Turning 100 this August, Harold Katz (B.S.) has lived a lifetime many of us would be fortunate to have. A 1950 graduate of Connecticut College of Pharmacy (now UConn's School of Pharmacy), Katz is a proud WWII veteran, a life-long pharmacist and drug detail man with an Eli Lilly and Company career spanning 32 years, and a devoted family man.
Harold and his late wife Doris with their three children
Growing up in Bridgeport, Connecticut, with his older brother and parents, Katz worked at a local drug store as a soda jerk in high school. While mastering the skill of making banana split sundaes for customers at the soda fountain, he developed an interest in medical problems. Growing up during the Great Depression, Katz received advice from his parents to pick a practical career that would always be in demand. With his passion only a train ride away, Katz chose the Connecticut College of Pharmacy (now the UConn School of Pharmacy) to pursue his B.S. in Pharmacy.
"I was working as a part-time soda jerk at a drugstore with a soda fountain, serving banana splits and sundaes. And I was pretty good at it."
Like many of his classmates during World War II, Katz was drafted into the United States Army before pursuing his studies on-site in New Haven. Proudly serving his country from 1944 to 1946, Katz spent his service on the island of Sibu in the Philippines and in Japan under occupational duty. While in the Philippines, Katz was only an island apart from his older brother Bernie, also serving in the U.S. Army, although he did not know of this proximity until after his return home.
With only two months of pharmacy experience, Katz was put in control of a dispensary during his time in Japan, where he treated soldiers for infections. A bit older than the creation of penicillin, Katz effectively cured many infected soldiers with this antibiotic. When he wasn't on duty at the dispensary, Katz created a collection of memories from his time in Japan. Exploring Japanese nature with his fellow soldiers, including a climb to the top of Mount Fuji, Katz fondly remembers the landscapes, people, and culture.
After returning home from Japan, Katz continued his studies at the Connecticut College of Pharmacy, with a price tag of $500 per semester. Commuting by train with classmates each day, Katz attended lectures and did experiments in the auditorium amphitheater of an old Yale building. Because his "campus" was only about 80 feet across and 50 feet long, Katz became close to many peers in his 50-person classes and continued these relationships after his time as a Husky.
Graduating in 1950 with a B.S. in Pharmacy, Katz did relief work before taking a job at Rexall, a major drugstore cooperative. He married his love Doris Pomerance in 1952 and soon Katz realized his late-night shifts at Rexall didn't align with married life and took a job at Eli Lilly as a medical representative. While medical representatives serve as salespeople today, Katz joined a medical representative industry that was focused on expertise, rather than persuasion. Knowing details about medications, their potential side effects, and interactions with other drugs, Katz developed close and trusted relationships with the physicians he worked with. Driving around the state of Connecticut to deepen these relationships, Katz completed his driving during the day and his paperwork at home so he could take every opportunity to spend time with his wife and children.
"I remember the relationships I made at Eli Lilly. That's why I loved the job."
Living in New Britain for several years before moving his family to West Hartford, Katz completed a 32-year-long career at Eli Lilly while raising his three children, Rick, Jeffrey, and Ellen. Reflecting on his busy past of raising a family while having a successful career, Katz excitedly remembers when one of the boys inadvertently emptied the company car of gas and work obligations instantly became a challenge. To Katz, the event morphed into a quality teaching experience. Finding success in the pharmacy industry, Katz and Doris inspired their children to find their own success. Rick, a graduate of the University of Vermont, has a successful career in food safety inspection and prevention analysis. Jeff graduated from Yale's medical school and is a professor at Harvard Medical School. The baby of the Katz family, Ellen, got her BSN degree from Duke before working as an RN, obtaining an MPH, and becoming a business owner.
Putting his children above all else, Katz and Doris spent their lives living below their means to build generational wealth for their family. Sacrificing a lavish lifestyle to ensure his children could pursue their goals, Katz's love for his family is immeasurable.
"My wife, may she rest in peace, would be especially pleased to know that our children have their feet on the ground and are earning their way."
After his children left the nest, Katz and Doris became proud snowbirds, spending summers in Cape Cod and winters in Boca Raton, Florida. Retired from his full-time career as a pharmacist but unable to rest from his passions, Katz continued to do relief work in Cape Cod and Florida pharmacies well into his eighties. With a passion for recycling, which started during the early years of his career, Katz became the head of recycling at his senior living facility in Florida. Educating community members about the importance of recycling while implementing greener initiatives, Katz knows that big changes start small.
"My passion is recycling, which is a necessary thing. When I moved into senior living, new people came in from everywhere, and they knew nothing about it."
Passionate about seeing his community thrive, Katz was also a columnist in a local newspaper for many years, serving around 1700 families. Writing articles centered on pharmacy, senior living, and health and wellness, Katz has pinpointed relevant topics, like expiration dates on medication and sexual function, to effectively educate his community.
After losing his wife of almost 65 years in 2019, whom he calls his bride, Katz remains close to his family. He's a proud grandfather and great Papa to five great–grandchildren. Although he spends his days enjoying his retirement, Katz always has the latest edition of U.S. Pharmacist lying on his desk and excitedly looks ahead with the same passion and service that have defined his first century of living.
Katz will celebrate his 100th birthday on August 15th, 2026, with family and close friends at his Florida home.
At 99 , Katz is living proof that a pharmacist's care can endure far beyond a career. Through one remarkable life story, Katz connects UConn Pharmacy's past with its future and reflects the values that have defined the School for a century.
