Joel Abrams

Joel Abrams, 93, passed peacefully at 5:41 am on Monday, July 21, surrounded by loved ones.

Joel was born an only child to Ruth (Rosenfeld) Abrams and Louis Abrams, January 8th, 1932. He grew up in a small apartment at 84-28 126th Street, Kew Gardens, NY. He attended PS 99, right down the street. Joel enrolled at Lafayette College, via ROTC and an athletics scholarship. He was a remarkably good student, a gifted athlete, and worked hard to pay his way. While there, he met the love of his life, Joan, on a very lucky blind date. Married June 13th, 1954, they moved to Fort Benning, Georgia, where Joel served as an army lieutenant.

After returning to New York, Joel and Joan started their family in Queens with the birth of their eldest son, Marc, and their second born, William. A few years later, their surprise identical twins, Eve and Ellen, were born. Joel worked hard to establish himself as a partner at his insurance firm to make a good life for the family. Eventually, they saved enough to buy a house in Rockville Center, Long Island, where the kids spent most of their childhood. He found professional success, and was able to retire with his wife to Trumansburg, NY. However, his business in insurance and commercial real estate was, more than anything, a means to express his gregarious relationality and provide for his beloved family. He was determined that his good fortune was all luck, but those who knew him understood that he was also talented, hardworking, and committed to doing right by his colleagues, customers, and community. While he dabbled in retirement, Joel never stopped working. He tended to his community seriously and pursued his neighborly duties religiously. He could often be found volunteering driving lessons to strangers, singing in community choirs, serving on numerous local organization boards, feeding pickled herring to his congregation, sharing a meal in the Loaves and Fishes dining room, and offering sloppy cheek kisses or knuckle sandwiches to his friends and family.

Joel was passionate about piping-hot soup, deeply proud about meeting Billie Jean King in the tennis section of a sporting goods store, a serial crooner of showtunes, an outspoken advocate for justice, and, above all else, unwavering in his devotion to his family. He would talk to anyone and everyone about their whereabouts and achievements. He was eternally inspired by his saintly wife, and worked to do good by each of his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Joel was a life-long learner, prolific reader, and reluctant iPhone enthusiast. He dutifully kept up to date with the world so he could always keep up with his loved ones. If you needed Joel, he would be there, to swing you up on his shoulders, remind you to keep your eye on the ball, and to let you know that luck was always on your side.

Joel is lovingly remembered by his spectacular wife of 71 years, Joan; his four children, Marc, William, Eve, and Ellen; his grandchildren, Eli, August, Noah, Rose, Oliver, and Isabelle; his great-granddaughter, Evangeline; and all those whose lives he touched. Donations in his memory can be made to a local charitable organization of your choosing.