Eleanor M. Katz

Born in Sharon, PA on January 19th, 1927, Eleanor Katz passed away on January 12, 2023. She was the proud daughter of Helen and Abraham Hume, who preceded her in death, as did her beloved brothers, Joseph and Arnold. Eleanor attended The Rayen School and then Cornell University where she studied architecture and art. After marrying Dr. Bertram Katz and living in Chicago and Detroit while he completed his surgical training, she returned to Youngstown with her young family. A talented artist who designed her parents’ home and husband’s office building and whose work was selected for the Midyear show at Butler Art, she was an avid advocate for the museum and the arts, believing that everyone’s creativity could and should be ignited. At her kitchen counter, at all hours, she welcomed, accepted, advised, nourished, and inspired countless young people. It was also in the kitchen that she developed—and ultimately patented—a gourmet dog treat years ahead of its time, perfecting her recipe by testing chicken-soup dog bones on her children. Elegant, beautiful, and armed with an insatiable intellect and great sense of humor, Eleanor was fiercely bold yet shyly sweet. She was a lifelong women’s rights activist and a devoted daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend. Her most ardent project was the spiritual, academic, cultural, and political development of her five children, which continued even as she drew her last breath. With her heart shattered by the untimely death of her oldest son, Jon, even as she still grieved the loss of her husband, she let the light back in through the joy of her grandchildren—Carisa, Ben, Rachel, Tania, Leo, Anna, Sam, Charlotte, Elizabeth, and Oliver—and great grandchildren—Anika, Asher, Emma and Ezra. Her four living children—Nicholas, Katherine, Jeffry, and Daniel—and her daughters-in-law—Anne Marie, Cyndi, Judy, and Molly, with Kathy’s partner, Sam— are grateful for the beauty she brought to the world, and, along with many more family and friends, deeply mourn the loss of her light. Eleanor would tell us to just open our eyes and look to see and feel the warmth of the vast universe’s glow, brighter now because she shines upon us.
A service to celebrate her life will be held at Congregation Ohev Beth Sholom, 1119 Elm Street on her 96th birthday, January 19th, at 1:00 pm.
The family requests that any donations in her memory be directed to The Butler Institute of American Art.
Arrangements have been entrusted to The Shriver-Allison-Courtley-Weller-King Funeral Home.
Friends and family may view this obituary and share memories and condolences at www.shriverallisoncourtleyfuneral home.com.

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