Leonard Epstien

Leonard Epstien, 90, of Delray Beach, Fla., died Dec. 6, 2013. He was born in Newark and retired to Delray Beach in 1986.

Mr. Epstien joined his father in Newark to co-own and operate Epstien’s Hardware. In 1965 he moved the store to Orange and renamed it L. Epstien Hardware Co., where it still operates today some 58 years after being sold to a former customer in 1981.

He graduated from Barringer High School in Newark and attended both Newark College of Engineering and New York University.

He served his country as a member of the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946, when he traveled extensively throughout the world during World War II.

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After moving to Florida, he devoted his time to many Jewish causes, especially education. In 1986 he joined Temple Anshei Shalom, where he served on the board of directors and as a vice president in addition to the boards of Donna Klein Jewish Academy in Boca Raton, the South County Federation of Boca Raton, the Jewish Community Center of Boca Raton, and Ruth Rales Family Services of Delray Beach. Over the past 10 years he spent hundreds of hours along with Temple Anshei Shalom and Ruth Rales Family Services to create, plan and see built the Delray Community Center, which provides an array of community and educational services for senior citizens.

He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Lorraine; two sons, Fred (Cathy) and Jay (Nancy); four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Services were held Dec. 8 with arrangements by Beth Israel Memorial Chapel, Boynton Beach. Memorial contributions may be made to the General Fund at Temple Anshei Shalom or ORT America’s Boca Raton office.