Solomon Stein
Flushing, NY — Solomon Stein, 95, of Flushing, Queens and Delray Beach, Florida, passed away Sunday, December 24 at his home. He was the husband of his dear, late wife Hannah for 59 years, father of Alan Stein of Waterbury and Evey Groothuis of Melville, New York.
Mr. Stein, a semi-retired optometrist, graduated from the City College of New York and the Columbia University School of Optometry. He was secretary of the American Optometric Association, past chancellor of Knights of Pythias and long-time member of the Israel Center of Conservative Judaism in Flushing. He was also an accomplished violinist, playing in the "Borsht Belt" to help finance his way through college and playing in the Boca Raton Orchestra at the age of 93. He taught folk dancing, both in New York and Florida, until the age of 94 and continued his optometry practice, in limited degree, until he was hospitalized in August.
Besides his children, he leaves his daughter-in-law Marsha Stein of Waterbury, son-in-law Mark Groothuis of Melville, New York, grandchildren Audrey Stein of Cambridge, Massachusetts, Andrew Groothuis of Melville, David Groothuis of Maryland, Steven Groothuis of Texas, numerous nieces and nephews and his companion for the last six years, Judy Hirsch of Bellerose, New York.
His funeral was held Tuesday, December 26 at Sinai Chapels in Fresh Meadows, Queens, with interment at Cedar Park Cemetery in Paramus, New Jersey. Shiva is being observed at the home of Alan and Marsha Stein in Waterbury December 27-28, with minyanim in the evenings at 7:30 pm.
Published in the Waterbury Republican-American on 12/28/2006