SOWALSKY, Meyer S. ‘Mickey’ Sowalsky, 89, of Brewster Rd., West Hartford died Saturday, March 4, 2006 at Hartford Hospital, with his family by his bedside, after courageously battling various illnesses for several years. Born in Hartford, he was the son of the late Isadore and Clara (Rutchik) Sowalsky. He attended Hartford Public High School and was a U.S. Army Air Corps veteran of World War II. He worked for many years for the Union Drug Company and for the last 40 years he was a distributor of Buxton leather goods and stationery supplies throughout Connecticut operating as Bishop Sales. Mickey was an avid golfer and an enthusiastic charter member of the Pi-Pi Poker Club. He was Gabbai Rishon of Beth El Temple of West Hartford for the past 50 years. He was also a former member of the Board of Trustees of Beth El Temple and co-chair of the Temple’s Ritual Committee. Mickey’s face greeted thousands of people who attended various religious functions throughout his years at Beth El Temple. He was president of the Wolkowysker Society, a member of the Jewish War Veterans, Level Lodge No. 137 A.F. & A.M., and the Shriners. He was the devoted husband of Clara (Greenberg) Sowalsky; beloved father of Joel M. Sowalsky and his wife Jan Glassman of Newton, MA, Howard Sowalsky with his wife Dory of West Hartford, and Cheryl S. Rodrick of West Hartford; beloved brother of Shirley Brody of Lake Worth, FL; cherished grandfather of Andrew and Robert Batchelder, Jessica Rodrick, and Adam, Emily, Joshua, Elizabeth, Kathryn, Richard, Hannah and Joseph Sowalsky; and cherished great-grandfather of Samuel Batchelder. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, March 7, 2006 at 10:30 AM in the Sanctuary at Beth El Temple, 2626 Albany Avenue, West Hartford with Rabbi James Rosen, Rabbi Stanley M. Kessler and Cantor Joseph Ness officiating. Interment will follow in the Wolkowysker Society Cemetery, Tower Ave., Hartford. Shiva will be observed at his home with services at 7:00 AM and 7:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Mickey Sowalsky Gabbai Rishon Fund, c/o Beth El Temple, 2626 Albany Avenue, West Hartford 06117. Arrangements are entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford. For further information, directions, or to share memories of Mickey with his family, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com.