Audrey Wade Katz

Audrey was the daughter of Richard W. Hittinger and Eleanor Wade Bowker Hittinger. She was raised on Elm Street and School Street in Belmont, Massachusetts.

She attended Belmont public schools as a child. She then went to the University of Massachusetts for her freshman year, before transferring to Colby College where she graduated in 1957 with a degree in Mathematics.

Immediately upon graduating Audrey was hired by General Electric in Schenectady, NY and taught to program the IBM 650 – a very early computer. After a year in the bone chilling cold of Schenectady, she moved to Santa Monica, California to write software at Systems Development Corp (SDC). There she enjoyed living in an apartment on Malibu beach with friends.

In 1961 Audrey took a job with CEIR UK in London, England. There she met her husband, Sheldon, but they did not date until she returned to the US in 1963.

In 1964, Audrey and Sheldon married, and shortly afterwards they lived and worked in many areas of the US, while writing software for different computers with other programmers who became lifelong friends.

In 1967 she became a mother when Meryl appeared. Shortly afterwards Russell arrived in 1968, and finally Stephanie completed the family in 1970.

With childcare help from Ruth, Audrey carried on working. In 1977 she founded Computer Management Systems, where she designed and programed an accounting system for the real estate industry. That system was the basis for the production software now in use by Dynaxys.

Audrey retired in 1998 and then with Sheldon, enjoyed travelling all over the world, but Taylor Court was always home.

Audrey will be always remembered for her smile, her laugh, and her zest for life. She was pioneer in the workforce as a young woman computer programmer and as a working mother. She met challenges head on, organized and supported local causes, and was a valuable member of her community. She was extremely close to her cousins and dear friends, and she loved spending time with all of her grandchildren. Most people will remember how she liked to have fun…Audrey could always be found in the middle of a party dancing and entertaining those around her.

Audrey is survived by her husband of 57 years, Sheldon, her three children and their spouses – Meryl (Jack) of San Francisco, Russell (Randy) of Washington, DC and Stephanie (Neil) of London UK.

The three children, and their partners, blessed her with eight special grandchildren – Jade, Otis, Ben, Maya, Ayla, Teo, Rose and Mitchell.