Victoria M. 'Vicki' Kattouf, 91, Altoona, died Sat., Jan. 22, 2011 at The Lutheran Home at Hollidaysburg. She was born in Watertown, NY to Samuel & Najiy (Abdo) Bahou, who emigrated from Acre, Palestine, in the early 1900s. She married Habab 'Hab' Kattouf on July 12, 1939, in Watertown and had been an Altoona resident ever since. Survived by children: Sylvia (Dr. Nicholas) Hanna, of Pittsburgh; the Honorable Ted (Jeannie Marie) Kattouf, of Rockville, MD; George Thomas (Melanie) Kattouf and Subdeacon, Gregory Kattouf, all of Altoona; 11 grandchildren: Jennifer (Jack) Morningstar, Sophia (Robert) Mooney, Jonathan (Pam) Kattouf, Damian (Nicole) Hanna, Melissa (Ben) Kattouf-Steffy, Paul, Michael, Nicole, Amanda, Vanessa and Anthony Kattouf; 9 gr. grandchildren; sisters: Pauline (Roy) Farah, of Grand Blanc, MI and Helen Bahou, of Watertown, NY and extended family. Predeceased by husband, Hab; sister, Mae Ofiesh; and brothers: Stundy Aboud and Victor Bahou. Vicki was a 1936 graduate of Watertown High School where she was a member of the National Honor Society. During WW II, while he served in the Army, Vicki became proprietor of Hab's Cafe, 16th Street in Altoona, preserving the business until he returned home. She was a member of St. George Antiochian Orthodox Church in Altoona, where she taught Sunday school and was an active member of the St. Mary's Ladies Society, serving in various capacities over the years, including president of the group. Vicki was also active in the Altoona Hospital Auxiliary and served as a gift shop volunteer for many years. Her most passionate advocacy was to work tirelessly to achieve opportunities for children and adults with special needs in Blair County. In the 1970s, as the mother of a son with Down Syndrome, Vicki became part of a small support group of parents who had chosen to raise their challenged children at home. Vicki and the others were instrumental in getting a grant to have a program at Altoona Area Vo-Tech School to instruct special needs students. In 1995, she was recognized for efforts on behalf of The Arc of Blair County, and in 2001, received the 'Pioneer Award' for her years of dedication to The Arc. She and other parents also met with the late Sen. John Heinz, who supported their desire to establish a local workshop. Then she contacted various councilmen in Blair County for funding, and a motion was finally passed to provide the financial support to develop a Skills Workshop in Altoona. In 1982, the ribbon-cutting took place for a building on Seventh Avenue in Altoona to house the program. On May 10, 2006, Skills moved into a much larger facility on Cortland Avenue to meet the needs of its expanded programs. It now employs approximately 350 individuals with disabilities, giving them a chance for a productive adult life. Vicki's dream was realized and, at the dedication of the new Skills facility, she was honored and received a tribute for her time and energy over the years advocating for Skills of Central Pennsylvania, Inc. Stevens Mortuary, Altoona. Interment, Alto-Reste Park Cemetery.

Altoona Mirror, Mon., 1/24/11