Harold Katzman

Lt. Col. (Ret.) Harold (Hal) Katzman, 93, of Las Vegas, passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, May 6, 2025. Hal was born on February 24, 1932, in New York, New York, and grew up in Fall River, Massachusetts. He was the beloved son of the late Nathan and Sarah Katzman. Hal graduated from Boston University in 1954, where he majored in accounting and participated in the ROTC program. After graduating, he went on to join the United States Air Force as an officer where he dedicated many years of service to his country. Hal's distinguished Air Force career as a Navigator took him to numerous locations around the world, leaving a lasting impact wherever he went.

After serving 23 years in the Air Force, Hal retired and went on to earn his CPA license. He then embarked on a successful second career as a contract negotiator with Bechtel Corporation, where he played a key role in the construction of the Washington D.C. metro system. Later, he transferred to Las Vegas, contributing to the development of McCarran International Airport. Upon retiring from Bechtel, Hal was recruited by Taylor International, where he helped with the construction management of the MGM Grand.

Hal met and married Trudy, the love of his life, in 1961 in San Francisco. Those who knew them could see they were truly soul mates. They shared a loving and devoted marriage for 56 years until her passing in 2017.

Beyond Trudy, the other great loves of Hal’s life were his daughters, Sheron Zinn and Debby Katzman, and his granddaughters, Alexandria Jones and Laney Zinn. 

One of Hal's greatest joys was his deep connection with his many nieces, nephews, and cousins from both his and Trudy’s families. He was known as a dedicated family man, always making time for those he loved. Hal was preceded in death by his brother Milton Katzman, his sister Lorraine Kaplan, brother-in-law Gabe Goldsmith, and sister-in-laws Barbara Brannan and Eleanor McCarthy. He is survived by brother-in-law William Goldsmith. 

In his later years, Hal resided at Red Rock Pointe Retirement Community where he formed close bonds with friends who quickly felt like family. He found joy in playing poker, traveling on cruises with family, snuggling with his grand-dog Pinnie, enjoying his favorite soups, and capturing memories with selfies. Hal brought life into every room, and it was well known that he never passed up an opportunity to join in on the party.

A funeral service will be at 9:20 a.m. Monday, May 12, 2025, at Southern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1900 Veterans Memorial Drive, Boulder City, NV 89005. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Hal’s memory may be made to the Jewish War Veterans of the U.S.A.