Penny Katz

Penny Katz (nee Schatz), passed away peacefully among family on July 14, 2026 at her home in the Pacific Palisades, CA. at the age of 87. She was born in Chicago, IL on June 14, 1939.

Penny was a proud South sider who was raised in a tight-knit family. She spoke warmly of her childhood, running freely with her maternal cousins among their various apartments in the same building on Ellis Avenue.

At age 16, in 1955, when her brother Don invited friends over to play jazz in his basement, Penny met Don’s newest friend, Stu Katz. Stu became a regular at the musical get-togethers at the family home but 3 years would pass before Penny and Stu had a meaningful conversation.

On a cold night, late in December of 1958, Penny went to hear jazz at one of Joe Segal’s legendary jam sessions, and Stu happened to be a guest performer. During a break, Penny went backstage and they began talking. After the club closed and she went home, Stu called her and the two talked nonstop for the rest of the night. At daybreak, as they were saying goodbye, Stu proposed marriage. Less than five weeks later they married, and while many were surprised by the quick union, it proved to be a lasting one in which they rarely left each other’s side for the next 67 years. Among Penny’s happiest times were spent with her beloved jazz community. At clubs, jazz festivals, and even on tour, Penny typically had a front row seat where she watched Stu’s hands and took in the music with a tranquil intensity. Together they grew and nurtured a vibrant and wide-reaching community of family and friends.

At the foundation of Penny’s life work was her gift for connecting with people during their hardest moments. She worked as a social worker with children at Michael Reese Hospital, later as a family mediator with the Circuit Court of Cook County, and ultimately in more than ten years of private practice. Penny was widely respected for her ability to balance clear-eyed compassion with problem solving. Her intuition and perceptiveness were her superpowers. Penny had a creative and unconventional approach that was respected by judges, colleagues and clients. Penny’s work offered neither easy answers nor much applause, and that suited her well.

Penny’s core traits infused the way she moved through the world. She was eternally hip. Her beliefs about people and society were typically way ahead of her time. Penny was not one to let insensitive comments slide. She was a fierce advocate of social justice and was never afraid to speak up. Penny was deeply attuned to the human condition and spent her life standing up for what she believed was fair. She had an ability to connect deeply and authentically with people, and the result was a diverse and meaningful community of friends. Her children's friends became her own friends on their own terms. She was the one you'd sit down with for the long conversation, the one who took you seriously whether you were eight or eighty. Not surprisingly, Penny was modest about her accomplishments and good deeds.

Penny’s children, Steve and Lauren, learned more than can be put into words from their mother. She showed them what it looks like to truly pay attention to a person. She taught by example to stand up and speak out; to work hard and build a career that aligns with who you are; to value music, art and freedom of expression; to open your home to friends and family; to take great care of animals and to make a great chicken soup. Her mother Sally Schatz once said that if she came back in another life, she'd want to be either Penny's friend or Penny's dog.

Penny’s grandchildren, Avery, Olivia, Milo and Desi, were also very lucky. She was a playful grandmother who knew how to tune into their worlds, no matter their age. She cherished her time with them at her lake home in West Bend, WI where they swam, boated, learned to knit and experience simple pleasures. She asked them hard questions and patiently waited for their answers. Some of her very favorite times with her kids and grandkids were on Joe Segal’s jazz cruises.

Penny is survived by her husband, Stuart Katz; her son, Steve Katz, and his wife, Jennifer Leopold; her daughter, Lauren Katz; her grandchildren, Avery Katz, Olivia Katz, Milo Reed, and Desi Reed; her sister-in-law, Eunice Schatz; and countless friends.

She was predeceased by her parents George and Sally Schatz and her beloved brother, Don Schatz.

No services are planned at this time.

In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: The Jazz Foundation of America, 247 West 37th Street, Suite 201, New York, NY 10018, whose website address is www.jazzfoundation.org.