Ellen Louise Katz

Ellen Louise Katz, a 30-year resident of Port Washington, New York and more recently of New York, NY, passed away surrounded by family on April 13, 2020 at the age of 70. Ellen was born to the late William D. and Dorothy A. (Narwold) Bennett on October 21, 1949 in Cleveland, OH and was raised in Burton, OH, just outside of Cleveland.

Ellen graduated with a BS in biology from The Ohio State University Honors College. Years later, while raising her three children, she earned her PhD in Biology Research at S.U.N.Y. in Queens. Her dissertation was on the topic of breast cancer and metastasis. She began her career at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory developing immortalized heart cells used in cancer research. She then moved to Albert Einstein College of Medicine where she conducted metabolic disease research advancing the understanding of how we regulate our blood glucose levels. Over her career, she mentored many budding research scientists and co-authored more than 40 published scientific papers.

Ellen’s most profound achievement, what she loved above all else, was her family. She was an amazing and involved mother and grandmother; dedicated to her children and grandchild.

Ellen is survived by her beloved husband, Ralph Katz, of New York City, and by her cherished children Dorothy Sonnenburg, son-in-law Jeremy Sonnenburg of Croton-on-Hudson, NY, son Michael Katz, daughter-in-law Elizabeth Katz of Cranford, NJ, and son Stuart Katz of New York City. She is also survived by her adored grandchildren Ella, Bennett, Hudson, Emerson, and Vivienne; sister Andrea Bennett, residing in Cleveland, Ohio; sister and brother-in-law Janny Dennis and Chris Watson residing in Fairway, Kansas; nephew Connor Dennis residing with his wife Elise and children Sloane and Jude in Prairie Village, Kansas; and by her sister-in-law and brother-in-law Flora Katz and Leland Ellis residing in Takoma Park, Maryland.

A celebration of Ellen’s life will be held when all can safely be together again. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in Ellen’s honor to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center.