Morton A. Elsner, Lt. Colonel US Army Retired, age 93, of Bloomfield, formerly of Hartford, died Sunday, July 30, 2006. Born in Hartford, June 6, 1913, he was the son of the late Judge Solomon and Carolyn (Segalla) Elsner. He was the husband of the late Marilyn Fineberg Elsner. Mr. Elsner graduated from Yale University 1935, Harvard Graduate School of Business Administration 1938, and received his LLD from Yale Law School 1939. He was associated with his late father in the practice of law for many years. He continued in the practice of law with the late Attorney Aaron Nassau and continued with Attorney Gerald Fields. A veteran of World War II, Mr. Elsner served as an instructor in the Judge Advocate branch department of the 1050th USAR School. Proud of his Hartford heritage, he served his city and state in a multitude of areas: He was a Voting Precinct Moderator for many years; was appointed to the Board of Directors of the Greater Hartford Transit District from 1986 through 1998; for twenty-two years he served on the Board of the Hartford Public Library, most notably as president of the Board from 1986 to 1988; and he also served for many years on the Metropolitan District Commission. He was the treasurer and then president of Congregation Beth Israel of West Hartford, the latter for two terms. He was a long time member of the Hartford Rotary Club, and proud member of the Military Officers’ Association of America. In addition, he was a member of the Wyllis-St. John Lodge No. 4; Past president of Jewish Family Services; a YMCA trustee; and a board member emeritus of the Charter Oak Temple Restoration Association. He was a director of Mt. Sinai Hospital and a director of the Hebrew Home & Hospital. He leaves a son, Dr. William Elsner and his wife Carlene of Atlanta, GA; two grandchildren, Heather E. Elsner and Ashley M. Elsner; two brothers, Robert Elsner and his wife Marie, and James E. Elsner and his wife Dorothy; nephews, Lawrence Elsner, Peter Elsner, Charles Elsner; nieces, Carolyn Elsner and Mary Elsner Moss; in addition to several grandnieces and grandnephews. He was predeceased by his brother, Allan S. Elsner. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, August 2, 2006 at 10:00 AM in the Silberman Chapel at Congregation Beth Israel, 701 Farmington Ave., West Hartford with Rabbi Stephen Fuchs officiating. Interment will follow in Beth Israel Cemetery, Hartford. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice. Arrangements are entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford. For further information, directions, or to share memories of Mr. Elsner with his family, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com.
