Harry Kagan

Harry Kagan, 89, beloved husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, friend, teacher and mentor, died Tuesday June 21, 2016 after a long and courageous struggle with Alzheimer's Disease. Born January 18, 1927 in Riga, Latvia; the youngest of 6 children, Harry survived the Holocaust and was able to emigrate to the United States with his brother David, after being liberated by the U.S. Army. He initially, settled in Syracuse, NY where he and David were embraced with open arms by their sister, Mary Bers, her husband Lipman Bers, and their two children, Ruth and Victor. Adapting to his new surroundings and proudly adopting his new country, Harry was able to complete High School in just one year and was awarded a full scholarship to Syracuse University; where he majored in Mathematics and Education. He graduated college Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa. Shortly thereafter, he received his Master's degree, also from Syracuse University, and soon enlisted the U.S. Air Force. That same year he married the love of his life, Marianne (Muschie) Krombach and together they traveled the world with their two children Debbie and Mark during Harry's 20 year distinguished career as an Air Force officer. Harry achieved the rank of Lt. Colonel and retired from the Air Force in 1972. He was both a Korean and Vietnam War veteran with "boots on the ground" in Saigon. In September of 1972, the Kagan family moved to Rockland County, NY where Harry began his second career - the one he initially studied to become - as a High School Math teacher at Clarkstown South High School. Harry loved his close knit family and teaching. He adored children of all ages, and was an avid fan of many types of music and art. Harry had a wonderful and contagious sense of humor and he had a zest for life. Harry was a strong believer in social justice and was a true humanitarian and optimist. He believed deeply in the good of others. At Clarkstown South, all of his students and the faculty loved him and he loved them back. He was very involved in the Special Olympics Program, sponsored by Clarkstown South, was the adviser to the Math Club and the founder of the school's Community Services Club.Harry is survived by his wife, Marianne; daughter Debra Kagan-Birkeland and her husband, Luke Birkeland and their son, Benjamin, of Nyack, NY; his son, Mark Kagan and his wife, Christina Kagan, and their children, Andrew, Nicholas, Ashton, Max and Aaron, of North Las Vegas, NV. He is also survived by his niece Dr. Ruth Shapiro and her husband Dr. Robert Shapiro, of NYC, and their family; his nephew, Dr. Victor Bers and his wife, Dr. Susan Bers, of Hamden, CT, and their family; his sister -in- law Evelyn Krombach Smith and his brother-in-law, Jay Smith of Sagle, Idaho and their family.Funeral service will be held at Hellman Memorial Chapels in Spring Valley, NY, on Friday, June 24, 2016 at 10:00 AM. The family requests that donations be made in his honor to: Alzheimer's Association , Hudson Valley, NY Chapter http://www.alz.org/hudsonvalley/Rockland Jewish Family Service (Older Adult Program) http://www.rjfs.org/ -