Marilyn Katz

Marilyn “Venu” Katz, of West Hollywood, CA, passed away on May 5, 2026, at the age of 82, after a long courageous battle with Multiple Sclerosis.

Born December 28, 1943, in Wisconsin, Marilyn graduated from Rice Lake High School in 1962. Always a striking woman, she was voted Queen of the High School Winter Formal her senior year. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she was active in the Alpha Chi Omega sorority. She graduated in 1966 with a degree in Art Education.

After college, she went off to Chicago to launch what would become a robust career in the field of advertising. Despite working in the era depicted in the television series Mad Men, her talent could not be ignored, and she was eventually promoted to Art Director. She worked for several different ad agencies.

In 1979, while working for J. Walter Thompson, then one of the largest and most prominent ad agencies in the world, she met the love of her life, Sam Schapiro. Sam was a co-founder of an influential commercial production company on the West Coast.

Venu and Sam embarked on a multi-decade spiritual journey, traveling to India to study at an ashram. A deeply transformative chapter that shaped their lives, Venu lived with deep spiritual conviction, which guided her life and was reflected in everything she touched. She had a rare gift as an animal clairvoyant and a special affinity for cats. She was also a devoted NBA fan.

Ever creative, Venu co-invented and in 1989 co-patented a prototype candy confection she called a Thumbsucker. In 1991, she wrote and illustrated a book, Rainbow Stress Reduction, Play Your Stress Away with Colorful Healing Art and Stress Reducing Games, which remains available on Amazon today.

For all who knew Venu, she was beautiful in presence, and will be even more beautiful in spirit.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Abraham Katz and Florence Halpern; and by her beloved husband, Sam Schapiro. In accordance with her wishes, no formal services will be held. Her ashes have been laid to rest at Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California.