Arnold M. Katz

1932 - 2016

Arnold Martin Katz (born July 30, 1932) died peacefully surrounded by his family in Norwich Vermont on January 25th. Arnold was a beloved husband, father and grandfather as well as a teacher, mentor, physician, professor of cardiology, medical researcher, and author of numerous books and articles. He is survived by Phyllis, his wife of 56 years, his four children: Paul Katz and his wife Shufen Liu of Taipei Taiwan, Sarah Fostello and her husband James Fostello of East Bridgewater MA, Amy Schick of London UK, and Laura Katz and her husband Dan Berger of Northampton MA, and by his eight grandchildren, Emily and Philip Katz, James and Caroline Fostello, Annabel and Michael Schick, and Rose and Alex Katz-Berger. Arnold was born in Chicago, IL. His mother Aline G. Katz was gifted pianist and piano teacher and his father, Louis N. Katz, was a world-renowned cardiologist. He earned a Bachelor's degree at the University of Chicago in 1952 and graduated from Harvard Medical School in 1956. He worked in medical education and research at the University of California at Los Angeles, Columbia University, and the University of Connecticut. In 1969, he became the first Philip J. and Harriet L. Goodhart Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and in 1977, he moved to the University of Connecticut's School of Medicine to become its first Chief of Cardiology. He published over 400 articles and edited or co-edited more than 15 books and textbooks. His single-authored text Physiology of the Heart is now in its 5th edition, having been translated into numerous foreign languages. Arnold was a devoted teacher and mentor all his life, winning many teaching awards. Following his retirement in 1998, he served as visiting professor of Medicine and Physiology at Dartmouth Medical School. In 2008 he was also appointed Visiting Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Arnold was honored with various research awards throughout his distinguished career, including the 1975 Humboldt Prize, the Research Achievement Award of the American Heart Association, the Peter Harris Distinguished Scientist Award of the International Society for Heart Research, the Lifetime Achievement Award of the Heart Failure Society of America, and the Medal of Merit of the International Academy of Cardiovascular Sciences. The American Heart Association renamed its young investigator award for basic research The Louis N. and Arnold M. Katz Prize. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in Arnold's memory to benefit the work done at either the American Heart Association (American Heart Association/ American Stroke Association PO Box 417005 Boston, MA 02241-7005) or the Norris Cotton Cancer Center at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center (D-HH/Geisel Office of Development One Medical Center Drive, HB 7070 Lebanon, NH 03756-0001). A memorial service will held this summer at a time when friends, family and colleagues from near and far can join.