Mitchell Katz, Livermore winery owner, leaves legacy behind after deadly car crash
LIVERMORE, Calif. - Police in Livermore are investigating a two-car crash that killed the owner of the Mitchell Katz Winery in Livermore.
Mitchell Katz, 59, died Friday after a black Subaru collided with his white GMC SUV while Katz was changing lanes on East Avenue on Friday afternoon, Livermore police said.
The driver of the Subaru was described as a man in his 20s from Westley who is cooperating with law enforcement. Results from toxicology tests have not been received, police said.
Katz' sons mourned the death of their father in a Facebook post.
"We have suffered a tragic loss… Our dad, Mitchell Katz, was unexpectedly taken from us this past Friday evening, July 21, 2023," siblings Jackson and Wes wrote. "At this time, we don’t have any additional information to offer. As expected, we his family and extended family, are all [devastated] and saddened by this tragedy. Thank you to all who have reached out with your sincere condolences. We ask for your continued support and respect of our privacy during this time."
Courtney Quan said she called 911 from the scene of the crash.
Mitchell Katz and sons.
"I heard the tire screeches and my heart sank because I knew what it was and I said someone just wrecked," said Quan. "The white truck was in pretty rough shape so, it was a hard thing to watch. People go flying down this street. There’s always accidents all over East Avenue, it’s a long stretch."
Quan described Katz as being a very sweet guy and that he was always kind in their interactions. She works at a clinic and said everyone there adored him.
"I can’t imagine the heartbreak that family is going through right now," said Quan. "I can’t imagine…to lose someone so suddenly, so tragically, I can’t imagine."
A family friend said Katz was returning from picking up supplies that were needed the next day for a private event at the winery. "It was on his way back that this accident occurred," said Dirk Lorenz.
Lorenz described Katz as a "hell of a guy" with a "huge heart" and said he lived bigger than life.
"He loved his industry and he loved his craft. As a matter of fact, I credit my love for big reds, big red wines to Mitchell Katz because he made some of the best, in my opinion, and that was a craft he learned from his grandfather many years ago and carried on throughout the years," said Lorenz. "He would love to sit down with a glass of his wine and just talk. He was just one of those individuals who people were attracted to."
Lorenz talked about carrying on the family legacy. "Mitch was living his best life at that point in time. This tragedy, although it yanked it away from Mitch…it's left it for his boys to carry on and I think that's probably the most important thing we can focus on from here on out, helping those boys succeed in carrying on that legacy," he said.
Livermore Mayor John Marchand offered his condolences in a statement. "Mr. Katz was an important figure in our wine industry and a beloved member of our community," Marchand said. "He enriched our city with his passion for winemaking and dedication to his craft."
Marchand said Katz worked with a local rabbi to create Alef, which to the best of his knowledge, was the first locally produced kosher wine.
"He will sorely be missed. May his memory continue to inspire us, and may we raise a glass to honor his life," Marchand said.
Katz started the Mitchell Katz Winery in Livermore in 1998, according to the company's website.
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