Friends celebrate Florence Katz's tireless volunteer work with seniors

Florence Katz, 98, recently received the Salute to Senior Service Award for the entire state in a contest sponsored by Home Instead Senior Care. The recognition was for her work on behalf of Jewish Family & Children’s Service of Sarasota-Manatee, where Katz has volunteered for the Serving Our Seniors (SOS) program every Wednesday and Friday for nearly 18 years.

Jill Ross, lifestyle director at the Sarasota Bay Club, where Katz resides, organized a June 19 get-together of neighbors to celebrate her success and wish her well at the national level. Close to 50 friends gathered for afternoon tea June 19, in the living room at Sarasota Bay Club to honor Katz, including Mimi Edlin, Rabbi Michael and Nancy Eisenstat, Shirley Fein, Bibb and Al Grossman, Rabbi Jonathan Katz, Claire Love, Ruth Orne and Ida Wilkof.

Katz told the crowd, “What I give to people at Serving Our Seniors is nothing compared to what they give to me.”

Katz was musical director at Temple Beth Israel for years. Rabbi Jonathan Katz (no relation) couldn’t resist a bit of teasing for the soon-to-be 98-year-old and kidded her, “With a name like Katz … ”