Harvey L. Katz, a former Daily Orange editor, died June 4 after a long battle with Parkinson’s disease, according to his online obituary. He was 86.

Katz enrolled at Syracuse University after serving with the 75th Infantry Division in World War II. He received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star after being wounded in the Battle of the Bulge, according to the obituary.

During his time on campus, he served as D.O. editor and reported on a fire that nearly destroyed Archbold Gymnasium in 1947.

Also at SU, Katz met Glory Weisberger. They married in 1949, the year he graduated, the obituary says.

During the next decade, Katz was a reporter and editor for several newspapers. In 1958, he was hired as director of corporate public relations for Pan American Airways, becoming the first Jewish person to work in upper management for Pan Am, the obituary says.

He became vice president of the New York City Convention and Visitor’s Bureau in 1973 and played a large role in promoting the city as the Big Apple, the obituary says. He held this position until he retired in 1992.

Katz is survived by his wife, children Arne Katz and Susan Miller, Miller’s husband, Stephen, and many nieces and nephews. The family could not be reached for this story.

Liz Sawyer (’14) is the news editor at The Daily Orange. She can be reached at news@dailyorange.com.

Published on February 13, 2012 at 12:00 pm

Contact Liz: egsawyer@syr.edu | @3sawyer