Arline Beatrice Wolansky (née Greenbaum), 79, beloved wife of David for over 56 years, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family on Friday, February 16, 2018 at her home in West Hartford. Friday coincided with the start of the Jewish month of Adar which celebrates Purim; a festive holiday with singing, dancing, and drinking; all of Arl’s favorites! Arline is survived by her ‘one in a million’ husband, David, their three children, their spouses and five grandchildren; Susan (Wolansky) Sumberg of Manchester, her husband David, and their son, Sam; Jeffry of Wallingford and his wife, Cheryl (Hecht), and their sons, Jacob and Zachariah; and Daniel of North Miami, FL and his wife, Wendy (Beck), their daughter, Sydney, and son, Jonah. She is also survived by her sister Sandra Michaels of Valley Forge, PA, and her sons, David and Robert, and predeceased by their sister, Shirley Greenbaum. Arline was born on March 15, 1938 in Hartford to Sam and Betty Greenbaum. She graduated from Yeshiva of Hartford (now the Bess & Paul Sigel Hebrew Academy of Greater Hartford), Weaver High School, and the Fones School of Dental Hygiene at the University of Bridgeport in 1959. While working as a Dental Hygienist, she was introduced to David by Morris Perkel a mutual friend of both families and her elementary Hebrew teacher. On August 20, 1961, Dave and Arline, were married in a double wedding with her sister, Sandy and Fred Michaels. Fred passed away in 2012. Both couples enjoyed celebrating their 50th Anniversary along with their families at LBI at the Jersey Shore as well as many other celebrations through the years. Arl never missed a reason to have a party. Dave and Arline settled in the rural but expanding town of Avon where they raised their family, Sue, Jeff, and Dan. After ‘retiring’ from working in a dental practice and focusing on her growing family, she went back to work in the Canton and Hartland school systems cleaning student’s teeth. In this familiar setting, Arline and her big heart not only brought smiles to the children but helped them be less afraid of going to a dentist. Dave and Arline also volunteered their time supporting Project Concern students from Hartford. The young couple also enjoyed the early morning fishing trips in their cozy 13 foot outboard which eventually included the rest of the family. Arline had a lifelong involvement with Judaism. She and Dave were among the founding families of the Farmington Valley Jewish Congregation and she was its first female president. She taught beginning Hebrew to the 3rd grade for almost 30 years. She was instrumental in the multi-million dollar expansion ensuring the future success of FVJC. In 1986, she fulfilled a dream when the family experienced a trip to Eretz Israel that included a Bat Mitzvah on Masada. The trip inspired further traveling for her and Dave. Although she did not enjoy flying, she enjoyed traveling, touring, meeting strangers and turning them into friends in Italy, Hungary, England, Switzerland, France, Russia, Poland and all over Canada and the United States. Arline was an avid swimmer and no matter the weather would swim her laps at Sycamore Hills in Avon and then for many years at the Farmington Farms Tennis Club. Dave and Arl enjoyed both Women and Men UCONN basketball teams taking in many games over the years. For many years, Monday night was for dancing at the Casino for her and Dave. She would enjoy the slots and, as usual, her Maker’s Mark Bourbon Manhattan, not too sweet please, dirty ice on the side. Cooking was a labor of love especially at the holidays where she would prepare amazing kosher meals for 20 or more guests. Her family and friends recognize how blessed they have been for being part of her life. In Arline’s words, “We are truly blessed.” Her husband, David, and the family wish to thank the nurses, aides, and staff at the Hoffman Summerwood Community and the team at Masonicare Hospice. You are all angels, each and every one of you. Please find a Jewish charity or organization and support it for Arline.
Arline’s funeral will be at 11 am Monday, February 19 at Weinstein Mortuary, 640 Farmington Avenue, Hartford followed by a graveside service at the Emanuel Synagogue Cemetery in Wethersfield. People are invited to join the family after at the home of Dave and Sue Sumberg of Manchester to celebrate her life with the family. There will be a Shiva Minyan that evening and Tuesday at 7 pm at the Sumberg home. Visitors are welcome on Tuesday starting at 5 pm. On Wednesday, Shiva Minyan will be at the home of Jeff and Cheryl Wolansky of Wallingford at 7 pm with visitors welcome starting at 5 pm.
