Robert C. Mindell

MINDELL, Robert C. Robert C. Mindell of West Hartford, passed away on Friday, (September 14, 2007) from a malignant brain tumor. He was the son of Sadie and Jack Mindell. Bob was known as one of the few remaining hardware distributors in Connecticut. He was President of Sechtman-Mindell Hardware from 1958-1990 and then Fine Distributing Co. from 1990 to the present day. Bob, or Mindy, as he was known, is survived by his wife, Barbara Cohn Mindell. He was predeceased by his father, Jack Mindell. He leaves his mother, Sadie Greenspon; his daughter and son-in-law, JoAnn and Doug Eicher; his daughters Susan Mindell and Carol Karpa; and his son and daughter-in-law, David and Amy Rubin-Mindell. He also leaves four granddaughters: Lauren, Julie, Hayley and Anna. Bob graduated from Avon Old Farms School and then from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. While there, he started his singing career, singing in an a capella group called the Penn Tones. He was an active member of the AEP fraternity. In 1958 he appeared in the Oval-in-the-Grove production of "Bells are Ringing" and subsequently appeared in the Mark Twain Masquers production of "The Music Man", appearing as part of the barbershop quartet. He also sang in the High Holiday choirs for the Emanuel Synagogue and Beth El Temple for many years. His first love, however, was singing and belonging to the Insurance City Chorus, a member of the national men's barbershop harmony society. He directed the chorus for some 25 years and also enjoyed quarteting with "Good Fortune" and "Planet Harmony", entertaining the elderly at numerous assisted living and care facilities in the greater Hartford area, along with performances for West Hartford Community Access Television, at Fairs and at Rock Cats Baseball games. In addition, Bob raised money for "The Jimmy Fund", in his father's memory, and he also established the Sadie Greenspon Fund to support and sustain the Resident Master Painting Class at the Hebrew Home & Healthcare facility. He was an active member of Congregation Beth Israel and an avid golfer, formerly belonging to Rockledge Country Club's Men's Club and more recently to Tumble Brook Country Club. Being in the hardware business for some 56 years, Bob developed long-standing friendships with many of his customers, often selling to the sons and grandsons of his Father's original customers. Bob also valued and treasured his friends, with whom he enjoyed life. The family expresses their deepest appreciation for the excellent care he received from Companions and Homemakers: Albert, Abbey, Sandra, Jackie, Merisse and Elizabeth. Funeral services will be held TODAY, at 3:30 p.m. in the Chapel of the Weinstein Mortuary, 640 Farmington Ave., Hartford with Rabbi Stephen Fuchs officiating. Interment will follow in the Beth Israel Cemetery, Jackson St., Avon. A Memorial Period will be observed at his home Sunday following the funeral and Monday and Tuesday afternoons and evenings. Contributions may be made in his memory to Congregation Beth Israel Music Fund, 701 Farmington Avenue, West Hartford, CT 06119. For further information, directions, or to share memories of Bob with his family, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com.