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Remembering Lewis Katz – From Larry Kaiser, MD, FACS

News June 02, 2014

Dear Colleagues,

As I am sure you have heard, Temple University and Temple Health lost a great friend this weekend with the tragic death of Lewis Katz, who served as a long-time member of the University's Board of Trustees and a member of the Boards of Temple University Health System (TUHS) and Fox Chase Cancer Center (FCCC).

Lewis' relationship with Temple began many decades ago when he first enrolled, and then graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1963, from Temple's College of Science and Technology. Lewis continued to achieve academic excellence – earning a law degree (from Dickinson School of Law). His life-long love and support of higher education and Temple University was recognized two weeks ago when he was awarded an honorary doctorate degree from his beloved alma mater.

Lewis' well-known success in many fields of business – including law, investment banking and journalism – served him well in his role as a senior advisor and Trustee to Temple University and its healthcare enterprise. And, in particular, his keen insights into the growth requirements and future potential of Temple's medical school as it undertakes its own strategic transformation led to Lewis' generous pledge of $25 million to support those endeavors.

I know you will join with me in expressing our sincerest condolences to Lewis' family and offering them our full support at this time.

Lewis was a great friend, coach and colleague ... as well as a consistently strong supporter of our related missions to educate the next generation of physicians, research and pursue treatment advances and cures for all forms of disease and disability, and provide superb value-based care to our patients, especially the most vulnerable. He will be missed.

A memorial service for Temple Trustee Lewis Katz is scheduled for Wednesday, June 4, at 11 a.m. in the Temple Performing Arts Center. A large crowd is expected to be in attendance. Employees are encouraged to watch the service online at temple.edu, where it will be streamed live.

Sincerely,

Larry R. Kaiser, MD, FACS
Senior Executive Vice President for Health Sciences, Temple University
Dean & Professor of Surgery, Temple University School of Medicine
President and CEO, Temple University Health System
 
Image courtesy of Temple University