Myron Hendel

1928 - 2018

Waterford - Myron Hendel, loving patriarch, businessman, community leader, and lifelong resident of the New London area, died Nov. 21, 2018, at his home in Waterford, surrounded by Rita (Lifton), his beloved wife of 67 years, and their family. Myron was born Jan. 19, 1928, at Lawrence and Memorial Hospital, to Shirley (Gold) and Hilbert Hendel, both immigrants from Lithuania. He was a proud alumnus of Bulkeley High School, Class of 1946, where he was valedictorian. He matriculated at Yale College, and graduated in 1950, Phi Beta Kappa. Myron continued his studies at Harvard Law School ('53), where he was selected to be on Harvard Law Review.

He returned to New London and worked at, and later ran, Hendel's Inc. and the Americana Furniture barn, which is still located on Great Neck Road. He was proudly involved with both of these businesses for the rest of his professional life, and they remained close to his heart throughout his lifetime.

Myron was President of Congregation Beth El in the 1970s, when the synagogue underwent a major modernization for the 500-family community. In 1983, he was a Founding Trustee of the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut. As part of the Foundation, Myron and Rita were the first to implement a Scholarship Fund to support deserving students in the region.

In the 1970s and 1980s, Myron served twice as President of the New London Redevelopment Agency. Myron was also the Chairman of the New London Water Commission, in which capacity he helped negotiate the agreement between New London and Waterford for the shared use of New London's water resources. For five years in the 1980s, Myron served as President of the Lyman Allyn Art Museum.

In recent years, Myron and Rita spent time in Palm Beach, Fla., where they enjoyed being with family and friends from the New London area. Temple Beth El in West Palm Beach became an integral part of their Floridian community.

Myron is survived by his wife, Rita, as well as his four children (and their spouses), Stephen (Ruth), Jeffrey (Barbara Coyne), Shelley Zelson (Steve), and Jon (Hilary); his 13 grandchildren, Abigail Levy (Guy), Samuel (Alissa), Joseph, Andrew, Neil, Sara, Richard, Hilary Geller (Andrew), Lindsay, Jessica, Naomi (Daniel), Samantha, Brackets; and his seven great-grandchildren, Gabriel, Arielle, Rebecca, Nathaniel, Zoe, Dylan, and Isaiah.

The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 25 at Temple Emanuel, 29 Dayton Rd, in Waterford. Shiva will be held after burial at Myron and Rita's home, as well as Monday and Tuesday. The family will sit Shiva in Westchester, N.Y. Wednesday and Thursday evenings.

Memorial contributions can be made to the Rita and Myron Scholarship Fund at the Community Foundation c/o Community Foundation of Eastern CT, 68 Federal St., New London, CT 06320, Beth El Synagogue, or the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center, or Lyman Allyn Art Museum.

The Thomas L. Neilan & Sons Funeral Home, 12 Ocean Avenue, New London is assisting the family with the arrangements. Online Condolences may be expressed at www.neilanfuneralhome.com