Obituary

Seymour H. Saltzman, 88, of West Hartford (August 2). Son of Israel and Bluma (Peizer) Saltzman. Brother of A. Irwin Saltzman, Rose Sklar, Sophie Olderman, Esther Handler.

Seymour was born in Hartford Hospital, where he later served as an Attending Physician, caring for generations of patients with skill and kindness. Upon graduation from Weaver High School in 1941, Seymour received the Jacob L. Fox Scholarship, which enabled him to fulfill his college dream. Seymour went on to Wesleyan University where he was elected to Phi Beta Kappa.

Responding to the nation’s call, he served in Burma and India from 1943 through 1945 in the U.S. Army Air Corps 52nd Medical Supply Platoon. After the service, he completed his studies at Wesleyan, and entered SUNY College of Medicine at Syracuse.

On the day he received his M.D. degree in 1951, Seymour married Bernice Meyer, with whom he shared 49 wonderful years. They had three children, David (Windsor, CT), Lisa (Maccabim, Israel) and Robert (Redwood City, CA). Today the family includes David’s wife Ana; Lisa’s husband Yuval Mishli and their children, Doron, Smadar and Amit; and Robert’s wife Beth and their sons, Daniel and Jonathan.

Seymour spent his internship and residency in medicine at Hartford Hospital. Hartford was the center of his universe, and so it was only logical that he would open his practice in internal medicine in Hartford. He will be remembered as a doctor who was gentle and caring, loved to share jokes, and even made house-calls.

In his retirement, Seymour spent much of his time researching his family genealogy. He published two volumes of the Shkolnik Family Archives, which document hundreds of relatives through his maternal grandfather. He also wrote and distributed a family newsletter, and organized several successful family reunions.

Seymour was a skilled fisherman and square-dancer, and an avid coin and stamp collector. In recent years he stayed active bowling with other members of the West Hartford Regents. His most passionate hobby was gardening. He devoted much of his time cultivating the vegetable patch in his backyard, and delighted friends and family with his home-grown produce.

Seymour was a long-time member of Congregation Beth Israel of West Hartford, and served on various temple committees. He helped reactivate the congregation’s daily minyan in 1994, and regularly led the prayer service. He was a member of the Jewish Historical Society of Greater Hartford, and served a term as its president. He was a Trustee of the Jacob L. and Lewis Fox Foundation. Seymour was a Boy Scout in his youth, and later served the BSA as a Scout Master and in other capacities, earning the Silver Beaver Award for distinguished service.

In 2002, Seymour married Helen Ehrlich, with whom he happily began a new chapter in his life. They knew how lucky they were and treasured every day together.

Funeral services will be held Sunday, August 5, at 11:30 at Congregation Beth Israel, 701 Farmington Ave., West Hartford, with Cantor Pamela Siskin and Rabbi Amy Ehrlich officiating. Interment will follow in the Beth Israel Cemetery, Jackson St. Ext., Avon. A period of mourning will be observed at his home, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. Memorial donations may be made to a charity of one’s choice.