Gertrude Katz Of Sag Harbor Dies March 17

Gertrude Katz of Sag Harbor died on March 17, 2022. She was born on November 28, 1929, in Greenport, Long Island. In 1930, she moved to Sag Harbor when her parents Nettie and Phil Rosenstein opened the Fil-Nette Shoppe on Main Street, Sag Harbor in the building now occupied by Brown Harris. Many years later, Gert continued the family clothing business in the same location and called her store The Trude Shoppe.

Gert was raised in Sag Harbor and thought that she was the luckiest person to live there. One of her favorite memories from growing up here was being the drum majorette and leading the parade down Main Street for V.J. Day (Victory over Japan). After Pierson High School she attended New York University to study business.

When Gert married Don Katz in 1950, they both settled in Sag Harbor and Don opened an accounting practice.

Both Gert and Don were very active members of the community. They became very involved in Temple Adas Israel (the synagogue Gert had attended as a child) when it was a relatively small “summer only” synagogue and worked tirelessly to make it a year-round warm and welcoming synagogue to so many. Gert was also involved in The John Jermain Library and The Sag Harbor Food Pantry.

Gert was an incredible hostess, and the family home was always filled with guests of all ages. Young and old were greeted with food, drinks, music, and lots of laughter.

Gert’s love for Sag Harbor made it her choice to stay during the winter. After her husband Don passed away, she said that Sag Harbor was her home, and there was not any other place in the world that she would rather be.

Every Memorial Day, Gert made-sure she showed up for the parade, and she reminisced about the young soldiers who fought for the won-derful freedom we have today.

Gert was predeceased by her husband Don and her daughter Phyllis. She is survived by her children Susan Leavitt (Alan), Hank Katz and Jane Levy (Alan). She is also survived by nine grandchildren- Sam Cohen (Jordan), Noah Leavitt (Chaya), Ethan Leavitt (Elizabeth), Jessie Leavitt, Rebecca Katz, Sydney Katz, Neil Levy (Jessica), Rachel Levy and Hanna Levy and five great grandchildren, Dylan and Charlie Cohen, Mayson Levy, Caroline Leavitt, and Joseph Leavitt.

Being surrounded by her family was Gert’s pride and joy. Every Thanksgiving the family gathered to sing Happy Birthday to Gert and to celebrate an incredible woman, mom, grandmother, and great grandmother!

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the East End Hospice or Temple Adas Israel of Sag Harbor in memory of Gertrude Katz.