Jay Katzen

Aug 23, 1936 -

Apr 9, 2020

Vita Servitium Aliorum

Jay Kenneth Katzen, 83, passed away on April 9, 2020, at his home, Beaver Cabin, Talkeetna, Alaska.

Son of Perry and Minnie Katzen, Brooklyn, N.Y., Jay attended Princeton, graduating magna cum laude in politics, and received the Philo Sherman Bennett prize. After earning his master's degree at Yale, he entered the career Foreign Service with postings over 25 years in Australia, Burundi, both Congos, Romania, Mali, the United Nations, and the White House. He spoke five languages.

Jay served as consultant to the CEOs of five Fortune 50 companies for a decade, was vice chairman of the African Development Foundation and acting Chief of Staff of the Peace Corps. A lifelong Republican, he was the first of his party to represent his rural constituency in Virginia's House of Delegates, where he served four terms before narrowly losing as Republican nominee for Lieutenant Governor. He was a visiting professor at Boston College's Graduation School of Management and a member of several University Boards.

Jay and his wife of 56 years, Paddy, were driving forces in the construction of the Victims of Communism Memorial in Washington D.C. He was chairman of the Board of the Combat Wounded Veteran Challenge. The Katzens moved to Alaska in 2009, where Jay continued his service as a National Park Ranger. He leaves Paddy; three sons, Timothy, David and James, all Eagle Scouts; and seven grandchildren.

Scott Janssen, The Mushing Mortician, Janssen Funeral Home in Wasilla, Alaska, 907-279 5477.

Celebration of his life in Talkeetna to be announced.