The sudden death of Lewis Katz and companions sent shock waves throughout the entire South Jersey communities. While his death is a tragic loss for many, his life was a profound blessing to countless others. I had the privilege of working closely with Lew when the Diocese of Camden established the “South Jersey Scholarship Fund,” a fund that provided low income families the freedom and resources to send their children to Catholic schools. His commitment to provide a better future, through educational initiatives, particularly to the youth of Camden, changed people’s lives. Although he was a bit reluctant for the award to be named in his honor (The Lew Katz Excellence in Education Award), he acquiesced to engage other philanthropists to follow the example he established.
It is well known that Lew served in the political arena during various periods of his life, but I often found him to be more of a statesman than a politician. It was once said that “A politician thinks of the next election; A statesman thinks of the next generation.” I believe this quote captures the essence and life of Lew Katz. His philanthropy crossed inter-denominational lines, always with an eye toward lifting the burdens of others.
During the years that Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio served as the Chief Shepherd of the Diocese of Camden, Lew was instrumental in supporting several diocesan initiatives. I recall dinners at Bishop DiMarzio’s private residence in Blackwood when Lew would share insights and ideas to provide help and assistance to the bishop and the diocese.
During one of the fund-raising award dinners for the South Jersey Scholarship Fund, when Lew was the honoree that year, I had arranged the speaker line-up for the evening to include the following: I (a Roman Catholic monsignor) introduced the Assistant Attorney General (a Baptist minister), who introduced Bishop DiMarzio, who presented the award to Lew Katz. I shall always remember Lew’s opening and closing remarks during that dinner. He opened with “Don’t you think God has a great sense of humor to allow a Catholic monsignor to introduce a Baptist minister, to introduce a Catholic bishop, to present an award to a Jewish philanthropist.” His remarks that followed spoke of this God-given privilege; not to be an award recipient, but to have received blessings in his life to share with others. I believe that is the hallmark of a true steward, when one recognizes that everything they have in life is given to them by God, to be shared in justice and charity in the world around them.
While so many grieve the death of Lew, we offer our prayers to support Drew and Melissa (his children) during this difficult year. To lose a mother and a father in a short period of time is so very painful. May the prayers of the numerous religious leaders of various denominations, along with our heartfelt appreciation for all of Lew’s charitable initiatives, be a gentle reminder of the countless lives that have been forever changed because of their loving kindness. To pity distress is human; to relieve it is Godlike.
Msgr. Louis Marucci, pastor of St. Andrew Parish, Gibbsboro, is former executive director of development, Diocese of Camden.
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