The George Washington University community is remembering the life of Myrtle Katzen, who died at the age of 97 on Jan. 28, less than two weeks before her 98th birthday. Myrtle Katzen and her late husband, Cyrus Katzen, who passed away in 2009, generously supported a wide range of cancer initiatives at GW’s School of Medicine and Health Sciences (SMHS). They established the Dr. Cyrus and Myrtle Katzen Cancer Research Center and later endowed the Dr. Cyrus Katzen Director of the GW Cancer Center now held by Dr. Julie Bauman. These investments further GW’s ability to recruit top scholars in the field and facilitate the development of new methods of treating cancer.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Myrtle Katzen, whose generosity and vision have left an indelible mark on the GW Cancer Center,” said Dr. Bauman. “The Katzen family’s unwavering commitment to advancing cancer research and patient care has transformed countless lives, and Myrtle and Cyrus’s legacy will continue to inspire our mission. We are profoundly grateful for their support and extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and loved ones."
With cancer placing a high burden on citizens in the District, the Katzen family’s generosity has widely affected our community, said Barbara Lee Bass, GW vice president for health affairs, dean of SMHS and the Walter A. Bloedorn Chair of Administrative Medicine. “The Katzens’ support makes it possible for patients to receive improved care and furthers knowledge in the search for cures,” said Bass. “Their funding supports Cancer Center initiatives, including pilot programs, which advance the scientific initiatives of the Population Sciences and Policy program, clinical research and patient support services.”
The Katzen family has close ties to GW. Six members have attended the university, four of them earning medical degrees. Dr. Cyrus Katzen’s son Jay, B.A. ’67, M.D. ’72, is a former member of the GW Board of Trustees.
A talented artist who started painting as a girl in Washington, D.C., where she was born and raised, Myrtle Katzen was still working in her studio until two years ago. She studied art at the Abbott Art School, the Corcoran School (now part of GW’s Columbian College of Arts and Sciences) and American University. She worked as a fashion illustrator for Sears and the Hecht Co. and taught art at the Maret School. Many of her paintings are hanging on the walls in several area homes. She was a member of an artists’ organization, Group 93, most of whom studied at American University, where they also exhibited their works.
Through the Cyrus Katzen Foundation, Inc., the Katzen family has supported a wide range of causes related to the arts, health and social services.
“I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know many members of this extraordinary family,” said Donna Arbide, vice president for development and alumni relations. “Through their meaningful work and their exceptional generosity, they have improved the lives of so many of our neighbors in D.C. and beyond.”