Molly Katz of Sarasota, Florida, a former Westport resident, died April 26. She was 76.
Molly Katz: former Westporter. Contributed photo
An author, animal lover, foodie, and traveler, she was born Jan. 12, 1943 to Hubert and Betty Simon and grew up in New Rochelle, New York.
She met her first husband, Peter Katz of White Plains, New York at Boston University. They had twins. Her writing career blossomed with author and second husband, William Parkhurst of New York City. Keystrokes on her dinosaur IBM typewriter shook the house.
They performed stand-up comedy as a team in the late ‘70s into the ‘80s, lived in Dobbs Ferry and Bedford, New York. She continued to Westport, where she truly lived in her element.
Her books include international bestseller “Jewish as a Second Language,” “New York as a Second Language,” romance thriller “Nobody Believes Me,” “101 Reasons to Dump Your Man and Get a Cat.”
Her matzo ball soup was legendary. Her “garbage soup” curious. Easy recipe: Leftovers and pantry misfits go into a pot of water, cook until? Always a cup of bacon fat on hand for frying eggs. She appreciated great food. Lobsters are relieved.
Her warmth for giraffes radiated through a figurine collection. Her home showcased dragon eggs, gargoyles, and a strategically placed claw or foot reached from underneath things.
She loved cruises, explored the world. In Egypt, her travel partner was offered a trade … Mom for a camel. He declined. Her response to the idea of hiding a video camera to record cats, “sweetheart, is it really necessary to hide the camera?” She loved birds … she may have been a Heron addict.
She was predeceased by her parents, and brother Steve Simon of San Francisco. She is loved by twins Chris (Ithaca, New York) and Terry (Naples, Florida), stepdaughter Carolyn and husband Evan (Washington, D.C.), niece Rachel (San Francisco), grandchildren Victoria and Jack, and step-grandchildren Henry and Eleanor.
A celebration of Molly’s life will take place Saturday, Aug. 10 in Connecticut. Email Chris: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or Terry: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for details. Otherwise, have a drink in her honor. She enjoyed a glass of red, or a vodka gimlet with extra onions or a martini with Gorgonzola olives.
