Morris J. Seide, M.D., of Flagstad Rd., West Hartford, died Wednesday, December 29, 2010, on his 89th birthday. Born in Sioux Falls, SD, he was the son of the late Israel and Fannie (Karo) Seide. He was a US Marine Corps veteran of World War II, having served in the South Pacific. He graduated first in his class from the University of Chicago and its medical school, being elected to Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Omega Alpha.

Dr. Seide completed his internal medicine residency at Yale University and was an NIH Fellow in cardiology at Harvard College, after which he served as chief resident at Hartford Hospital. He practiced internal medicine and was on the attending staff at Hartford Hospital for 50 years, when he retired at age 82. Dr. Seide participated in multiple organizations throughout the Hartford area and Connecticut and served as president of the Hartford County Medical Association and the Hartford Medical Society. He also founded and served as Medical Director of the Cardio-Vascular Work Evaluation Unit of the Hartford Heart Association. He has received numerous awards and recognition from various organizations including being named Physician Laureate of Connecticut from the American College of Physicians; Distinguished Service Award from the Hartford County Medical Association. He is the author of several articles published in the New England Journal of Medicine, Annals of Internal Medicine and Connecticut Medicine. He organized and led seminars in post-graduate medical education for 36 years, and is a former Director of Medical Education at Middlesex, Bristol, and Meriden-Wallingford Hospitals. Dr. Seide was also an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at Yale University School of Medicine and Clinical Instructor at the Department of Medicine, University of Connecticut.

He leaves his wife of 57 years, Sylvia (Gordon) Seide; three children: Sharon Seide Townsend and her husband Bradlee of Williamsville, NY, Vivian Seide Sternweiler and her husband Michael of Sharon, MA, and Robert Seide and his wife Cheryl of Franklin, MA; five grandchildren: Lyndsey and Graham Townsend; Laura and Aaron Seide, and Samuel Sternweiler; and a sister, Beulah Bresler of Rockville, MD.

Funeral services will be held on Sunday, January 2, 2011 at 11:00 am in the Sanctuary of the Emanuel Synagogue, 160 Mohegan Drive, West Hartford with Rabbi David J. Small officiating. Interment will follow in the Emanuel Synagogue Cemetery, 1361 Berlin Tpke, Wethersfield. A memorial period will be observed at his home, 4 Flagstad Rd., West Hartford immediately following the interment, and Monday and Tuesday, 2-5 pm and 6:30-8:30 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the University of Chicago, 1427 East 60th St., Suite 120, Chicago, IL 60637; Hartford Hospital, Fund Development Office, 80 Seymour St., Hartford 06102; or The Emanuel Synagogue. Arrangements are entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford. For further information, directions, or to sign the guest book for Dr. Seide, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortry.com/funerals.cfm