Yefim I. Frenkel

Dr. Yefim Frenkel passed away on January 31, 2026, surrounded by his loving family.

Born in Ukraine in 1940, he was evacuated to Samara, Russia in 1941 while fleeing the Nazi invasion. Much of his extended family was murdered in the Holocaust; he survived because his parents fled immediately.

Dr. Frenkel graduated from medical school in 1962 and devoted more than three decades to surgery. He worked as a general surgeon in Siberia and later as a surgical oncologist in Samara for 28 years. An exceptionally skilled surgeon, innovator in gastroendoscopy, and dedicated mentor, he trained generations of physicians who continue to call him their teacher.

In 1995, he immigrated to the United States, sacrificing a highly respected career to build a new life for his family. He worked for 23 years at St. Francis Hospital in Hartford and helped many Soviet immigrants and refugees find employment.

Yefim embraced life with joy. He loved sports (especially basketball), duck hunting, sauna, and famously outplaying friends and family at backgammon and chess. Later in life, he discovered a passion for gardening. He was the life of the party, always ready to dance, and had a lifelong love of dogs, including his Airedale Terrier, Jake, who came with him from Russia, as well as his children's dogs.

He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Raisa; his children, Dr. Mikhail Frenkel (married to Dr. Cinira Diogo) and Dr. Yana Frenkel (married to Dr. Fedor Gitman); his grandchildren, Sofia Frenkel, Gabo Frenkel, Phil Gitman, and Dr. Lyuba Gitman (married to Dr. Dan Kline); his great-granddaughters, Nadia Kline and Mila Kline; and his sister Raisa and her son's family in Israel.

He is deeply missed. His memory is a blessing.

His Funeral Service will be held Tuesday, February 3, 2026 at 12:00 PM at the Carmon Funeral Home & Family Center, 301 Country Club Road, Avon. Burial will follow in Temple Beth El Cemetery, Avon. Contributions may be made payable to Avon Dollars for Scholars, for a Memorial Scholarship in Memory of Dr. Yefim Frenkel, mailed to Avon Dollars for Scholars, PO Box 706, Avon, CT 06001. For directions or condolence please visit www.carmonfuneralhome.com.