Saul Katzman, former executive director of administrative affairs in Penn’s School of Arts and Sciences, died December 6 from complications from COVID-19. He was 73.

In 1970, Mr. Katzman joined the School of Medicine’s Johnson Research Foundation as a business administrator. A year later, he moved to the department of biology in the School of Arts and Sciences, where he also served as a business administrator. Mr. Katzman stayed in that role until 1979, when he was promoted to director of administrative affairs in SAS. He later took on the role of executive director of administrative affairs before he retired from Penn in 2003. After leaving Penn, he took a position at Temple University Ambler and served as director of finance and operations before retiring in 2018.

Mr. Katzman was an active member of the Penn community. He served for several years as a Penn’s Way Campaign coordinator and was on the team for the Classification Redesign Project, a University-wide initiative to review the job evaluation system that Penn uses to classify staff positions. He was a board member of the A-1 Assembly, on the steering committee of the Association of Business Administrators, and a Faculty Club officer. He also served on several University Council committees, including the Library Committee and Bookstore Committee. He became a member of Penn’s 25-Year Club in 1995.

“Saul was responsible for being a pioneer in hiring women and underrepresented minorities into positions handling finances,” says former colleague Lory Eighme, Life Sciences Business Manager for Biology, Psychology and BBB. He had a keen sense of humor and was very kind in his dealings with all staff.”

“He was professional and people trusted him and looked to him for his wisdom and perspective,” says Elyse Saladoff, former director of fiscal operations for SAS, and Mr. Katzman’s niece. “He valued the people (faculty and staff) and genuinely took time to engage them. He could not walk across campus without people stopping to talk to him.”

Janet Conway, former business administrator in economics and senior director in the Office of the Deputy Dean at the Wharton School, said, “Saul was at heart a teacher and imparted knowledge generously. I know that I became a better administrator for my time with him, as I know many others did. He will be missed.”

Mr. Katzman is survived by his wife of 51 years, Faye; sons, Marc (Donna) and Larry (Liz); and five grandchildren, Samantha, Alex, Felicia, Macy and Riley.

Services and interment are private due to COVID-19 restrictions. Contributions in his memory may be made to Alzheimer’s Drug Discovery Foundation at http://www.alzdiscovery.org/ or Old York Road Temple-Beth Am at www.oyrtbetham.org.

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