Alice (Katz) Dember

Alice Katz Dember, 97, of Vero Beach, Florida and formerly of Goshen and Waterbury, Connecticut, died peacefully at home on Saturday, December 20, 2025.  She was predeceased by her husband of 63 years, Howard “Bud” Dember.  Born in New York City, daughter of the late Howard and Dora Epstein Katz, she was a graduate of the LaGuardia School of Music and Art, Clark University, and Central Connecticut State University.  She was a teacher and administrator for the Waterbury public school system for over 30 years.  She was an avid sports enthusiast for her entire life, teaching skiing and swimming, playing tennis, and leading water aerobics.  Alice played golf as a member of the Torrington Country Club and bicycled as a member of the Spokeswomen of Woodridge Lake.  She wrote “Ski News and Views,” a weekly ski column for the Waterbury newspaper for years.  She also wrote and published a rhyming children’s book called Clever Cats and Color Magic. Alice also sang in multiple choruses throughout her life, including the Yale choral group in Norfolk, Connecticut.  Alice continued teaching in retirement by volunteering at the Environmental Learning Center in Vero Beach. She also taught many people, young and old, to play MahJong. She was also a long-time member of the Goshen Library writers’ group, which she loved.

 She is survived by her daughters, Janet Dember of Goshen, Connecticut and Julie Dember Weinstein and husband Art of Fairport, New York and grandchildren Emily Nichols Marti and husband Nick, Robin Weinstein and fiancé Nate, and Samuel Weinstein and wife Elena.  Alice was predeceased by her beloved granddaughter Jillian Nichols.  Funeral services will be held at Phalen Funeral Home 285 Migeon Ave., Torrington, Connecticut at 1 PM, Friday, December 26th, with burial following at Sons of Jacob Cemetery.  Memorial contributions can be made to Visiting Nurse and Hospice of Litchfield County, 32 Union St, Winsted, Connecticut 06098. online memorials www.phalenfuneral.com

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