Alum and well-known attorney Morton Katz (UConn Law Class of 1951) passed away this month at the age of 105. An active alumnus, Katz attended alumni events as recently as 2019. In 2018 he participated in 100 for 100, an oral history project for the Law School’s 100th Anniversary.
Raised in Hartford, Katz graduated from Weaver High School in 1935. He earned his BS from University of Connecticut in 1939, when it was called Connecticut State College. He was doing graduate work at Iowa State University when Pearl Harbor was attacked and he was called up to active duty. He had been commissioned into the Army reserves since 1940. Katz joined the Army as a 1st Lieutenant serving overseas from 1942-1943 during World War II. He was part of the 82nd Airborne Division and made numerous parachute jumps in Germany, France, North Africa and Italy.
After his discharge from the Army at the end of WWII, Katz remained in the reserves, earning his JD from UConn Law on the GI Bill. As a student, he excelled and graduated with honors. He was editor of the Bar Journal, a precursor to the Connecticut Law Review. In his oral history with the Law School, Katz recalls he found his calling in law during his first class with Professor William F. Starr who he described as a standout educator. While in school, he balanced his studies with a job at the Hartford Courant along with military training, which provided him with financial stability.
Legal Career
Katz began his legal career as an unpaid intern at his uncle’s firm, where he gained experience in title searches and commercial real estate. He later worked at another law firm, before establishing his practice in the basement of his home. Katz focused on criminal law, probate work, and served as a public defender, handling a variety of cases, including drug offenses.
Katz was also active in pro bono work, spurred by his commitment to giving back, inspired by his uncle’s support during his education. In 2010, he received the Hartford Bar’s Pro Bono Award.
Katz received many military honors, among them, the coveted Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster, and Legion of Merit. In 2012, the president of France appointed him a chevalier of the Legion of Honor. He served in the reserves for 32 years retiring with the rank of Colonel in 1979. Katz participated in Memorial Day Observances every year right up through 2024 at the age of 105. In 2023, he published “From Paratrooper to Public Defender: Reflections of a 103-Year-Old World War II Veteran” with Aaron Elson, who transcribed hours of oral histories he conducted with Katz.
A full obituary can be found here. The Hartford Courant also ran a story on February 4, 2025. In addition, Katz did an oral history for the Veterans History Project at Central Connecticut State University. His story and those of others can be found on their website.
