Joel Lawrence Etra

Joel Etra, Ph.D., 74, of Norwich, passed away peacefully Thursday, Nov. 16, 2023, with his loving wife, Roz (Himmelstein) Etra, at his side. Born May 10, 1949, in New Britain, he was the son of Sylvia (Reiss) Etra and the late Cantor Melvin Etra.

He graduated from the Bronx High School of Science, earned a bachelor’s degree from City College of New York, an MA from Hofstra University and a PhD in Speech and Language Pathology from Nova Southeastern University. Joel had the opportunity to study one summer at the United Synagogue Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem. Joel was a speech pathologist for nearly 50 years, working with every age and in every situation from classrooms to nursing homes to private practice. He was an active member of ASHA, the professional association for speech and hearing, giving papers at their conferences and mentoring the next generation of speech pathologists.

Always a master teacher, he enjoyed working with students of all ages, including volunteering as a tutor at Beth Jacob, preparing boys and girls to become Bar and Bat Mitzvah. That love of teaching extended to his many years of activity in the Boy Scouts of America serving on the Greater New York Councils and staff of Ten Mile River Kosher scout camps and Wood badge course leader of the Ct River Council. Joel taught the civilian and military instructors at the Coast Guard Academy how to incorporate public speaking across the military academy curriculum and served as a judge for cadet speech competitions. For several years he was a panelist at the Coast Guard Academy’s Ethics Forum, teaching Jewish military ethics. In addition, he taught technology students from Saudi Arabia and ESL classes at Greater Hartford Community College.

Dr. Etra was an active member and past president of Rotary International and its Norwich Club, honored by them with the Paul Harris Fellowship. He was an officer of the Hebrew Benevolent Association, an Associate Member of Hadassah, and a member of the Rose City Barbershop (S.P.E.B.S.Q.S.A.) Chorus. Gourmet dinners including pineapple upside down cake in Dutch ovens brought Joel’s passion for cooking into the woods for Boy Scout jamborees. As Beth Jacob Mens’ Club President (and BINGO caller) making breakfast and Shabbat dinners led to J&R Caterers. A faith-filled man, he was an active member of Beth Jacob Synagogue where he led services, served on the Board of Directors, and chaired the Ritual Committee. He taught for the Community Adult Education and the Hebrew High School programs. He could always find new insights in ancient texts, from the Talmud to the weekly Torah portion, and share those ideas in accessible language. Anyone who took part in a Seder led by Joel Etra can attest to those new insights into the Haggadah.

Joel Etra In addition to his mother, and his wife of nearly 48 years; he leaves two beloved daughters and their spouses, Dori Etra Clarke, and Mathew of Kinnelon, N.J., and Dr. Beth Etra and Jonathan Adler of Philadelphia, Pa.; five adored grandchildren: Ava, Hailey and Mathew Clarke and Ezra and Eliana Adler; his sister and brother-in-law, Tama Etra and Aaron Zinner of Lancaster, Pa.; and numerous colleagues, congregants, and friends. Funeral services were observed on Sunday, Nov. 19, in the Sanctuary of Beth Jacob Synagogue.

Burial followed in Hebrew Benevolent Cemetery No. 3. Memorial contributions may be made to Beth Jacob Synagogue, Hadassah (Pepi Green, 14 Weber Farm Rd. Norwich), the Jewish Federation of Eastern CT, the Norwich Rotary, the Haitian Health Foundation (97 Sherman St. Norwich) and the Boy Scouts of America. May his memory be for a Blessing.