Drusilla Marie Perkins Kazen 1917-2011

PERKINS KAZEN MCDERMOTT PERKINS

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 7/17/2012 at 11:55:53

Sioux City Journal
January 08, 2012

Drusilla Marie Perkins Kazen, 94, last surviving grandchild of George Douglas Perkins, founder and publisher of the daily Sioux City Journal and a renowned Iowa statesman, passed away Saturday, Dec. 10, 2011, at her residence in San Antonio, Texas, surrounded by her family.

Graveside services will be 10 a.m. Monday in Calvary Cemetery in Sioux City. A Requiem Mass was celebrated on Dec. 16 at our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in San Antonio. Condolences may be sent to Dru@themajestic.com or P.O. Box 12566, San Antonio, Texas 78212.

Drusilla, known for most of her life as Duchess, was the daughter of Samuel Julien Perkins and Marion McDermott Perkins. Born Oct. 10, 1917, in Sioux City, she lost her father at age 4 and later moved to San Antonio with her mother and twin brother and sister, Douglas Samuel Perkins and Lucy Perkins Brown, all who preceded her in death. She attended San Antonio schools, and at her death, was the oldest surviving alumnus of St. Anthony Catholic School in Monte Vista. She graduated from Edison High School in 1934 and attended The University of Texas in Austin, where she was honored as a Bluebonnet Belle.

While at the university, she met and married E. James Kazen who served for many years as district attorney and state district judge in Laredo, Texas. Judge Kazen preceded her in death in 2003. They were the parents of five children, who have become prominent in various fields of endeavor including law, the judiciary, business, education and the arts: Virginia (Gus) Kazen Van Steenberg, attorney, educator and real estate developer, James Douglas (Tina) Kazen, executive vice president, The University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Judge George Philip Kazen (Barbara Ann, deceased), senior U.S. district judge, Felisa Kazen of New York, university professor, media consultant and performing artist, and Barbara Anne Kazen of Santa Fe, N.M., and Austin, Texas, attorney, author and lecturer.

Drusilla often joked that she had always intended to go to law school but instead got her law degree the easy way when she married Jimmy. As a child in Chicago, she studied dancing with Valentina, famous dancer, actress and later exclusive designer. In San Antonio, she studied under various schools of dance, particularly with Mimi and Pamei at the New York School of Dance. While attending the University, she continued her dance studies with Annette Duval and participated in several of the school musical productions as a soloist. Drusilla remained an avid dancer her entire life. She and Judge Kazen were well known for their ballroom dancing and were often the stars on the dance floor. They were also excellent tennis players and played well into their 80s. Having met at the University of Texas, they remained Longhorn fans throughout their lives, taking all five children to every home game.

Drusilla was well known for her spectacular decorations for festivities during the Washington birthday celebration in Laredo and hosted many celebrities, including President and Mrs. Lyndon Johnson, Gen. Jonathan Wainwright, Govs. John Connelly, Price Daniel and Preston Smith, Ambassadors Covey Oliver and Tom Mann and orchestra leader Xavier Cugat.

She was a lifelong member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), the Pan American Round Table, and as chairwoman also hosted many American and Mexican dignitaries as speakers. She decorated and planned dances for celebrations and numerous proms and coronations at Ursuline Academy and St. Joseph's Academy in Laredo. She did the choreography for the prom presentations, which remain a highlight of the lives of many students. She often worked with the gifted artist, Jerry Hinojosa, in producing magnificent stage decorations. In later years, she owned the La Duquesa Antique and Art Gallery where she featured the works of Jerry's son, artist and bronze sculptor Armando Hinojosa. She was a student of Warren Hunter and became an accomplished watercolor artist.

Drusilla was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother and great-great-grandmother. She was honored twice as Mother of the Year.

In addition to her five children she is survived by grandchildren, Gustav Nicholas (Alejandra) Van Steenberg II, Drusilla Anne Van Steenberg (Timothy Cone), James D. Kazen Jr., Jeffrey D. Kazen, Julian D. Kazen, Jamil (Jay) D. Kazen, Katherine D. Kazen, George Douglas (Mary) Kazen, John (Hayley) Kazen, Elizabeth (Michael) Kazen Flores, Gregory (Marci) Kazen, Lisl Friday, Jonathan (Amy) Friday and Kalonji (Liz) Kazen Bobb; 19 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.