21 Facts About Vera Katz

Vera Katz was an American Democratic politician in the state of Oregon.

Vera Katz grew up in New York City, moving to Portland in 1962, and was elected to the Oregon House in 1972.

Vera Katz was born on August 3,1933, as Vera Pistrak in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Vera Katz earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Brooklyn College in 1955 and a Master of Arts degree in 1957.

Vera Katz worked as a camp counselor in upstate New York where she met her future husband, Mel Katz, a waiter and artist.

Vera Katz then protested and picketed the City Club of Portland over their male-only membership requirement in the early 1970s, leading to the end of the practice by the private club.

In 1972, Vera Katz was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives as a Democrat representing Portland and Multnomah County for the 1973 session.

Vera Katz won re-election to additional two-year terms through 1990.

Vera Katz helped pass measures on gun control as well as legislation prohibiting discrimination based on gender in places of public accommodation and credit.

Vera Katz was the first person in Oregon history to hold the position of Speaker for three straight sessions.

In 1992, Vera Katz ran for mayor of Portland, promoting her candidacy by using public transportation to commute to her office.

Vera Katz won the election and served three terms, from January 1993 until January 2005, winning re-election in 1996 and 2000.

Vera Katz fought off the early stages of breast cancer in early 2000, with surgery and radiation treatment.

Vera Katz was diagnosed with a rare form of uterine cancer called adenosarcoma in June 2004, following a hysterectomy.

Vera and Mel Katz divorced in 1985; their son, Jesse, went on to a career in journalism.

Vera Katz died peacefully in her sleep around 4 am on December 11,2017, in Portland one week after being diagnosed with leukemia.

Vera Katz was 84 years old at the time of her death.

At the time of her death, Vera Katz was eulogized in an editorial in the Portland Oregonian, which declared:.

Vera Katz worked night and day on Portland, as feverishly if she were touching up her personal masterpiece and, in many ways, she was.

Vera Katz was remembered as a detail-oriented and energetic public servant.

Vera Katz was instrumental in the development of a multi-use pathway, now known as the Vera Katz Eastbank Esplanade, a 1.5-mile-long river walk 30 feet above the Willamette River which runs from the Hawthorne Bridge to the Steel Bridge and is part of the Portland Parks system.