Maris (Mitzi) Kay Bootzin, 74, died Aug. 17, 2015, in Austin, Texas.
Born in Milwaukee, Mrs. Bootzin graduated from Whitefish Bay High School in Milwaukee where, in her senior year, she directed all theatre productions. She attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Early in her career, she was a part-time proofreader in West Lafayette, Ind. When her husband, Dick, accepted a position at Northwestern University, she joined the Pioneer Press newspapers in suburban Chicago and became an editor and a movie reviewer. Mrs. Bootzin continued her writing career in Tucson, working as an independent author and editor, when her husband joined the faculty of the University of Arizona in 1987. Her writing legacy lives on with the recent publication of her book “Mitzi Bootzin’s Sneak Previews 1973-1977.” A lifelong volunteer, she spent the past 10 years fighting childhood hunger through Snack Pack, which served over 235 Tucson families every week over the last school year.
Mrs. Bootzin was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Richard Bootzin. Survivors include her daughters Deborah (Michael) Daniels and Lainey (Todd) Melnick, both of Texas; brother, Joel (Susan) Pittelman; brother-in-law, Jerold (Judy) Bootzin; sister-in-law, Enid Bootzin Berkovits; six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Services were held at Evergreen Mortuary with Cantor Janece Cohen of Congregation Or Chadash officiating. Interment followed in the Congregation Or Chadash section of Evergreen Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to Snack Pack (c/o St. Francis in the Foothills United Methodist Church, attn: Snack Pack, 4625 E. River Road, Tucson, AZ 85718) or the charity of your choice.
