In memoriam: Ron M. Katzman: 1932-2021
Esteemed community leader and former Messiah Board of Trustee member, Ron Katzman, passed away in January 2021. Katzman was a prominent lawyer in Harrisburg when first introduced to Messiah by the Sawatskys. His wife Marjorie became a trusted friend of President Kim Phipps. After Marjorie passed away, Katzman came to be an active and faithful advocate for Messiah, including serving 14 years as a Trustee and also through his efforts on the Board Committee on Advancement and on the Steering Committee for the formation of the Messiah Center for Public Humanities.
He was an accomplished lawyer, graduating from the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard Law School. He was a co-founder of the prominent law firm Goldberg, Katzman, P.C. He was active in many leadership positions, including state and local legal entities as well as Chairman of the Board of the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, President of the Board of Bethesda Mission and President of the Church Council of Trinity Lutheran Church -- all in addition to his service on the Board of Trustees at Messiah. He was also a long-serving Trustee of the Lawrence L. and Julia Z. Hoverter Charitable Foundation and helped facilitate significant support from the foundation to Messiah.
Above all, he was very proud of his family, including daughter, Deborah Katzman (Gaspar J.D. Ximenes), sons James (Sandra) and Ronald Jr. (Lara), and his nine grandchildren. He was also an avid sports fan, attending most home and many away Messiah men’s soccer matches.
Soon after Marjorie died, he established the Ronald and Marjorie Katzman Scholarship Fund at Messiah University, which is one of the designations the family has suggested for memorial tributes. We are profoundly grateful for the many ways that he had an impact on the Messiah community through his wise counsel, selfless generosity and strong advocacy. He was a remarkable human being, and he will be missed.
President Kim Phipps said of him, “Ron epitomized the term servant leader. A man of mature Christian faith, he cared deeply about the well-being of others and dedicated his time, expertise and resources to benefit Messiah University students. I will deeply miss his friendship and his unwavering support for the continued flourishing of our university.”