Professor Lucy Katz Passes Away
Professor Lucy Katz, Former Professor of Business Law, Passes Away
Lucy V. Katz, J.D., former professor of business law and former holder of The Robert C. Wright Professorship in Business Law, Ethics and Dispute Resolution, passed away on February 9, 2013, after a long illness. A memorial service was held at Greens Funeral Home in Fairfield, on Tuesday, February 12.
Professor Katz received a bachelor’s degree in government from Smith College and earned her juris doctor degree from New York University School of Law. Professor Katz began her career at the at the Center for Social Welfare in New York City, a national legal services agency that argued test cases and worked to ensure that public welfare laws were interpreted correctly. She moved to Connecticut in 1972 to join Koskoff, Koskoff & Bieder in Bridgeport, handling family law cases. In 1976, she brought a case before the U.S. Supreme Court.
In 1983, Professor Katz joined Ƭapp as an assistant professor of business law. She was one of two original co-coordinators of the Women’s Studies Program and served as chair of the Department of Management in the Charles F. Dolan School of Business. During her tenure, the Ƭapp student association honored her with Advisor of the Year for her extraordinary work and dedication to the University’s Debate Team. In 2005, she was appointed to hold the inaugural Robert C. Wright endowed chair in Business Law, Ethics and Dispute Resolution.
Donald Gibson Ph.D., dean of the Dolan School, had this to say of his colleague, “Lucy Katz was a valued scholar, colleague, mentor, and friend, whose influence has been felt throughout the University and the business school where she had her home base. She was a courageous defender of social justice, with a particular focus on women’s issues, and lived out that focus in her life and in her prodigious work. Everyone who met and worked with Lucy came away impressed by her quiet assurance and support. There’s no one quite like her. She will be sorely missed.”
Dr. Katz’ husband, Alan Katz, Ph.D., is a Ƭapp Emeritus Professor of Politics.
Pictured: Lucy Katz, J.D., The Robert C. Wright Professor of Business Law, Ethics and Dispute Resolution.
