|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Robert (Bob) Katz, Portola Valley’s last surviving member of the town’s first Planning Commission died at the age of 98 on June 30, 2024. He was known as one of the founding fathers of the town and is remembered for his proactivity in leading the organizing committee during the incorporation of Portola Valley in 1964.
Katz was born on Jan. 8, 1926 in San Francisco and attended the University of California, Berkeley, Stanford and Harvard universities. He was a World War II veteran, Harvard business professor and conservationist. Katz moved to Portola Valley in 1962 with his wife Susan where they raised their three sons Andrew, Peter and Jeffrey.
Back in 1962, Bob paid $19,250 for the lot to build his house, which is still in the Katz family to this day.
Bob served a crucial role in going door to door to talk to town residents about why they needed to come out and vote for the incorporation of Portola Valley. After the incorporation, Bob served on the Planning Commission to develop a general plan to prevent development on the town’s hillside and determine how to manage the community.
Andrew remembers attending the first few Planning Commission meetings which were held in the Mangini Roadhouse, now Alpine Hills Tennis and Swimming Club.
His sons Andrew and Peter describe him as supportive, determined, wise and fair.
“He just really wanted to have conversations with people and get them engaged,” said Peter. He said his dad used to call himself an “old school teacher,” always wanting to talk to and learn from others. Bob found the act of sharing wisdom important, Peter said.
Outside of his work in Portola Valley, Bob taught business at Dartmouth College, Harvard University, Stanford University and wrote several business textbooks and articles. As a conservationist and businessman, he served as the president and CEO of the U.S. Natural Resources Inc. working with Yosemite National Park. Bob was also a board member for the Sempervirens Fund, an organization aimed at protecting redwood forests and wildlife in the Santa Cruz mountains.
According to Peter, his father was always working. He would tell them “if your job is doing what you love, then it’s not really work.”
Bob was also a nature lover and would take his kids backpacking, horseback riding and fly fishing. As a grandfather, he wanted to share the joys of learning through travel and created a tradition to take his grandchildren anywhere they wanted when they turned 10. The one exception was that they needed to research the destination, write a report before they left and keep a diary of their trip.
His nine grandchildren were able to travel to places like Scotland, Alaska, the Galapagos Islands, Africa and Antarctica.
“Each of them will say what an amazing bonding experience it was to get to know Papa (Bob) in a whole different way,” said Peter. “He was committed that every grandkid when they turned 10 would have this amazing, memorable experience.”
Bob’s oldest son Andrew continues to live in the town that his father strongly impacted. Andrew also took part in the town’s government as the chairman of the Parks and Recreation Committee, president of the Alpine Hills Tennis and Swim Club and chairman of the Westridge Architectural Supervising Committee.
Andrew appreciates the smallness of Portola Valley, volunteerism, the community and the natural beauty — all of which still strongly reflect the town’s philosophy since its incorporation 60 years ago.
“I think the reason I have volunteered so much and the reason I’ve stayed here, been here and raised my family here is because of his legacy,” said Andrew.
The Katz name continues to live on in Portola Valley through the history of Bob and now his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
“Everyone is going to remember him in their own way and he would love that. He wanted everyone to be their own person,” said Peter, who remembers his father as a caring patriarch who wanted to make a difference in the world and had an incredible love for his family.
Bob is survived by his three sons Andrew, Peter and Jeffrey, nine grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Change of plans: Research campus to leave Menlo Park, make way for more housingJune 12, 2026 6:46 pm
