Carleton graduate Ted Katz (BEng/63) knows first-hand the importance of supporting post-secondary education for those who may otherwise not have the opportunity.
From the time was 15 years old, Ted dreamt of becoming a civil engineer. As a young man, he arrived in Canada in 1956 as a Hungarian refugee. One year later he started night school at Concordia University and completed his first two years of engineering before enrolling at Carleton University, thanks in part to financial support from Carleton. With hard work, determination and a vision for his future, Ted graduated in 1963 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering.
In 1970, he would go on to establish Le Groupe Conseil T.T. Katz, a Montreal-based company that provides engineering and surveying services for municipal and private clients, developers and the construction industry. Although he has retired from day to day operations. Ted remains on as an advisor to his son, Robert, who is now leading the company.
While Ted established his legacy in La Belle Province, he has always remained connected to Carleton and has never forgotten that success begins with opportunity.
“University education, and I would say education in all its forms, is the basis of civilized society, harmonious and open to the world,” he says. “Nothing is more important than education.”
Looking back to when Carleton’s Faculty of Engineering was officially formed in 1963, Ted recalls Dr. John Ruptash, former director of the School of Engineering and first dean of the Faculty, with great fondness and admiration.
“Always with his trademark pipe, John Ruptash was a wonderful human being and excellent lecturer,” he notes. “He insisted to be addressed as John and even invited the first graduating class of the full program in 1963 to his house for a party.”
Wishing to honour his mentor, to thank those who laid the foundation for his success and to give back to the community by making an impact on future generations, Ted has chosen give a third of all his assets to support causes important to him, including Carleton.
Room 3400 in Carleton’s Canal Building was named in honour of Dr. John Ruptash. The commemoration recognizes the generosity of one of his students, Ted Katz (BEng/63) and his support of the Civil and Environment Engineering Student Experience Fund.
As a tribute to Dr. John Ruptash, Ted established the Esther Katz Family Bursary for Civil Engineering Students in memory of his late mother. The scholarship assists students within the Civil Engineering program at Carleton who demonstrate financial need and is available to students proceeding from first to second-year or second to third-year.
Students in Carleton’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering have also benefitted from Ted’s support of the Civil and Environment Engineering Student Experience Fund, which helps to facilitate a variety of practical learning opportunities including design competitions, conferences, short courses, field trips and mentoring opportunities. These unique activities help to enhance education at Carleton by providing real-world experience and better preparing students for their careers.
As he continues to generously support Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carleton, Ted offers some words of advice to new graduates as they enter the workforce.
“Recognize opportunities when they arise and pursue them,” he says. “Don’t get discouraged if you fail. Each time you fail you learn and next time it will help you to succeed.”
