Curtis Kantor

Curtis Kantor was born on March 13, 1960, to Deanna and Louis Kantor and passed away on Friday, June 12, 2026. Deanna was a Houston native while Louis immigrated with his family to the United States from Wolkowisk, Poland in 1939 on the last liner to leave Poland before Hitler invaded. As a first generation American, Curtis’s childhood was a marked blend of old country Jewish traditions, and 1960s and 70s American culture. As a boy he loved playing baseball and rooting for the Astros. He listened to vinyl rock and roll records and became a drummer. At the same time, Jewish life was at the center of his world. He grew up attending United Orthodox synagogue where he became a Bar Mitzvah. His parents surrounded themselves with friends who either immigrated from Europe like his father, or who came to the U.S. as refugees, having survived the Holocaust. He was a proud Jew and a proud American, ever grateful for the opportunities living in this country afforded him. The first generation in his family to attend University, Curtis graduated from the University of Texas 1982 with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Accounting and passed the CPA exam. He then enrolled in UT’s School of Law and graduated in 1985. He practiced law for the next 35 years, more than 20 of which he served as a managing attorney for TeleCheck. His company described him as a dedicated and knowledgeable attorney who was such an excellent resource on contracts that they just about wouldn’t let him retire. Curtis was a family man. The foundation of his marriage to Linda was how much fun they had together. They went out with their friends often in Houston, took weekend trips to New Orleans and Napa Valley, and summered in Utah where they spent days mountain biking and hiking, always inviting their friends and family to join them. Curtis loved skiing, so winter trips to the mountains were a must. When his children were little, he served as their primary ski instructor. Curtis was ever-present in his children’s lives, never allowing work to get in the way of attending a sports match or a musical performance. He taught his children the ethics of honesty, hard work, and family loyalty by the example of the life he led. Curtis was the epitome of a devoted son. When his father Louis passed away, Curtis stepped up to make sure his mother, Deanna, was taken care of. They spoke daily and he was there for anything she needed. Although Curtis was an only child, he had brothers in his tight-knit group of childhood friends. These brothers were with him at every life milestone, through the end. He has been described as the glue of the group. His friends from every part of his life will miss his sage wisdom and his compassion and empathy. Curtis is survived by his mother, Deanna Kantor, his wife, Linda Kantor, and his two children, Brooke Kantor (Jerry Nimmo) and Sean Kantor. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 am on Sunday, June 14, 2026, in the Sophia and Jack Bender Memorial Chapel at Beth Yeshurun Post Oak Cemetery, 7445 Awty School Ln., Houston, Texas, 77055. The service will be livestreamed at https://venue.streamspot.com/f8d04b5b

Curtis Kantor

March 13, 1960 - June 12, 2026