Lewis Katz, PhD, our former colleague in the Department of Chemistry, UConn’s Acting Vice President for Graduate Education and Research, Dean of the Graduate School, and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, passed away on Sunday, July 23, 2017 at the age of 94 after a long battle with Parkinson's Disease. Lewis received his BS degree and a PhD in Physical Chemistry at the University of Minnesota under the guidance of Nobel Laureate W. N. Lipscomb. He spent a year as a post-doctoral research fellow with Nobel Laureate Linus Pauling at the California Institute of Technology. For many years Lewis taught undergraduate Physical Chemistry. His thorough knowledge of the subject, lucid lecture style, and understated sense of humor won him the respect and admiration of a generation of students. Lewis also enjoyed a distinguished research career in x-ray diffraction, and crystal and molecular structure; he worked with Roland Ward in structural inorganic chemistry. He later supervised a talented group of graduate and post doctoral students, accounting for many of his 60 research publications in x-ray analysis and structure. In addition to his academic career, he also served the University of CT with distinction, as Acting Vice President for Graduate Education and Research, as Dean of the Graduate School, and later as Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, a role he held until his retirement on May 11, 1988.
Lewis brought to these positions a wealth of experience and knowledge in all aspects of University governance and was highly respected by both administrators and faculty alike for his sound judgment and clear sense of priorities. The esteem in which he was held by his colleagues is indicated in many ways. He was elected member of several search committees, including a presidential search committee. He was elected numerous times to the University Senate over a period of 30 years and chaired the Executive Committee of the Senate. In all, his academic and administrative career at the University of CT spanned 36 years.
He moved to Storrs, CT with his wife and eldest daughter in the fall of 1952. Lewis was a wonderful, loving and generous husband and father. Born March 19, 1923 in Fond du Lac, WI, he was raised in Fargo, ND. He was the son of the late Rabbi Alexander Katz and Rivka (Tabachovitz) Katz. Besides his parents, he was predeceased by his brother David Katz. He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Shirley (Robbins) Katz of Storrs, CT; his daughters Susan (Katz) Mosler and her husband Seth, of New York, NY; and Deborah Katz and her husband Mark Leijen, of Holland, The Netherlands; his granddaughter Rachel (Mosler) Cope and her husband Nick, of Brooklyn, NY; and great-granddaughter Willow, also of Brooklyn, NY. He is also survived by his brother Michael Katz of Highland Park, IL and sister Ozzie (Katz) Nogg of Omaha, NE, as well as numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Lewis enlisted in the Army in 1943 and served as Technical Sergeant for the 25th Signal Company in the Asiatic Pacific Theater and on occupation duty in Japan. He was honorably discharged in 1946.
Lewis's family is deeply appreciative of the excellent care he received while residing at the Mansfield Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation and the care he received from Dr. Kenneth Dardick. Funeral services were held on Friday, July 28, 2017 at 11 a.m. at Temple Beth Sholom B'nai Israel, 400 Middle Turnpike East, Manchester. Burial followed in Temple Beth Sholom Memorial Park, Manchester with military honors.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Mansfield Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation, 100 Warren Circle, Storrs, CT 06268 where Lew lived in recent years; or to Beth Sholom B'nai Israel, 400 Middle Turnpike East, Manchester, CT 06040; or to the UConn Chemistry Dept., c/o The University of CT Foundation, 2390 Alumni Drive, Unit 3206, Storrs, CT 06269-3206.
Ladd-Turkington & Carmon Funeral in Vernon is caring for the arrangements. For online condolences and guest book, please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com.
(text edited from the obituary published in today's Hartford Courant)
For more information, contact: Christian Brueckner at c.bruckner@uconn.edu