Florence Katz

The music stopped for “Aunt Flo,” Florence Katz, May 6, 2017. She was surrounded by memories, friends, and family who celebrated her.

She lived an interesting and meaningful ninety-four years. Many would not know that she starved during the Great Depression, was a child prodigy on the piano, and attended Juilliard on a music scholarship. She collaborated many eminent musicians throughout her long life, and was one of the Romero family’s first student and friends after they escaped Franco Spain. At the age of ninety she was celebrated at the Center for Successful Aging talent show by playing a Chopin nocturne.

Among her many adventures in life were visits to Easter Island, the Galapagos, Machu Pichu, Mexico, and Alaska. She served in the WAC’s in WWII. Unable to support herself through music she worked in the film industry in Hollywood and was proud of her Union membership.

Her sense of adventure brought a large part of her family to sunny California. She was amazed by all the new technologies, and enjoyed books and music in the later part of her life which was spent in Santa Barbara.

She was a friend and mother although she had no children of her own. Her sister Mollie and husband George preceded her.

She is survived by an extended family of over thirty-three.

Donations in her honor can sent to the Southern Poverty Law Center or Music Academy of the West. We can always remember when we hear a piece of Chopin “played properly.”