Title
Honoring the life and mourning the loss of Lewis Katz (1942-2014).
Body
WHEREAS, Philadelphia experienced a great loss with the passing of Lewis Katz on Saturday, May 31, 2014; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Katz was born in Camden, N.J., in 1942, and grew up in the Parkside section of the city, now one of New Jersey's most crime-ridden. He was raised by his mother, a secretary at RCA, after his father died when Mr. Katz was very young; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Katz was a hardworking and industrious entrepreneur who developed diverse and lucrative business ventures; and
WHEREAS, His entrepreneurship was evident during his time as a student at Temple University, where Mr. Katz, along with a friend and classmate, the comedian Bill Cosby, booked acts for a school show titled "The Hour of Pleasure". The two, Mr. Katz recently recalled, were once paid $50 to arrange for the folk-rock group The Mamas and The Papas, then virtually unknown, to play for the show. The band got $35, and Mr. Katz and Mr. Cosby split the rest; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Katz would go on to attend the Dickinson School of Law, now part of Penn State University. After graduating, he went on to found the law firm Katz, Ettin & Levine, based in Cherry Hill, N.J.; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Katz's career spanned the fields of law, investment banking and business. After serving as a partner in the law firm of Katz, Ettin & Levine, he led a variety of enterprises, including Kinney Parking Systems, the New Jersey Nets, the New Jersey Devils, Philadelphia Media Network and Interstate Outdoor Advertising; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Katz also was director of the Katz Foundation-which supports charitable, educational and medical causes, including an annual prize and endowed visiting professorship in cardiovascular research at Columbia University Medical School, where he served on the Board of Visitors; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Katz gave back liberally to organizations throughout his hometown. He made generous contributions to help build two Boy...
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