Harry Rosenfeld

Our Dad, Harry Aaron Rosenfeld, of West Hartford, CT passed away peacefully on Wednesday evening, just 5 days before his 97th birthday. He was born in New York City on January 24, 1925, the date of the first total solar eclipse that the New York City area had seen for 450 years, to Ida and Isadore Rosenfeld. He was the youngest of 5 children.

Harry – or Arky as he was known – graduated Seward Park High School in February 1943 and enlisted in the Navy. He served on the U.S.S. Nevada which operated in the Atlantic, Mediterranean and the Pacific theatres. The Nevada was part of the Normandy Invasion on June 6, 1944, and took part in the battle of Iwo Jima. The ship then went onto Okinawa. Arky served his country with pride and even raised the Nevada’s anchor at the start of D-Day. For his service, he received the French Medal of Honor.

Arky came back to New York City after the war and enrolled in Long Island University. He graduated in 2 ½ years and became an accountant. During a weekend in the Catskill Mountains, he met our Mom, Sylvia Spelane of Hartford. He came to Hartford, married Sylvia in 1950 and adopted the Hartford area as his home. He became a Certified Public Accountant and practiced until his retirement.

Dad loved his family, his friends, his golf game, a game of cribbage, his clarinet and saxophone and watching his children grow. He lived long enough to become a grandfather and a great grandfather. Dad served on the Board of Trustees of the Emanuel Synagogue and was a faithful congregant – usually sitting in the same seat next to our Mom. They celebrated Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, weddings, baby namings, and holidays at the Emanuel. Arky and Sylvia enjoyed many trips with the Connecticut Society of CPAs. He was truly loved by his family, friends and clients for his sense of humor.

Dad leaves his wife of 71 years, Sylvia and three children – Linda Stein (Martin) of West Hartford, Jed (Sharon) Rosenfeld of Marietta, Georgia and Daniel (Lauren) Rosenfeld of Avon. He leaves six grandchildren – Julie Schiff (Evan), Jonathan (Angela) Stein, Adam Rosenfeld and his fiancée Michelle Fox, Hanna Rosenfeld, and Jack and Samantha Rosenfeld. He leaves four great grandchildren – Avery and Abigail Schiff and Madelyn and Freddy Stein. Dad also left a niece, Susan (Norman) Solomon and their children and grandchildren, and his nieces and nephews from his sister Miriam and brother, Ruby.

We would like to thank the staff at Brookdale Assisted Living and Season’s Hospice for the wonderful care they gave our Dad. The nursing staff, led by Beata Kozubal, made sure Dad had everything that he needed. A special thanks to Janine Wilcox of Prime Health for her kind assistance and care for many years to both of our parents.

Funeral services will be private due to the pandemic. Graveside services are Friday, January 21, 2022 at the Emanuel Synagogue Cemetery in Wethersfield with Rabbi David Small officiating. The family will observe shiva in their homes and be part of Zoom minyans through the Emanuel Synagogue. Donations in Arky’s memory may be made to the Emanuel Synagogue, 160 Mohegan Drive, WH 06117 or Jewish Children’s Service Organization, P.O. Box 370386 Bishops Corner Branch, WH, CT 06137-0386.

Donations in Arky’s memory may be made to the Emanuel Synagogue, 160 Mohegan Drive, WH 06117 or Jewish Children’s Service Organization, P.O. Box 370386 Bishops Corner Branch, WH, CT 06137-0386.

The family will observe shiva in their homes and be part of Zoom minyans through the Emanuel Synagogue