WPCNR Legacies of White Plains. March 21, 2008: Seymour L. “Sonny” Katz, City Marshal of White Plains for more than 37 years, died March 21, 2008, at his home in White Plains. He was 86 years old, and remained active in his municipal position.
Sonny Katz
1921-2008
Seymour L. “Sonny” Katz, City Marshal of White Plains for more than 37 years, died March 21, 2008, at his home in White Plains. He was 86 years old, and remained active in his municipal position.
Mr. Katz was born on June 11, 1921, in Port Chester, NY, son of Joseph and Dora Katz. He attended public school in Port Chester and was a graduate of Port Chester High School.
He served in World War II as a staff sergeant in the Army Air Corps. He was sent to the Pacific Theater of war, including the Philippines and, at the conclusion of the war, Japan. Although one of his assigned tasks was as an aircraft gunner, he most enjoyed his role as a performer for the troops, singing with an Army “big band.”
Sonny married Constance of White Plains and they had four children: Susan; Michael; Ronnie; and, Debbie.
With his wife and father-in-law, Sonny operated Harry’s Luncheonette on Main St., in White Plains for many years. Sonny also was employed at Yonkers Raceway.
In the time when the cold war still was an international issue, Sonny assumed a position with the Department of Civil Defense and Emergency Planning for the City of White Plains. He subsequently was appointed as City Marshal, and served in that position during the administrations of eight Mayors.
Sonny previously served on the Board of Directors of the Hebrew Institute.
He was a founding member of the Board of Directors of Westco Productions, the non-profit professional theater company based in White Plains. The Sonny Katz Scholarship Fund, named in his honor by Westco, has been providing scholarship funds to assist high school graduates from White Plains and Port Chester with their college studies of the performing arts.
Sonny is survived by his wife Constance, all four of his children, six grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
The funeral will be held Monday, March 24 at 10 A.M. at The Hebrew Institute of White Plains, 20 Greenridge Avenue.
Donations may be made in memory of Sonny to Westco Productions’ Sonny Katz Scholarship Fund, or The Hebrew Institute of White Plains.
Note: Mr. Katz's funeral will be held at the Hebrew Institute of White Plains, 20 Greenridge Avenue, at 10 A.M., Monday, March 24.
