Aaron Katz

Aaron Katz, age 92, passed away peacefully at TideWell Hospice & Palliative Care in Venice on September 28, 2008 with his beloved wife, Cema, at his side. The couple had relocated from Brooklyn, NY, Aaron’s birthplace, upon his retirement in 2005. Born October 22, 1915, Aaron became an educator, philosopher, writer, actuary and idealist. A passionate believer in the duel concepts of justice for all and equality of opportunity without regard to race or gender, he was active in the early civil rights movement. Long before Dr. King put beautiful words to his dream, Aaron was communicating a vision of our country as a living example to the world; a nation where each citizen’s potential would be valued and fulfilled. A Purser in the Merchant Marine during World War II and its aftermath, Aaron served with honor. That exposure to other cultures and attitudes helped shape the direction of his life. While his facility for language did not extend to expertise in accent or syntax, he made himself understood; the many friendships forged in his travels endured for decades. Blessed with humor and a quick wit, he delighted in challenging young people with word puzzles involving logic and math. Many now credit Aaron for inspiring them to career paths in science and law. Non-violent by nature, Aaron was deeply troubled by the disposition of cases such as Sacco-Vanzetti. He later became an expert on the trail and conviction of Ethel and Julius Rosenberg, offended by the unprecedented peacetime death sentence he believed to be a politically-motivated assault on the freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution and Bill of Rights. Aaron served as Director of the National committee to reopen the Rosenberg Case for over 30 years. His lectures and discussion groups at Brooklyn College were popular and he continued the presentations well into his 80’s. Aaron will be greatly missed by his wife, daughter, grand and great-grandchildren, uncle/aunt, cousins, in-laws, nieces/nephews and others whose lives he touched. Services and burial will be private. Farley Funeral Home in Venice, Florida is handling the arrangements.