Here’s where my love of family history comes from.
I’m Gary Katz — a lifelong family-history hunter and professional genealogist. My research spans Jewish and Eastern European archives, Colonial American records, and Western European roots including English, Scottish, Irish, Italian, German, and Canadian families. Every family has a migration story, and I love uncovering how those journeys connect across generations.
My approach blends traditional record research with modern DNA analysis. I dig into vital records, censuses, immigration papers, naturalization filings, city directories, cemetery records, and more — then connect those findings with DNA matches to reveal how people across continents and eras are linked.
Genealogy can feel overwhelming — too many websites, too many hints, and too many conflicting trees. My role is to bring clarity: to separate evidence from assumption, to verify the stories that have been passed down, and to gently correct the ones that don’t hold up to the records.
How I Work With You
Here’s who you’ll work with.
Whether we’re focused on one mystery ancestor or a broader family narrative, my process is collaborative. I listen carefully to what you already know, what you’re unsure about, and what you most want to discover. Then I design a research plan that fits your goals, timeframe, and budget.
Clear questions – We define what you want to know before I begin.
Evidence-based research – I document sources and note the strength of each piece of evidence.
Plain-language explanations – You don’t need to “speak genealogy” to understand what I find.
Actionable next steps – I’ll suggest where we can go next if you want to continue the journey.
“Working with Gary was incredible — he did all the heavy lifting and transformed my messy family tree into a fully verified one … His work was thorough, accurate, and truly exciting.”
– Stephanie Goodyear
Berelson family in China
Ready to Start Your Search?
Share what you know and what you hope to discover, and we’ll decide together on the best next step.
