Temple U. Memorial Service For Lew Katz Set For Wednesday
By Steve Tawa
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- As investigators look for clues into the cause of the private jet crash that killed Lewis Katz and six others (see related stories), plans are coming together for a memorial for Mr. Katz.
Temple University's memorial service will be Wednesday at 11am in the school's Performing Arts Center (formerly known as the Baptist Temple), on North Broad Street.
Temple spokesman Ray Betzner says Katz, a 1963 graduate of Temple, was incredibly generous in giving his time, support, and leadership.
"He never forgot where he came from," Betzner tells KYW Newsradio. "This is a man who had extraordinary success in so many fields, but always remembered that he came from very humble beginnings."
In mid-May, Katz was given the highest honor that Temple can bestow, an honorary doctorate degree. Hours before being granted the degree, Katz announced plans to donate $25 million to Temple University. Temple's board of trustees had said it would name the university's school of medicine after Katz.
Betzner says the program for the memorial has yet to be set.
"The service is coming together right now," he said. "We don't have a list of who will be speaking. A number of invitations are out, and a number of folks have gotten in touch with us and asked for the opportunity to speak."
While Katz was known for his long-time support of scholarships, athletics, entrepreneurship, and medicine, Betzner says most people don't know about the small gestures he made to improve so many lives.
