Norman Zeldis

Dr. Norman Zeldis, 93 years of age, of Tanglewood Road in West Hartford, died on Thursday, September 24, 2015 at his home in West Hartford. He was the husband of the love of his life, the late Janet (Nibur) Zeldis. Born in Romania, he was the son of the late Louis and Anna (Rubin) Zeldis. Norm loved life and he loved what he made of his life. He steadfastly said that he decided to be a doctor when he was seven years old and never wavered from that decision. He received a combined undergraduate and medical degree from NYU and NYU Medical School in 1946 while serving in the Army, marrying Janet Nibur in July, 1943 and starting a family. After graduation and completing his residency he returned to his hometown, the Hartford area, in 1948. At that time he opened a Medical General Practice in Hartford and he later specialized full time in Anesthesia at Mount Sinai Hospital. After serving in the Navy for two years, Norm returned to the Hartford area in 1957 and to Mount Sinai Hospital where he became the Chief of the Anesthesia Department and later, the Chief of the Medical Staff. His patients praised his intelligence and his caring ways. He retired in 1988. Norm also loved the thrill of sports. From childhood, he was a fabulous tennis player, captaining the Hartford High State Champions. While in the Navy he played on a baseball team and stunned his son with how much better he was than his younger teammates. For a long time, Norm was an avid bowler, but then he discovered golf which became a passion. He played whenever he could and with whoever would play with him. He became a good golfer, but would often comment how much better he would have been if he had started at a younger age. After retiring to Boca Raton, Florida for the winters, he was able to play golf year round. But most of all Norm loved his family. He traveled around the world with Jan. He played golf with his wife and children, as well as tennis and bowling, and watched his children's games and activities. And he would patiently teach his children late at night, trying to get them to understand important mathematics and science principles. His mantra to all was "if you can't do something right, don't do it at all." Most memorable was a month long trip across the country in the company of Henri's (his brother-in-law) family with a camp trailer hitched to his Nash Rambler trying to climb the mountains before the Rambler broke down. Norm will be missed by all who knew him. He leaves his children, Martin Zeldis of Waterford, Lillian Gorfain and her husband Barry of Preston CT and Venice Fl, Kenneth Zeldis and his wife Alice of Pennington NJ, and Susan Brim of San Diego CA; his brother William Zeldis and his wife Muriel of West Hartford; seven grandchildren, Julie Marks, Alan Gorfain, Joshua Zeldis, Isaac Zeldis, Adam Zeldis, Eric Zeldis, and Andrea Zeldis; six great grandchildren, Seth Marks, Mitchell Marks, Braydon Zeldis, Fiona Zeldis, Lynzey Zeldis and many nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his brother George (whose wife Shirley survives), his daughter-in-law Sylvia Zeldis, son-in-law James Brim, brother-in-law Henri Nibur, and sister-in-law, Pearl Nibur. Funeral services will be held Tuesday, September 29, 2015 at 11:00 am in the Chapel of the Weinstein Mortuary, 640 Farmington Ave., Hartford with Rabbi Dena Shaffer officiating. Interment will follow in the Beth Israel Cemetery, Jackson St. Ext., Avon. A memorial period will be observed at his home, 21 Tanglewood Rd., West Hartford Tuesday following the interment and Wednesday 6-9 pm. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the National Kidney Foundation, 30 East 33rd Street, New York, NY 10016, or to the American Heart Association, 5 Brookside Dr., P.O. Box 5022, Wallingford 06492, or to a charity of the donor's choice. For further information, directions, or to sign the guest book for Dr. Zeldis, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com/funerals.cfm. Weinstein Mortuary, 860 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, Connecticut is handling the funeral arrangements.