IRVING BEHAR's Obituary
It is with great sadness that the family of Irving Nissim Behar announces his passing on Friday, April 6, 2018, at the age of 92.
There will a graveside service held on Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at 10:15 am at South Florida Veterans National Cemetery lane #5. It is located at 6501 State Road 7, Lake Worth, FL.
Irving was born on June 22, 1925 on the lower east side of Orchard St. in New York City. His parents came to the United States before World War I in 1913. His parents were Sephardic Jews and were originally from Sophia, Bulgaria and Istanbul,Turkey. They left the old country as refugees and the war followed them from Belgium,France,and England. Irving’s mother Louisa, was pregnant with their first son Murray, when they immigrated to America with special visas. His parents settled in Orchard St., where they raised three boys. Irving was the youngest of the three. He was close with his middle brother Charlie who died at age 37 from heart disease and was about to have open heart surgery by Dr. DeBakey.
In his young age, he joined the Educational Alliance Settlement House, on the Lower East side, which is where he learned how to type and socialized with his peers. He graduated from Seward High School, attended Brooklyn College for Engineering for 2 yrs.He went back to City College for 1/2 yr. after the army. He discontinued his schooling to supplement his parents income by working in the US Post Office.
As a young man, he enlisted in United States Army during World War II and was stationed at Camp Blanding near Jacksonville, Florida. While he was stationed at Camp Blanding, he worked as a Captain’s Assistant, who called him “Junior” due to his stature. Following his service, he worked at the United States Post Office for nine years. This was when he met the love of his life, Bess Passik,who he would make his life with for 69 years.
However, his true love, aside from his wife, was sales. He pursued his love of sales first at Metropolitan Life, then at Prudential Insurance, and then went into the dry cleaning business with his wife.
When they married, they moved to their first apartment on Henry St. in New York City. They relocated to Belle Park, Bayside Queens, where they had two children: Edward and Laura. They bought their first house in Mineola, Long Island, New York, and had their third child, Miriam. They raised their children in Plainview, Long Island and bought a summer home in Hawley, Pennsylvania in the Poconos where they went on Sundays. When they sold the dry-cleaning business and retired, he became a snowbird with his wife in Boynton Beach, Florida.
His passions in life were cars and boats. He enjoyed boating and shared his love of boating with his children and grandchildren. He enjoyed watching the News,History Channel, Jeopardy, Wheel of Fortune, and playing chess on the computer with his wife Bess. In his young age, he was active and enjoyed taking spontaneous road trips with his family and dining out. In his retirement, he enjoyed going on short cruises with his daughter, Laura, and his wife.
He fathered and is survived by his three children: Edward, Laura (Epand), and Miriam (Rosenberg). He is survived by his grandchildren: Sarah Muniz, Susan Behar, Michelle Rosenberg, and Joshua Rosenberg, and his great grandchildren: Mia Muniz and Max Muniz.
Irving will be lovingly remembered and missed by his wife, his children, his grandchildren, and his great-grandchildren.
What’s your fondest memory of IRVING?
What’s a lesson you learned from IRVING?
Share a story where IRVING's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with IRVING you’ll never forget.
How did IRVING make you smile?