Helene Catz

Former Michigan City resident Helene Catz (nee Hofheimer) died at Presbyterian Hospital, Albuquerque, New Mexico, on December 31, 2009. She is survived by her three children: Tom Ruby (Albuquerque, New Mexico); Patricia Sinervo (Toronto, Canada); Roger Ruby (El Dorado Hills, California) and their spouses; along with six grandchildren: David Ruby (Seattle, Washington); Kenn Ruby (Cincinnati, Ohio); Jeff Ruby (Chicago, Illinois); Ben Ruby (Renton, Washington); Aviva Paul (San Francisco, California); and Kalervo Sinervo (Vancouver, Canada); and four great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held for Mrs. Catz on Monday, February 15 at 10AM at the Carlisle Funeral Home with Rabbi Reni Dickman officiating. Following the service her children will greet well-wishers at the Bankoff home, 307 Kenwood Place, until 3PM. A private graveside service will take place on Tuesday at the Sinai Temple Cemetery. Mrs. Catz was born on June 12, 1919, in Saint Joseph, Missouri. She was the only child of Rudolph and Frieda (Lowenberg) Hofheimer, who predeceased her. She graduated from the University of Wisconsin in 1940, married Burton “Bud” Ruby on September 30, 1940, and moved to Michigan City the next month. She lived in Menlo Park, and Saratoga, California, from 1976 until six weeks prior to her passing when she had relocated to Rio Rancho, New Mexico, to live in closer proximity to her eldest son. On March 5, 1977, she married Frank J. Catz, who predeceased her in November 2005. Mrs Catz was a member of the American Association of University Women; the Sinai Temple Sisterhood; a board member of the Elite Youth Center, Michigan City; a member of the Peninsula-Beth El Temple (San Mateo, California) Sisterhood; and the Brandeis Women’s Club and served on the residents’ board of the Saratoga Retirement Center. She loved playing bridge and mahjong; attending live theatre, symphony and ballet; and traveling the world. She was an avid and astute follower of the stock and bonds markets. Memorial donations may be made to the Helene H. Catz Endowment Fund, Jewish Community Endowment Fund, 121 Steuart Street, San Francisco, CA 94105 or the Helene H. Catz Endowment Fund, Jewish Family and Children’s Service, 2150 Post Street, San Francisco, CA 94115-3004, with notification to be addressed to The Children and Grandchildren of Helene Catz, 8223 Grape View Ct. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87122.