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| Lewis Katz |
The jet crash that killed Inquirer co-owner
Lewis Katz and three crew members Saturday night at Hanscom Field, about 20 miles northwest of Boston, also claimed the lives of three local community-minded people.
Marcella M. Dalsey, 59, of Haddonfield.
Dalsey also worked at Interstate Outdoor Advertising, a Cherry Hill billboard company founded by Katz and run by his son, Drew.
"Susan twisted the arms of every major supermarket, every catering facility to produce free food, and organized friends from synagogues and churches to heat and serve it," said Ron Dubrow, a South Jersey accountant who was a good friend of both Lewis Katz and Asbell's. Katz's philanthropy helped create the club.
A mother of two, Asbell was married to former Camden County Prosecutor Samuel Asbell.
Anne B. Leeds, 74, of Longport.
She was a longtime friend and neighbor of Lewis Katz, who owned a house directly across from hers on 36th Street.
Her husband, James Leeds, is a Longport commissioner.
A prominent Philadelphia businessman and philanthropist was among seven people killed Saturday night when their private plane crashed on takeoff in Massachusetts.
Lewis Katz had purchased the parent company of The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia Daily News and CNN affiliate philly.com just days before the crash. "My father was my best friend. Katz was formerly the principal owner of the NBA's New Jersey Nets and the NHL's New Jersey Devils. "The New York Yankees are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Lewis Katz last night," managing general partner Hal Steinbrenner said in a statement. "Lewis was a minority owner of the Yankees and a valued, long-time friend and colleague to so many of us within the organization. We will cherish his sense of humor, intellect, and deep sense of philanthropy. Lewis had a huge heart and was always there when someone needed help. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver called Lewis -- who took the Nets to the franchise's first ever visit to the NBA finals in 2002-2003 -- "a trusted friend and valued member of the NBA family."
"All of us at the NBA were extremely saddened to learn of the tragic, sudden death of former Nets owner Lewis Katz. I send my deepest condolences to the Katz family during this very difficult time," Silver said in a statement Sunday.
Two buildings at Pennsylvania State University -- where Katz went to law school -- also bear his name.
Katz was also active in his native Camden, New Jersey, where he founded two charter schools and supported a number of charities as well as youth, educational, religious and civic causes. Katz flew to Massachusetts earlier Saturday to attend a fund-raising event at the Boston-area home of historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. I have lost a great friend, his family has lost a great father and grandfather, and the country has lost a great man."
A "significant post-crash fire" consumed much of the plane, according to Schiada.
Katz’s son, Drew, and a business partner confirmed Katz’s death in the crash of a Gulfstream corporate jet that went down on takeoff Saturday night from Hanscom Field outside Boston on its way to New Jersey.
Katz was most recently a co-owner of the Philadelphia Inqurier newspaper.
Katz, 72, was returning from a gathering at the home of Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Doris Kearns Goodwin. Also killed was a next-door neighbor of Katz’s, Anne Leeds, a 74-year-old retired preschool teacher he had invited to accompany him.
Nancy Phillips, Katz’s longtime partner and city editor at the Inquirer, was not aboard.
Katz, who grew up in Camden, N.J., was the principal owner of the Nets from 1998-2004. I send my deepest condolences to the Katz family during this very difficult time.”
“The New York Yankees are deeply saddened by the tragic passing of Lewis Katz last night” Hal Steinbrenner, the Yankees’ managing general partner, said in a statement Sunday. Bruce Ratner, Majority Owner of Barclays Center and Minority Owner of the Brooklyn Nets called Katz trusted friend.
“I am deeply saddened about the tragic death of Lewis Katz. Lewis was a long-time and trusted friend of mine and also a valued partner with the Nets. I send my heartfelt condolences to the Katz family,” he said.
Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz reflected on Katz’s life of philanthropy.
As CBS 2′s Jessica Schneider reported, Katz was also a good friend of Bill Cosby.
When bidding on the company, Katz and Lenfest vowed to fund in-depth journalism and retain the Inquirer’s Pulitzer-winning editor, Bill Marimow.
Katz and Lenfest wanted a judge to block the firing. Katz sued a fellow owner, powerful Democratic powerbroker George Norcross. The dispute was settled when Katz and Lenfest, a cable magnate-turned-philanthropist, bought out their partners.
Three previous owners, including Norcross, said in a statement that they were deeply saddened by Katz’s death.
Afterward, Katz, Goodwin’s friend of nearly 20 years, joined the author and others at dinner, where they talked about their shared interests, including journalism, Goodwin said.
