Arthur Gittleman, the consummate perfect gentleman, husband, father, grandfather and friend, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Wednesday morning (October 6, 2010.) Arthur was 88 years of age and resided in West Hartford. Widely beloved and respected as a role model of the “greatest generation,” Arthur was born in New York City on September 25, 1922. His commitment to faith, family, and friends endeared him to all who knew and loved him. Arthur was the son of the late Anna Rosenthal Gittleman and Samuel Gittleman, and the last survivor of four siblings. He overcame an early life riddled with sorrow. His mother was too sick to take care of the children, due to diabetic complications, and so as a child, he, along with his eldest brother were placed in an orphanage and foster home for a short time. He spent summers with his uncle and aunt in New Britain and eventually lived with them where he attended grade school, junior high and high school where he was placed in the “RA” or rapid advanced classes. During that time, Arthur worked in his uncle’s company, New Britain Coal and Wood, with the rest of the Gittleman family delivering coal and wood and later drove an oil truck throughout his high school years. Known as “Pat” to his friends, he excelled in business courses and was a very competent typist and favorite of the girls (especially nurses). After graduating from high school at the age of 16 (the youngest in his class), he enlisted in the Marines in 1944 where his business skills were put to good use as an office administrator. After completing basic training at Paris Island, North Carolina, he was put in charge of tracking the troops that were sent to the Pacific warfronts. As part of the Rear Echelon, he traveled to various islands in the Pacific and served in Okinawa in 1945. His division was ready to ship to Japan when the war ended. He was then redirected to Tientsin in North China for one year where he became the staff sergeant for the US Marine Salvage Company and Shoe Repair for all the Marines in that area. He was honorably discharged from the service in 1947. In 1947, he married Edith Kriwitsky and lived in the upstairs apartment of Edith’s family’s home in Hartford. Shortly, thereafter the newlyweds moved to a newly-built housing project for veterans where their first child, Ann Louise, was born. Four years later, their second child, Stephen Paul, was born but died four days after childbirth. A year later, Edith and Arthur were blessed with another son, Stuart. Arthur, by this time, was in the liquor business and owned his own package store – Colt’s Package Store on Wethersfield Avenue in Hartford (1949- 59). In 1957, Arthur and Edith moved to their home in West Hartford where their children were raised and was the center for many family celebrations and events. After selling his package store throughout the next decades, Arthur became a liquor representative and worked for Mother Goldstein Wines and then for David Masnik Distributors and Crown Distributors. Ever the tireless worker, he also was a bookkeeper for Em’s Bakery in Hartford, bartended on weekends, and operated a home-based shuttle service for friends and associates. Through his service to the community, he was honored by the Hartford Hadassah Associates as “Man of the Year” in 1999 for his work in the Hadassah Thrift Shop. He was also a member of many local and national organizations. Arthur was affiliated with the Lone Star Battalion, Knights of Pythias, Jewish War Veterans, the Regents of West Hartford, the Masons, and served as the President of two credit unions – the North West Credit Union and the Walnut Credit Union. Even during his post retirement, Arthur maintained the books for First Lady of Nutrition, Inc., his daughter’s company. A nephew once joked that “retirement for Arthur meant two jobs, not three!”
Arthur is survived by his devoted wife of sixty three years, Edith, his daughter Ann Louise Gittleman and James Templeton of Post Falls, Idaho and his son and daughter-in-law Stuart and Sandra Gittleman of Cornelius, North Carolina. . He was the proud grandfather of Shira Beth Gittleman, Isaac Aaron Gittleman, and Daniel Ryan Gittleman and the “favorite” uncle of many nieces and nephews from coast to coast. Arthur loved people. He was a man of great character, empathy, wit, and charm. He had an incredibly beautiful heart and will be sorely missed.
Funeral services will be held on Sunday, October 10, 2010 at 10:00 AM in the Chapel of the Weinstein Mortuary, 640 Farmington Ave., Hartford with interment following in the Emanuel Synagogue Cemetery, Berlin Turnpike, Wethersfield.
A memorial lunch gathering will be observed at the Hebrew Home and Hospital after the burial. Arthur’s widow, Edith, may be visited at the Hebrew Home and Hospital during the shiva week.
In lieu of flowers, contributions in Arthur’s memory may be made to The Hartford Chapter of Hadassah in care of Faith Helene, 43 Carlyle Rd., West Hartford 06117.
For further information, directions, or to sign the guestbook for Arthur, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com/funerals.cfm
