Obituaries

Long-Time Plainview Resident, 60, Remembered as Generous, Caring

Father of 12 dies suddenly; was born in Brooklyn and lived in Bayside, then Plainview.

By Plamena Pesheva

A memorial fund has been set up for Frank Katz – a loving husband and father of 12 – who suddenly died due to an unknown medical condition on Nov. 11 in Somers while walking to the Golden's Bridge railroad station. He was 60.

"We were all shocked and heartbroken by his death," his family wrote on the memorial fund website. "He will be forever missed by his wife Carol, his nine sons, and his three daughters."

A passing motorist spotted Katz, who was lying on the side of the road, at around 6:30 a.m. and stopped to help. Several other motorists also stopped and rendered aid prior to police arrival. Katz was transported to the Putnam Hospital Center where he was later pronounced dead. 

Katz was born in Brooklyn and grew up in Bayside, Queens. He and his family lived in Plainview for for many years and only recently, in 2011, moved to Newtown, Conn.

"Our father helped our family get through the difficult tragedy that we faced along with the community there last year," his family said. 

Katz worked at a firm in lower Manhattan for the past five years. He was a pension actuary for 33 years. Before that, he was a high school math teacher.

He also worked in the World Trade Center, but was lucky not to have been there when the towers fell on Sept. 11. He had stayed home that morning to watch his young children so that his wife who was the PTA vice president at the elementary school at the time could attend a PTA meeting. 

"We always said that his love of his family saved his life that day," his family said. 

Katz loved to read, do crossword puzzles and listen to classic rock. He was also a big Mets fan.

"My dad was a smart, caring man who lived for his family," his son Jonathan Katz said. "He was strong-willed and generous. That is how we want him to be remembered."

His funeral was held at the Star of David Memorial Chapels in West Babylon, Long Island and he was buried at Wellwood Cemetery in Farmingdale, Long Island.

"Besides the emotional tragedy that we are all facing, our father's passing has left us in financial distress as well," his family said. "We are facing eviction from our home and do not know where we are going to end up. We do not want to ask for help, but we truly have no choice. Any donation would be greatly appreciated."

The Frank Katz Memorial Fund was set up at Chase Bank, located at the Somerstown Center in Somers. Donations can also be made via PayPal to frankkatzmemorialfund@gmail.com.


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