Lewis Katz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lewis Katz
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| Born | January 11, 1942 Camden, New Jersey, US
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| Died | May 31, 2014 (aged 72) Bedford, Massachusetts, US
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| Occupation | Businessman Sports team owner Newspaper owner |
| Known for | co-owner of the New Jersey Devils co-owner of the New Jersey Nets co-owner of The Philadelphia Inquirer |
Lewis Katz (born January 11, 1942 – died May 31, 2014) was an American businessman. He was also a kind-hearted person who gave a lot of money to good causes (a philanthropist). He even owned a newspaper, The Philadelphia Inquirer.
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Early Life
Lewis Katz was born in Camden, New Jersey, on January 11, 1942. He grew up in the Parkside area of the city. His father passed away when Lewis and his sister, Sandra, were very young. Their mother, who worked as a secretary, raised them.
Career Highlights
Lewis Katz became a lawyer and a very successful businessman. He earned a lot of money from different businesses. These included parking lots and large outdoor billboards. He also owned five radio stations near the Jersey Shore. He was a founding partner in a law firm called Katz, Ettin & Levine.
Sports Team Ownership
In 2000, Lewis Katz invested in two sports teams from New Jersey. He joined a group called YankeeNets/Puck Holdings. This group bought the New Jersey Devils, a professional ice hockey team.
His ownership of both teams ended in 2003. The YankeeNets group broke apart. The Devils team was sold to Jeffrey Vanderbeek. The New Jersey Nets basketball team was sold to Bruce Ratner. The Devils have been sold again since then. The Nets also moved and are now in Brooklyn.
Helping Others (Philanthropy)
Lewis Katz was very generous. He was in charge of the Katz Foundation. This foundation helps many different groups. It supports charities, schools, and medical research.
He gave money to Columbia University for heart research. He also gave $15 million to The Dickinson Schools of Law at The Pennsylvania State University. This money helped improve buildings there. As someone from Camden, New Jersey, Katz started programs to help children in his hometown. He also gave money to Jewish organizations. These included the Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey and the National Museum of American Jewish History. In 2015, Temple University's medical school was named the Lewis Katz School of Medicine in his honor.
Personal Life and Passing
In 1966, Lewis Katz married Marjorie Nemarow. They had two children, a son named Drew and a daughter named Melissa. His wife passed away in 2013.
Lewis Katz died on May 31, 2014. He was one of seven people who died in a plane crash. The plane was taking off from Hanscom Field when it crashed and caught fire.
