Erich Katz
| Born: |
12-08-1917 |
| Faculty: |
Philosophical School |
| Category: |
Expelled student |
Erich KATZ, born on December 8
th, 1917 in Gross-Enzersdorf/Lower Austria (entitled residency ("heimatberechtigt") for Gross-Enzersdorf/Lower Austria, Citizenship: Austria), son of Dr. Karl Katz (veterinarian and head of the Jewish Community of Gross-Enzerdorf), lived in Gross Enzersdorf, Elisabethstrasse 4b, was enrolled finally in the spring term 1938 at the Philosophical School in the 1
st year of his studies and took courses in pharmaceutics and chemistry.
In 1938, after the takeover of power of National-Socialism, he was forced to quit his studies for racist reason - only for a few months he could continue his studies in the context of the 2%-numerus clausus as one one of only a few Jewish students until June - and had to leave the University of Vienna.
In November 1938 he was imprisoned by Gestapo and then deported to concentration camp Dachau until his release on January 3rd, 1939 (due to a visum to El Salvador). Meanwhile his father got visas for the whole family so they emigrated together on March 13
th, 1939 with the ship
Caribia (Hapag line) via Panama to Ecuador where Erich Katz received his doctorates in Chemistry and Pharmacy at the University of Quito.
He then moved to Albany, NY where he attended Albany School of Pharmacy. He met and married the former Ruzena Simonovitz in 1949 and they go two daughters, Margaret and Evelyn.
Erich Katz spent the bulk of his pharmacy career at the Troy Surgical Drugstore and was also employed by Sterling Winthrop Research Institute as an Analytical Chemist.
He deceased, aged 98, on December 20
th, 2015 in Troy, NY/USA.
Lit.: POSCH/INGRISCH/DRESSEL 2008, 414; Archive of the University of Vienna/Enrollment forms ("Nationale") PHIL 1937-1938; Austrian Heritage Collection at Leo Baeck Institute New York; 
Obituary in The Record on December 22nd, 2015.
Herbert Posch
