Katz, Lillian (1927–)

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Katz, Lillian (1927–)

American entrepreneur. Name variations: Lillian Vernon. Born Lilly Menasche, 1927, in Leipzig, Germany; studied psychology at New York University; m. Sam Hochberg, c. 1950 (div.); m. Robert Katz (div. 1990); m. Paolo M. Martino (hairstylist and interior designer); children: David and Fred Hochberg.

Forced to flee Germany with rise of Nazism, moved with parents to Amsterdam, Holland, then NY (1938); while married and living in Mount Vernon, NY, started her own mail-order business, Lillian Vernon Corp. (c. 1950); became a pioneer in the catalog industry; changed name officially to Lillian Vernon (1990); sold the business and stepped down (2003).