Sanford Katz

Sanford Katz of Newton, a world-renowned law professor, passed away on February 10, 2024.  Beloved by his colleagues and students, Professor Katz taught family law and contracts at Boston College Law School for 47 years. 

Professor Katz was born in Holyoke, Massachusetts on December 23, 1933, the son of Jacob and Rebecca Katz, and one of seven children. He graduated from Boston University and the University of Chicago Law School, then joined the Air Force Judge Advocate General Division and served at the Pentagon. After a fellowship at Yale Law School, he began his illustrious teaching career at Catholic University Law School and then to the University of Florida, before Dean, Robert Drinan, S.J., brought him to Boston College Law School.

Professor Katz’s impact in the field of family law has been enormous.  The author of numerous foundational books and scholarly articles, he lectured throughout the world.  For many years, he served as Editor of the prestigious Family Law Quarterly, Chair of the American Bar Association’s Family Law Section, and was one of the founders of the International Society of Family Law.  In recognition of his prolific and most distinguished scholarship, Professor Katz was invited as a Fellow at All Souls College at Oxford, where he and his beloved wife Joan (a devotee of Oxford crime mysteries) spent some of their happiest times together. In 2016, nineteen eminent scholars from Great Britain and America published a volume of legal essays in his honor.

Sanford Katz is survived by his dear wife of over sixty-five years, Joan, his sons Daniel and his wife Meg Parsont, and Andrew and his wife Denise Padilla; his grandchildren Lucia and Salvador Katz, whom he adored; his sister Eleanor Shrier and several extended family members.

Professor Katz also leaves behind several generations of devoted students, who will fondly remember his absolute commitment to their success in the legal profession, as well as countless colleagues, scholars, and practitioners who he inspired.

A funeral service will be held Thursday, February, 15, at 10:30 am at Temple Shalom, 175 Temple St., Newton, MA.  The service will be livestreamed for those unable to attend. To view the service virtually use the following link: https://www.templeshalom.org/livestream . Burial will follow at Newton Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations in Sanford’s memory may be made to Boston College Law School.