Milwaukee native Matty Samuel Katz, O.D., died of cardiac arrest in Scottsdale, Ariz., on March 28. He was 82.
A graduate of Washington High School, the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Illinois College of Optometry, Katz practiced optometry for approximately five years before becoming a building contractor.
He worked for Continental Construction in Milwaukee for some 40 years. He built an addition onto Congregation Emanu-El B’ne Jeshurun on Kenwood Blvd., did the first remodeling of the Jewish Community Center on Santa Monica Blvd., and built dormitories, apartment buildings, and condominiums across Wisconsin and the United States.
Katz was a Mason and was very active in the Jewish community. He was involved in AIPAC, Israel Bonds, Jewish Family and Children’s Service (currently Jewish Family Services, Inc.) and the Milwaukee Jewish Federation.
“He was a super Jew,” said his wife of 56 years, Natalie Katz (nee Shumow) of Scottsdale, Ariz. “Anything Jewish he loved and worked for.” In 1980, he received a citation for religious dedication from Congregation Emanu-El.
“Matty was a dedicated family man, and a very funny man. Even in intensive care, in the hospital, he could with something that made me laugh,” Natalie Katz said. “His mind was sharp and lucid until the end.”
Katz loved Israel and took at least 10 trips there, and also enjoyed art, reading, sports, cars, and general construction. He and his friends took two fishing trips a year to northern Wisconsin for 35 years, his family said.
Katz became a permanent resident of Arizona in 2006. He was preceded in death by his son Jim (Mari) Katz and is further survived by sons Mitchell (Karen) Katz and Larry Katz of Scottsdale; daughter Jody (David) Schmidt of Highland Park, Ill.; brother Yale (Rosella) Katz of Portland, Ore. and six grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements were handled by Blane Goodman Funeral Service, LLC. Graveside services were officiated by Cantor David Barash in Anshai Lebowitz Cemetery on April 3.
Memorial contributions may be made to the James J. Katz Memorial Fund, c/o Aurora Sinai Philanthropy Program, P.O. Box 370196, Milwaukee, 53237 or CEEBJ.
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