Szekely, Katalin "Kato"

1919 - 2017  (98 years)

• Name	Szekely, Katalin "Kato"  [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
  Born	29 Jan 1919	Budapest, Pest, Hungary   [3, 4]
  Gender	Female
  Name	Kato Mendelssohn
  Died	15 Aug 2017	California, USA   [3, 6]
  Buried	Alta Mesa Memorial Park, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, California, USA   [3, 6]
  Person ID	I26589	Our Family
  Last Modified	16 Jan 2024

  
  

  Family	Reis, Robert Stanley,   b. 21 Dec 1916, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, USA ,   d. 22 Oct 2008, Palo Alto, Santa Clara, California, USA  (Age 91 years)
  Married	15 Apr 1946	Stanford, Santa Clara, California, USA   [1, 6, 7]
  Children	+ 1. Reis, John Allan + 2. Reis, Brian Jeffrey + 3. Reis, Thomas Stanley + 4. Reis, Ronald Paul
  Last Modified	16 Jan 2024
  Family ID	F10015	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  January 29, 1919 - August 15, 2017 Kató Mendelssohn Reis, the great-great granddaughter of composer Felix Mendelssohn, passed away peacefully on August 15, 2017 surrounded by family and the sounds of her own recordings of the music of Chopin, Liszt and of course Mendelssohn. Kató completed both her musical and academic education in 1938, graduating from the Franz Liszt Academy. At that time, her parents- with the encouragement of two of her father's brothers already in the U.S.- decided to immigrate with their only child to Los Angeles to allow Kató's musical career to flourish. Kató began giving piano lessons and performing for schools, civic organizations and private parties. Shortly thereafter, she came to the attention of the Hollywood elite, becoming their teacher and pianist of choice. Using her great-great grandfather's surname (Mendelssohn), Kató began playing concerts with world-class orchestras (including the San Francisco Symphony). In 1940, on a double date with a friend, she met the dashing Robert Stanley Reis, a Stanford student destined to be the love of her life. When the U.S. entered into World War II after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Kató immediately volunteered her talent, giving concerts for the troops at USO venues, military hospitals. Celebrity Mary Pickford regularly invited Kató to entertain at her estate, Pickfair. While Kató concertized for the troops, Bob served in the army and they ultimately married at Stanford Chapel in 1946. After a lengthy honeymoon traveling throughout the U.S. and Canada, the couple settled in Atherton. Bob purchased a business in San Francisco, which continues to this day, and Kató resumed teaching piano. She and Bob soon had four sons, and Kató included each of them in her full roster of piano students. Kató continued teaching piano into her 70s. Once her sons were grown, she added volunteer work to her busy schedule. Allied Arts, the Mid-Peninsula League of the San Francisco Symphony, Peninsula Family Service and Peninsula Volunteers Little House and Meals on Wheels (she delivered meals well into her 80s!) all benefitted from her generosity and boundless energy. Kató and Bob moved into the Vi in Palo Alto soon after it opened in 2005. After Bob passed away in 2008, Kató filled her days spending time with her family, playing bridge and delighting her fellow Vi residents with frequent impromptu concerts on the grand piano in the lobby. Kato is survived by her children, Ronald (Barbara), Thomas (Julie), Brian (Prudie), and John (Karen) as well as her 10 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. Her love of music and appreciation for the fullness of life lives on in them. Friends and family will forever be grateful for her example of a long life well lived. January 29, 1919 - August 15, 2017 Kató Mendelssohn Reis, the great-great granddaughter of composer Felix Mendelssohn, passed away peacefully on August 15, 2017 surrounded by family and the sounds of her own recordings of the music of Chopin, Liszt and of course Mendelssohn. Kató completed both her musical and academic education in 1938, graduating from the Franz Liszt Academy. At that time, her parents- with the encouragement of two of her father's brothers already in the U.S.- decided to immigrate with their only child to Los Angeles to allow Kató's musical career to flourish. Kató began giving piano lessons and performing for schools, civic organizations and private parties. Shortly thereafter, she came to the attention of the Hollywood elite, becoming their teacher and pianist of choice. Using her great-great grandfather's surname (Mendelssohn), Kató began playing concerts with world-class orchestras (including the San Francisco Symphony). In 1940, on a double date with a friend, she met the dashing Robert Stanley Reis, a Stanford student destined to be the love of her life. When the U.S. entered into World War II after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Kató immediately volunteered her talent, giving concerts for the troops at USO venues, military hospitals. Celebrity Mary Pickford regularly invited Kató to entertain at her estate, Pickfair. While Kató concertized for the troops, Bob served in the army and they ultimately married at Stanford Chapel in 1946. After a lengthy honeymoon traveling throughout the U.S. and Canada, the couple settled in Atherton. Bob purchased a business in San Francisco, which continues to this day, and Kató resumed teaching piano. She and Bob soon had four sons, and Kató included each of them in her full roster of piano students. Kató continued teaching piano into her 70s. Once her sons were grown, she added volunteer work to her busy schedule. Allied Arts, the Mid-Peninsula League of the San Francisco Symphony, Peninsula Family Service and Peninsula Volunteers Little House and Meals on Wheels (she delivered meals well into her 80s!) all benefitted from her generosity and boundless energy. Kató and Bob moved into the Vi in Palo Alto soon after it opened in 2005. After Bob passed away in 2008, Kató filled her days spending time with her family, playing bridge and delighting her fellow Vi residents with frequent impromptu concerts on the grand piano in the lobby. Kato is survived by her children, Ronald (Barbara), Thomas (Julie), Brian (Prudie), and John (Karen) as well as her 10 grandchildren and 9 great-grandchildren. Her love of music and appreciation for the fullness of life lives on in them. Friends and family will forever be grateful for her example of a long life well lived.

  
  

• Sources

  [S593] California, County Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, 1849-1980, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.;), California Department of Public Health, courtesy of www.vitalsearch-worldwide.com. Digital Images. California, County Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, 1849-1980 [S350] Vermont, Marriage Records, 1909-2008, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.;), Vermont State Archives and Records Administration; Montpelier, Vermont. Vermont, Marriage Records, 1909-2008 [S20] U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.;). [S465] California, Federal Naturalization Records, 1843-1999, Ancestry.com, (Name: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.;), National Archives at Riverside; Riverside, California; NAI Number: 594890; Record Group Title: 21; Record Group Number: Records of District Courts of the United States, 1685-2009. California, Federal Naturalization Records, 1843-1999 [S158] Petition For Naturalization, for Dan. [S200] Obituary, for Katalin. [S561] California County Marriages.