’s only biological child.
Kathy and Clarence Thomas’ Divorce
Kathy and Clarence separated in 1981.
Their divorce was finalized in 1984, ending their marriage after about 13 years.
The exact reason for their divorce has not been publicly confirmed.
Clarence later married Virginia “Ginni” Thomas in 1987.
Who Is Clarence Thomas?
Clarence Thomas is an American lawyer and judge. He has served as an associate justice of the U.S. Supreme Court since 1991.
He was born on June 23, 1948, in Georgia. He studied at the College of the Holy Cross and later attended Yale Law School.
Kathy was his first wife, and their son Jamal is his only biological child.
Kathy’s Second Husband
After her divorce from Clarence, Kathy married Douglas Allen Smith. She later became known as Kathy Grace Smith.
Douglas reportedly worked in programming, software support, auto sales, transportation, and business.
The exact date of their marriage is not widely known.
Douglas died on September 1, 2023. Kathy is therefore reported to be widowed.
Kathy and Douglas did not have any publicly known children together.
Kathy Ambush’s Net Worth
Kathy Ambush’s personal net worth has not been confirmed.
Some websites estimate it at around $2 million, but there are no reliable financial records supporting this figure.
Social Media
Some online reports link Kathy to a Facebook profile under the name Kathy Grace Smith.
However, there is no widely confirmed verified social media account for her.
Facts About Kathy Ambush
- Kathy Ambush was born on June 6, 1950.
- She grew up in Worcester, Massachusetts.
- She studied at Anna Maria College and Lincoln University.
- She worked in public relations and community programs.
- She was Clarence Thomas’s first wife.
- Kathy and Clarence married in 1971 and divorced in 1984.
- Their son, Jamal Adeen Thomas, was born in 1973.
- Jamal works in financial services.
- Kathy later married Douglas Allen Smith.
- Douglas died in September 2023.
- Kathy is now described as an entrepreneur and mentor.
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