Saul Kirstein, 95, died on April 18, 2013, at Hospice House Woodside in Pinellas Park, FL.
Saul was born March 6, 1918 in Ogdensburg, New York, to his parents, Ettie Frankel Kirstein and Meyer Hirsch (Harry) Kirstein, both from a town in the Austro-Hungarian Empire called Suchastow, now part of the Ukraine.
After the family relocated to Watertown, New York, Saul graduated from Watertown Public High School. After graduation, at the height of the Great Depression in 1933, he landed a job with the Kinney Shoe Company. He soon rose to the management level and was given a store to manage in Troy, New York, and later moved on to manage a store in Rochester, New York.
His career was put on hold when World War II called him into service. He served in Iceland and Europe including during the first invasion at Normandy Beach. He served for four years in the United States Army during the war.
Upon returning to civilian life he married his closest buddie's sister, Lily Sussman, and settled in Brooklyn, New York, where he and his brothers-in-law opened a shoe store. They ran the store successfully until Saul and Lily moved to the suburb of White Plains, New York to open a large store called "Shoe King Sam". He owned and operated this store until his retirement to Clearwater, Florida, in 1982, after Lily's death.
In Florida, he used his keen insights into business by working with and then taking the top management position at "SCORE", the advisory agency run by successful retired business people to help others overcome problems in financing and managing local businesses. He married Ellen Millgram in 1988 in Clearwater, and a few years after her death married his surviving and loving wife Barbara Miral.
Saul is survived by his wife, Barbara Kirstein; his son, Allan (& Sharon) Kirstein; his daughters, Dale (& Bill) Meth and Susie (& David) Kamen; his brother, Hank Kirstein; his sister, Rita Shapiro; his grandchildren, Taylor, Dylan, Courtney and Jessica; and his nieces and nephews, Eugene, Deborah, Martin, Rebecca, Elizabeth, Paul and Roy, and their families.
(Family tree at http://www.geni.com/family-tree#6000000006158999805 ).
Saul was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend. He valued family above all. He was proud to be an American, and proud of his service to his country.
A memorial service is scheduled for Monday, April 29, 2013, at 2:15 at Bay Pines National Cemetery.
Memorial donations may be made in his Saul’s name to Suncoast Hospice, 5771 Roosevelt Blvd, Clearwater, FL 33760, www.thehospice.org.
Please sign the guestbook.
Saul, you were beloved and will be missed. – Martin and Vivian.
TO A MAN OF CHARACTER AND INTEGRITY
THAT I GREATLY RESPECTED.
REST IN PEACE….
THE BARAK FAMILY
It is so sad to lose Saul. He had a long and full life and it is wonderful that he kept his mental faculties to the end. We all will miss him.
Gene and Susan
Uncle Saul, you were an inspiration to me. Thank you for your kindness, your company, your humor and positive outlook. You became one of those people that were larger than life to me and I will never forget you. My condolences to the family you loved so much and who loved you in return.
Saul will be greatly missed. He was a wonderful man and I enjoyed our friendship since he came into our family when he married Barbara. I will miss our emails. Rest in Peace Saul, your other extended family, the Kamen’s and Katkins. We all loved you and we remember all our trips to Greektown when you and Barbara came to visit Michigan. Love, Sharon