proudest achievement, greatest love was raising and watching his three boys grow up
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Ben Abramowitz was born as Retreat sounded at Ft. Monmouth, New Jersey, on October 8, 1934.
He was the first baby born in the new hospital at Ft. Monmouth, the same hospital in which his mother would pass away 14 years later.
After his mother’s death, he was raised by his father, Reuben Abramowitz, who retired from the Army in 1948 as a LTC after 32 years of service. Our dad graduated from Virginia Polytechnic Institute (VPI) in 1955, and then started his 28-year career in the US Army as an infantryman and aviator.
In April 1958, Dad met the girl of his dreams, Irene Miller, at a Passover Seder, and they were married two months later on 20 June 1958. Exactly nine months later, their first son, David, was born. Dad would always say he was the luckiest man alive marrying Irene.
“She allowed me to be a soldier, and she only called me up at work once during my entire time in the Army.”
Our Dad also liked to say, “if I could do it all over again, I would not change a thing.”
In his later years, he told his three sons that he had done everything he ever wanted to do. Whether it was serving in the Army, teaching at the University of Central Florida, or volunteering as a Guardian ad Litem, Dad was always someone who wanted to give back and help. Dad believed in three things. Army, Religion, and Family. Dad wanted to be a soldier since he was a little boy – he always wanted to make his father proud – and he loved serving in the Army.
Dad and Mom ensured their kids received a quality Jewish education. As the former President of Temple Israel, he always did what was best for the congregants and continued to give back with time and money. Dad gave every one of his grandkids and great-grandkids books about Jews in the military or about the Jewish faith.
But his proudest achievement and greatest love was raising and watching his three boys grow up. He was fully engaged in his kids’ passions and was so proud of them. He would do anything for his family. He loved his wife, but was proud of his boys. David, the career soldier; Sid the business man and NFL player; and Alan, the lawyer who has been a community leader his entire life.
He loved his grandchildren and was so proud of each of them. Dad’s secret to his success was his intellect, kindness, optimism, and work ethic. And his great successes survive him, leaving behind a wonderful legacy. He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Irene Abramowitz; his children, David (Gloria), Sid (Sherri) and Alan (Jodi); his grandchildren, Leah (Jon), Jacob (Kaitlin), Kaila, Emily (Walter), Adam (Melissa), Alex (Alesha), Brennan, and Ryan; and his great-grandchildren, Madelyn, Ella, Della, Asher, Violet, Eli and Lilah. He is preceded in death by his parents Reuben and Olga Abramowitz.
The family will have a small family burial Friday Morning at the Cape Canaveral National Cemetery.
The entire community is invited to Ben Abramowitz’s Celebration of Life at 1200 Friday 6 OCT at Temple Israel: 7300 Lake Andrews Drive, Melbourne Fl, 32940.
In lieu of flowers:
Temple Israel: https://tiob.shulcloud.com/payment.php.
Veterans Treatment Court of Jacksonville: https://friendsofjacksonvillevtc.com.
The Arc of Florida: https://www.arcflorida.org/donations.
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