Phyllis (Sachs) Katz

Phyllis (Sachs) Katz, 87, of Cliffmore Rd., West Hartford, CT died October 15 at her home after fighting a long battle with cancer. She is survived by her loving husband of 65 years, Sherman, her two daughters and their spouses, Marjorie Katz and husband William Nicholson, of Sudbury, MA and Nancy Rossler and husband Donald of West Hartford; four grandchildren, Lindsey Nicholson and husband Andrew Beaton, Sara Nicholson, Michael Rossler and Drew Rossler; and great-grandchild Patrick Beaton. She was predeceased by her mother and father, Marian Casman Sachs and Nathan G. Sachs of New Haven, CT and her sister Janet Saslow of Hamden, CT.

Phyllis attended Connecticut College where she received a BA in Economics. Upon graduating she moved to West Hartford and worked as a buyer for G. Fox and Company. Phyllis then obtained her M.Ed from the University of Hartford in and began her long and stellar career at the University first, as adjunct faculty then as Professor of Technical Communication. She gave fully of herself both to her students and to the University as a whole. She was a pioneer in the field of Technical Writing and Communication, both a member and Chair of the Faculty Senate, and a participant on several search committees for faculty, deans and presidents of the University. While working and raising a family, Phyllis also found time to give back to her community. She served on the Board of Trustees and chaired the Music Committee at Beth Israel Temple, she was on the Board of Jewish Family Services and President of Connecticut College Club of Hartford. She also volunteered as an English tutor for Russian and Laotian immigrants. Upon retirement, Phyllis participated on the Talking Books Review Panel, the Greater Hartford Leadership Third Age Initiative, the South End Community Center Pilots Advisory Committee, and the Lillian Fund Steering Committee.

Funeral services will be held, Tuesday, October 20, 2015 at 2:30 PM at Temple Beth Israel, 701 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, CT., followed by interment at Beth Israel Cemetery in Avon. The family will be sitting shiva at home on Tuesday following interment and Wednesday from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Helen and Harry Gray Cancer Center, 85 Retreat Avenue, Hartford, CT, 06106; the Sherman and Phyllis Katz Foundation of the Jewish Federation, 333 Bloomfield Avenue, Suite C, West Hartford, CT, 06117,or a charity of your choice . Arrangements are entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford, CT. For further information, directions or to sign the guest book for Phyllis, please visit on line at www.weinsteinmortuary.com/funerals.cfm.

Service Date: 01/01/1970