Dr. Morris Harry “Moe” Nathan, age 99, of West Hartford, was reunited with his beautiful wife Dorothy on Tuesday, April 7th, 2009. Moe was born on May 29th, 1909 in Hartford. He was educated at Hartford Public High School, and attended the first and best dental school in America, Baltimore College of Dentistry, University of Maryland, Baltimore, graduating near the end of the depression in 1933. Moe then drove his Model T Ford over Avon Mountain to Canton where he practiced dentistry for 55 years, retiring from an illustrious career having been loved by three and four generations of patients. He had a soft hand, a smile and a sparkle in his eyes for all of his patients. He married Dorothy Spiegel in 1934, where together they built their home on Huckleberry Hill in Avon. Moe became a Mason in Canton and to the end he was a member of Village Lodge No. 29A, A.F. & A.M. in good standing. He was a member of Alpha Omega International Dental Fraternity throughout his 55 years in practice and through his retirement he also belonged to the Hartford and state Dental Societies. He was a member of Congregation Beth Israel, West Hartford, where he was in the Men?s Club. He was a loving and much-loved, sensitive and spiritual man. He cared deeply for his family and friends while always giving to them. Moe loved New York and Broadway musicals; Fenway Park and the Red Sox. He was thrilled to have a story and picture with three generations of his family in honor of the 2004 world series victory in the Sports Illustrated December 6th edition. Moe also loved college basketball and in particular the UConn Huskies. He leaves behind his children: Leslie and his wife Lynne of Westbrook, Carol and her husband Robert of Palm City, FL, formerly of South Windsor, and Ronald and his fiancé Karen of Amherst and Concord, MA. He adored his grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren. The love given by all three of these families and his caregiver Israel Feld gave Moe the desire to live to the age of 99, just short of his 100th birthday. His grandchildren are Gerri and her husband Gregg, Marc and his wife Dina, and David and his wife Bradi, Bruce and his wife Amber, Richard and his wife Deborah, Pamela and her husband David, Mark and his wife Nancy, Jeffrey Goldberg and Jeffrey Nathan. This precious man knew each of his fifteen great grandchildren, all of whom saw him as much as possible. Dorothy became a resident of The Hebrew Home in the late 1980s and Moe, who was constantly at her side, became a volunteer and keeper of the greenhouse, bringing about its resurrection. It flourished under his green thumb. He had plants all over the home including the nurses stations and in patients? rooms. He nurtured the plants, talked to them, making the home a much brighter place. Moe later became a full time resident at the Hebrew Home and remained there for the rest of his life. He was the un-elected mayor of the home. This humble but proud man touched the lives of residents and staff alike. He was so well cared for by each of them and his family thanks them all. Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 10th, 2009 at 11:00 AM in the Silberman Chapel, Congregation Beth Israel, 701 Farmington Ave., West Hartford with Rabbi Stephen Fuchs officiating. Interment will follow in the Beth Israel Cemetery, Avon. A memorial period will be observed Friday, following the funeral at the home of Dina and Marc Nathan, 23 Wildwood Rd., Avon until 6:00 PM and on Sunday, April 12th from 1:00-4:00 PM. To those of you who would like to make donations, Moe would favor the Dorothy and Morris Nathan Greenhouse Fund at the Hebrew Home and Hospital, 1 Abrahms Blvd., West Hartford 06117, or to Cantor Pamela Siskin?s Music Fund, Congregation Beth Israel. Arrangements entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford. For further information, directions, or to share memories of Moe with his family, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com.
