Obituary of Beatrice L. Herz

Beatrice (Bea) Herz, 89, passed away peacefully at St Joseph's Hospital on May 31, 2015. She was the beloved wife of the late Edwin Herz, who passed in 1983, and the daughter of the late Hilda and William Oplinger, of Arona, Pennsylvania. She is survived by three sons, Robert Herz, of Syracuse (wife, Sally Berry); Richard Herz, of Rhode Island (wife Nancy); and Dr. Randall Herz, who resides in Germany (wife Karen Limper-Herz). Bea was born and raised in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, where she lived and grew up with two sisters and two brothers: Ruth (later Ruth Veitch) and Nancy (later Nancy Coughenour), of Greensberg, Pennsylvania, and Todd Oplinger, of Vandergrift, Pennsylvania, and Jimmy Oplinger, of Arona, Pennsylvania. Beatrice attended Seton Hill College prior to assisting with the war effort in World War II. In 1947, after the war, she married Edwin Herz, and lived the rest of her life in Syracuse. She and Edwin formed American Structures & Real Estate as a part time company, and sold houses for many years, before she began a new full-time career in hotel sales, rising to Director of Sales and Marketing at Hotel Syracuse, and the Country House, and later at the Holiday Inn, Sheraton, and Albany Hilton hotels. She loved Syracuse and brought numerous conventions and conferences to the city that otherwise might have gone elsewhere. She was well known and highly respected throughout the city and state and was active in several charities, church groups and professional organizations. As a result, she formed and maintained many enduring friendships in the business and political communities, and among leaders in Syracuse and New York State. Bea was an avid golfer and a member at Bellevue Country Club, and prior to that, at Tuscarora Country Club. She avidly followed golf matches and was a longtime fan of Syracuse University football and basketball. Bea had the ability to make friends wherever she went. A hard-working, intelligent, and strong woman, Bea will be deeply missed by her many close friends and family members. She was a member of Most Holy Rosary Church in Syracuse, where she sang in the choir until illness prevented her from continuing. Calling hours will be at Edward J. Ryan & Son Funeral Home, 3180 Bellevue Ave, Syracuse, NY 13219, from 4 - 7 pm on Thursday, June 4, 2015. Services will be conducted at 9 am at Saint Joseph's Chapel at Most Holy Rosary on Friday, June 5, 2015. Burial will follow at Saint Mary's Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to National Shrine of St. Jude or the American Cancer Society.