Selma
Selma Katz
KATZ
Upon moving to Melrose Park, PA in 1955, her Zionist activities continued with her very active involvement with Hadassah, Jewish National Fund, American Friends of Technion and Israel Bonds. She and her husband hosted Eleanor Roosevelt, in 1960, at an Israel Bonds event in their home. In 1966, she started the Israel Bonds Women's Division Home and Art Tour, that required the purchase of Israel Bonds to attend. She chaired this hugely successful event for 40 years, visiting prominent private art collections in New York, New Jersey, Pennsyl-vania, Delaware, Maryland and Washington, DC.
Her interest in fine arts led to her involvement with the Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Friends of Artist Equity and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts which was a recipient of a piece of sculp-ture from her collection.
Well known in the community for her dedication and leadership, Selma served on the Board of Women's Division of Israel Bonds, its' Prime Minister's Club for 25 years, and was a charter member of the Golda Meir Club.
She served as President of the Mann Music Center Guild for 25 years and chaired the opening party at Memorial Hall in 1976 when the Mann moved to its' new location. She also served on the boards of Philadelphia Psychiatric Center, now Belmont Center for Comprehensive Treatment, and co-chaired with her husband the Anniversary Ball honoring Henry Kissinger; they also co-chaired, in 1964, Albert Einstein Hospital's Auxiliary Harvest Ball; they co-chaired the Gala opening of the Weiss Institute of Philadelphia Geriatric Center, now the Abramson Center for Jewish Life. Additional board posi-tions were on the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Sciences, now Philadelphia University; The Elder Crafts-men and Women's Division of American Cancer Society.
Selma loved gardening and was an exhibiting member of the Old York Road Garden Club at the Philadelphia Flower Show and was a winner of Blue Ribbons for her Jade plants. Her other loves were playing gin rummy and traveling throughout the world – hot air ballooning in France, white water glacier rafting in Alaska and many other wonderful experiences.
Most of all, Selma was known as a devoted wife, dear mother, grandmother, great grand-mother and friend. She was a hostess extraordinaire as evidenced by her holiday hospitality – Rosh Hashanah lunches, Break-Fast evening with fabulous smoked fish brought in from Murray's Sturgeon House in New York, Thanksgiving, Chanukah and the gift boxes of Stutz's chocolate marshmallows, her Chinese New Year parties held at Susanna Foo and Passover Seders with her homemade (from scratch) gefilte fish and light as a feather matzah balls. Everyone was welcome in her home in Latham Park and it was always open to charitable organizations.
She was honored by Hadassah, Jewish National Fund, Israel Bonds, American Cancer Society and Technion Society.
She was a member of Beth Sholom Synagogue, Elkins Park and Har Zion Temple, Penn Valley. The Lawrence and Selma Katz Chapel at Gratz College was dedicated in memory of Lawrence Katz and in honor of Selma Katz on her 75th birthday by family and friends.
Selma is survived by her 3 children: Terry Katz, Harry Jay Katz (Debra Renee Cruz) and Philip Isaiah Katz; 7 grandchildren: Leland Leventon, Leslie L. Barna (Michael), Barbra L. Ross (Peter), Susan K. Levin, David Bar Katz (Julie Merberg), Jessica Katz (Mark) Mazzenga and Zachary Katz (Juniper) and 10 great grandchildren; Lawrence M. Ross, Joshua D. Ross, Steven A. Ross, Joshua Levin, Meira Levin, Benjamin Levin, Morris Katz, Nathanael Katz, Kal Katz and Maccabee Katz.
In the final years of her life she was most appreciative of the devotion and compassion given by her granddaughter Leslie; and dedicated caregivers, Rose Ramsey, Sadie Rankine, Norma Ottar, and Angela Johnson.
Words cannot express the joy she gave to her family and anyone privileged to know her.
Contributions may be made to Jewish National Fund's Sapphire Society (Jewish Nat-ional Fund, Sapphire Society, 42 East 69th Street, New York, NY 10021 or to a charity of the donor's choice.
Relatives and friends are invited to Services Sunday, October 14, 2012, at 11:00 A.M., at JOSEPH LEVINE & SON, 4737 Street Road, Trevose, PA. Interment Roosevelt Memorial Park. Shiva will be observed at her daughter's home beginning Sunday evening throughout the week.
Upon moving to Melrose Park, PA in 1955, her Zionist activities continued with her very active involvement with Hadassah, Jewish National Fund, American Friends of Technion and Israel Bonds. She and her husband hosted Eleanor Roosevelt, in 1960, at an Israel Bonds event in their home. In 1966, she started the Israel Bonds Women's Division Home and Art Tour, that required the purchase of Israel Bonds to attend. She chaired this hugely successful event for 40 years, visiting prominent private art collections in New York, New Jersey, Pennsyl-vania, Delaware, Maryland and Washington, DC.
Her interest in fine arts led to her involvement with the Philadelphia Museum of Art, The Friends of Artist Equity and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts which was a recipient of a piece of sculp-ture from her collection.
Well known in the community for her dedication and leadership, Selma served on the Board of Women's Division of Israel Bonds, its' Prime Minister's Club for 25 years, and was a charter member of the Golda Meir Club.
She served as President of the Mann Music Center Guild for 25 years and chaired the opening party at Memorial Hall in 1976 when the Mann moved to its' new location. She also served on the boards of Philadelphia Psychiatric Center, now Belmont Center for Comprehensive Treatment, and co-chaired with her husband the Anniversary Ball honoring Henry Kissinger; they also co-chaired, in 1964, Albert Einstein Hospital's Auxiliary Harvest Ball; they co-chaired the Gala opening of the Weiss Institute of Philadelphia Geriatric Center, now the Abramson Center for Jewish Life. Additional board posi-tions were on the Philadelphia College of Textiles and Sciences, now Philadelphia University; The Elder Crafts-men and Women's Division of American Cancer Society.
Selma loved gardening and was an exhibiting member of the Old York Road Garden Club at the Philadelphia Flower Show and was a winner of Blue Ribbons for her Jade plants. Her other loves were playing gin rummy and traveling throughout the world – hot air ballooning in France, white water glacier rafting in Alaska and many other wonderful experiences.
Most of all, Selma was known as a devoted wife, dear mother, grandmother, great grand-mother and friend. She was a hostess extraordinaire as evidenced by her holiday hospitality – Rosh Hashanah lunches, Break-Fast evening with fabulous smoked fish brought in from Murray's Sturgeon House in New York, Thanksgiving, Chanukah and the gift boxes of Stutz's chocolate marshmallows, her Chinese New Year parties held at Susanna Foo and Passover Seders with her homemade (from scratch) gefilte fish and light as a feather matzah balls. Everyone was welcome in her home in Latham Park and it was always open to charitable organizations.
She was honored by Hadassah, Jewish National Fund, Israel Bonds, American Cancer Society and Technion Society.
She was a member of Beth Sholom Synagogue, Elkins Park and Har Zion Temple, Penn Valley. The Lawrence and Selma Katz Chapel at Gratz College was dedicated in memory of Lawrence Katz and in honor of Selma Katz on her 75th birthday by family and friends.
Selma is survived by her 3 children: Terry Katz, Harry Jay Katz (Debra Renee Cruz) and Philip Isaiah Katz; 7 grandchildren: Leland Leventon, Leslie L. Barna (Michael), Barbra L. Ross (Peter), Susan K. Levin, David Bar Katz (Julie Merberg), Jessica Katz (Mark) Mazzenga and Zachary Katz (Juniper) and 10 great grandchildren; Lawrence M. Ross, Joshua D. Ross, Steven A. Ross, Joshua Levin, Meira Levin, Benjamin Levin, Morris Katz, Nathanael Katz, Kal Katz and Maccabee Katz.
In the final years of her life she was most appreciative of the devotion and compassion given by her granddaughter Leslie; and dedicated caregivers, Rose Ramsey, Sadie Rankine, Norma Ottar, and Angela Johnson.
Words cannot express the joy she gave to her family and anyone privileged to know her.
Contributions may be made to Jewish National Fund's Sapphire Society (Jewish Nat-ional Fund, Sapphire Society, 42 East 69th Street, New York, NY 10021 or to a charity of the donor's choice.
Relatives and friends are invited to Services Sunday, October 14, 2012, at 11:00 A.M., at JOSEPH LEVINE & SON, 4737 Street Road, Trevose, PA. Interment Roosevelt Memorial Park. Shiva will be observed at her daughter's home beginning Sunday evening throughout the week.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Selma Katz, please visit our flower store.
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