Sarah Jane Katz

Sarah Jane Katz
September 27, 1976 - March 21, 2026

Sarah Jane was born on September 27, 1976 at Augusta General Hospital.  She was the daughter of Cheri Kelly James and Mark Katz.  Sarah had an incredible curiosity for the world around her- a favorite first phrase she repeated often as a toddler was "What's that?" That curiosity quickly transformed Sarah into an early and voracious reader.  That habit stayed with her for the rest of her life.  She was an incredible big sister to her brother Ben, who arrived 18 months after her birth.  The two siblings spent countless hours playing together on their rural farm property in Palermo Maine.   On one of their adventures they became lost in the woods and were found late at night by the Maine Warden Service and State Police.  
   Sarah graduated from Hall-Dale High School in 1994 and went on to attend American University in Washington DC.  After college she moved into her home in Adelphi Maryland. There, she became one of the nation's preeminent kidnap and ransom insurance underwriters at Victor Insurance of Marsh and McLennan.  She was devoted to her work- even bringing her work computer along on summer vacations to Maine.  
   Sarah was taken unexpectedly by heart failure at age 49.  She is survived by her  mother Cheri James and husband John James, father Mark Katz and wife Sylvia Katz, brother Benjamin Katz,  uncle Kevin Jones and partner Laura Davis,  aunt Sheri Katz and uncle Asher Kahn, aunt Willow Katz, cousins Shannon Jones-Chen, Briar Jones, Kimberly Hladun, Jennifer Tarnatino, Zachary Kahn,  Alexandra Kahn, stepbrother Kurt James, and stepsister Johnna Hutchins.  Additionally , she leaves behind her beloved dog Sadie.

      In lieu of flowers contributions can be made to Adventist Hospital White Oak, in Silver Springs MD.