Leon Bressman's Obituary
Leon was born in New York City on July 27, 1927 (he was fond of his birthdate: 7/27/27) to Pauline and Isadore Bressman. The family moved two years later to Staunton, VA, where Leon led a fun and mischievous childhood in small town Virginia. Around age 15, his family moved back to New York City for a year, and then to Hartford, CT. It was there, at a high school party, that he met Phyllis Sydel Rosen. While she liked him immediately and asked for a ride home, he gave her a bus token instead. But soon he fell for her beauty and intelligence, and although they were separated when he served in the Army, they married on January 28, 1951.
Leon was a Manager at Mt. Sinai Hospital from 1951-1955, and then joined the Hebrew Home for the Aged in Hartford as their Assistant Director. He worked there for 29 years, running the operations, finances, and fundraising for the 300 bed multi-level nursing home on Tower Ave. which was closely tied to the Hartford Jewish Federation. As a natural social worker, he also had the ear of many of the residents, families, and staff, and was well loved by all as “Mr. B”. He was an integral part of the Jewish community, and helped countless families and residents throughout his long tenure.
Retiring at age 57, he spent the rest of his life in Boynton Beach, FL with Phyllis until her passing in 2004, and then stayed on. In the last two years of his life, he lived in a retirement home where he again was very well liked for his positive attitude, friendly smile, twinkly blue eyes, and sense of humour. He liked making people smile. His illness was sudden; he is survived by their one child, Dawn Shelley Lybarger, his adoring daughter – who inherited his love of reading the Wall Street Journal.
Leon will be interred at the Eternal Light Cemetary in Boynton Beach. Contributions in memory of Leon may be sent to the Hebrew Health Care Foundation, 1 Abrahms Blvd, West Hartford, CT, 06117, attn: Development Office.
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