Mariam Katzman

Mariam Katzman was the youngest child of Albert and Pearl Goodstein. While her siblings – Ida, Sam and Ruth – were born in Sochocin, Poland, Mariam was born at home in Knoxville, Tennessee across the Old Grey Cemetery, on the 4th of July. Her family of 6 lived along with their Aunt Clara , Uncle Ben and their son, JoJo, in a house with 11 bedrooms and one bathroom. She was surrounded by love. Her father died when she was 6. Her brother Sam, who was 12, was bar mitzvah-ed and he would be the father figure in her life. She worked in the family grocery store and went to college at University of Tennessee, majoring in Art Education. She was a Southern Belle, attracting new Jewish boyfriends from all over the South. When Irwin Katzman, a brash Air Force cadet from Newport, Kentucky was sent to Knoxville for flight training during World War II, he targeted her as soon as she was on his radar. They married during the war and afterwards, made it back to Newport where they lived with his parents while he finished law school. She taught art in various public schools until he started his law practice. When her children were born, she became a stay-at-home mom, bringing her art and love with her. She headed the PTA, did puppet shows, and started the Cincinnati Puppetry Guild with Larry Smith. She was a girl scout leader – even though she was uncomfortable with the outdoors – as we got our badges in art, drama, puppetry, and citizenship. She taught Art Education to rabbinical students at Hebrew Union College. She devoted herself to Hadassah. She halted a master’s degree she was pursuing to become president of the Hadassah chapter. She maintained legions of close friends in many different circles. She adored her nieces and nephews and their children, treating them like her own. She had a massive coronary in her early 40s and, unlike her father and brother, she survived. She lived another 60 years. Her last years were sadly marked by dementia. She was kept alive and tenderly cared for by her caretakers – Klara, Amanda, Denise, Cory, Tyra, and Antwain. May her memory be a blessing.

Tributes

Mariam Katzman

July 4, 1923 - September 15, 2025