I moved to Baltimore in 1980 and began giving a parsha shiur every Shabbos to a group of women living in the Park Heights area, between Strathmore and Glen avenues. Sandy Katz was one of the regular attendees. When I became a single parent to four children under the age of seven, the Katzes were brave enough to invite my family for a Shabbos meal. And thus began a very long and fruitful and beautiful friendship.
Having two sons, I was always seeking father (or big brother) figures for gemara tutoring, davening in shul in the men’s section, bar mitzva lessons, etc. I didn’t need to look too far, for Larry Katz immediately stepped in and unassumingly offered to help. While many people had no idea how to be of help to my family, Larry and Sandy were my heaven-sent angels. We had a home away from home, always. My children learned how to play ping pong on motza’ei Shabbos. They were taken to ball games and bike riding paths. Larry even taught one of my daughters how to drive and allowed her to drive his car to the MVA for her driving test. My sons always knew that when they walked in to the Agudah, there was a seat waiting for them next to Larry Katz.
