Elaine (Gerber) Kagan

Elaine G. Kagan of Boca Raton, FL and formerly of West Hartford, CT, passed away peacefully at home on December 28, 2020 with her beloved husband, Eugene, and beloved youngest daughter, Julie, by her side. Elaine was born in Newark, New Jersey on May 26, 1933, and lived in the Hartford area most of her life. She was the loving daughter of the late Rose White Silverman and her stepfather, Charles Silverman, whom she loved like a father. Elaine graduated from Weaver in 1951, after she had already met the love of her life, Gene, in 1950. They married in 1953, and, after working to put Gene through law school, the two settled in West Hartford where they raised their three daughters, Tammy Kagan Levine, Caren Kagan Evans and Julie Susan Kagan. Elaine started college at the age of 41, and took quite a few courses, acing them all. She organized Gene’s law practice and over the years helped him out whenever he needed it with acumen and flair. The bond between Elaine and Gene was truly amazing. She was the consummate mother and wife, dedicating herself to her family each and every day, and she was a wonderful friend to all who knew her. Elaine was also a great cook, golfer, bridge, mah jongg and canasta player, but more than anything loved being with her children and grandchildren, all of whom she cheered on as they pursued musical, athletic and academic activities throughout their childhoods. She instilled in her daughters the confidence to dream big and love bigger and to be fiercely independent. In addition to Gene and her girls, Elaine leaves behind the lights of her life, her grandchildren, all of whom loved her deeply, and she them, Ross Weiner, with wife Jane, Elizabeth Weiner Miller, with husband Andy, and Rachel and Joshua Evans, as well as the three great grandchildren whom she adored, Spencer and Lilly Weiner and Evan Miller. Elaine also leaves her “sister from another mother,” Marlene Greene, who was her best and closest friend for over 50 years, the “son she never had,” Steven Wice, nieces and nephews and a multitude of good friends. Besides her parents, she was predeceased by her son-in-law, Marc Levine. The family is immensely grateful to Pat, Joy, Vanessa and Nicole, who helped so much to make her as comfortable as possible over the last few months. Elaine will be endlessly missed by all who knew and loved her and her memory will truly be for a blessing. Due to the pandemic, the funeral and shiva will be held privately on December 30th with Rabbi James Rosen officiating. Contributions may be made in Elaine’s memory to The Rose and Charles Silverman Endowment Fund at Beth El Temple, 2626 Albany Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117, or to the Elaine and Eugene Kagan Endowment Fund at Solomon Schechter Day School, 26 Buena Vista Road, West Hartford, CT 06107, or to any other charity of the donor’s choice.

Contributions may be made in Elaine’s memory to The Rose and Charles Silverman Endowment Fund at Beth El Temple, 2626 Albany Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06117, or to the Elaine and Eugene Kagan Endowment Fund at Solomon Schechter Day School, 26 Buena Vista Road, West Hartford, CT 06107, or to any other charity of the donor’s choice.