Marian Katz (née Matzkin; formerly Poliner) of Cromwell, Connecticut, and formerly of Middletown and East Hampton, Connecticut, died on July 8, 2026. Born in Waterbury, Connecticut, on April 10, 1934, Marian was the daughter of Emanuel and Jean (Madnick) Matzkin.

Marian graduated from Waterbury’s Crosby High School in 1952. She attended Brandeis University for two years, and then, upon getting married, transferred to the University of Virginia School of Education, where she earned her degree in 1957. Mid-life, she earned a Masters of Arts Education from Central Connecticut State College.

Raising her three children in East Hampton, she took joy in their accomplishments and was an unwavering source of love and support throughout their lives. She moved to the Wesleyan Hills community in Middletown in 1983, and shortly after began 25 years of happy marriage to Sam Katz. In 2017, she moved to Covenant Living of Cromwell.

While raising her children, she taught kindergarten in the East Hampton public schools, oversaw admissions for Becket Academy, and became a potter. Her later work included doing page layouts for The Middletown Press, and in her late seventies, she worked at Middletown’s Echo Trading women’s boutique.

A deeply artistic person, she was a “key” member of Wesleyan Potters and also skilled at sewing, knitting, jewelry making, basket weaving and painting. Some of her most beautiful paintings were done in the last few years. An avid reader, she was a member of multiple book clubs, as well as the Literary Club of Middletown.

Throughout her life, Marian devoted herself to her community. She served as president of the Sisterhood of Adath Israel Synagogue; was a lifelong member of Hadassah and served as president of its Middletown chapter; was a founding board member of Kidcity Children’s Museum. She volunteered as a docent at the Wadsworth Mansion and as a costume and prop maker for Middletown’s Vintage Players acting group.

Marian had a gift for building and maintaining lasting relationships, including lifetime friendships of 75 to 80 years with her best friends from elementary and high school, and every period of her life beyond. Marian was the glue connecting generations of Matzkin and Madnick family members, maintaining close ties even with distant cousins in Argentina. She and Sam traveled widely together and enjoyed a dedicated circle of friends in and around Middletown. When Marian moved to Covenant Living following Sam’s death, she quickly formed new friendships and became an active member of the Covenant Living community.

Marian was predeceased by her husband, Sam Katz, of blessed memory. She is survived by her son, Michael Poliner (Deborah) of Washington, DC; her daughters, Rachel Poliner of West Roxbury, Massachusetts, and Elizabeth Poliner of Roanoke, Virginia; her grandsons, Ariel Poliner (Kelsey Simmons) and Adam Poliner; and her cherished great-granddaughter, Sela, who brought Marian so much joy.

The family and close friends will hold a graveside funeral on Friday July 10. Shiva arrangements will be posted on the Doolittle Funeral Home website.  In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to charities that would be meaningful to Marian, including the Kidcity Children’s Museum, the Gilead Foundation, and the Benevolent Care Fund of Covenant Living of Cromwell.

May her memory be a blessing and source of strength to all whose lives she touched.

To share memories or send condolences to the family, please visit www.doolittlefuneralservice.com.