W. E. Katuzny - OBITUARY
Maj. Gen. Walter E. Katuzny Jr., 57, a Radnor Middle School teacher and retired Army Reserve commander, died of cancer July 31, 1998 at his home in Newtown Square.For more than 20 years, Gen. Katuzny balanced two careers. He taught Spanish at Radnor Middle School and coached varsity basketball at Radnor High School in the day and was commander of the 79th Army Reserve Command (ARCOM) at the Willow Grove Air Reserve Station at night and on weekends.
Gen. Katuzny joined the Radnor Township School District in 1973 and spent his entire career there, at the middle school and coaching high school basketball.
"He certainly had leadership abilities within the school setting. He, commanded great respect from both the students and faculty," said middle school principal William Laffey.
As a coach, "he was a very organized and sharp type of guy, who got along well with the members of the basketball team and their parents," said middle school teacher Pete Roberts, who was assistant basketball coach under Gen. Katuzny during the mid-70s.
Gen. Katuzny was born and raised in Chicago. He earned a bachelor's degree in English in 1963 from DePaul University there and a master's in Spanish from Middlebury (Vt.) College in 1970.
Gen. Katuzny, who joined the Army as a second lieutenant and trained as a field artillery officer, served in Vietnam in 1968 and 1969 and received numerous medals, including the Republic of Vietnam Cross of Gallantry. After his tour of duty in Vietnam, he was appointed assistant professor of foreign languages at West Point in 1970 and taught there until 1973. He also was assistant basketball coach under Bobby Knight.
After 10 years of active duty, he switched to the Reserve as an officer with the 78th Division Maneuver Training Command at Fort Dix. In 1989, he was appointed deputy commander of the 79th ARCOM and was its commander from 1992 until retiring in 1996. He was promoted to major general in l993.
Gen. Katuzny had lived in Newtown Square since 1977 and previously in King of Prussia. He was a member of St. John Neumann Roman Catholic Church in Bryn Mawr, the Overbrook Golf Club, and the Coates-Wafer Post of Veterans of Wars in Bridgeport.
He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Carol M. Douglass Katuzny; sons Jeffrey A. Norman and Richard M. Norman; a brother; and two grandchildren.
A Funeral Mass was said at St. John Neumann Church, Mill and Highland Roads, Bryn Mawr. Burial was in Arlington (Va) National Cemetery.
From: The Post Eagle, Vol. 36, No. 34, Aug. 26, 1998