Lewis Abrams

Born on December 20, 1921, in New York City to Irving and Ray Abrams, he was the second of four children, after his sister, Myra. During the depression his family moved to Dallas (the reason for his lifelong nickname, “Tex”), where his two brothers, Harold and Calman, were born. When the family resettled in the South Bronx, Lew met Amalia (Milly) Donath at their local settlement house. A handsome couple, they resembled a young Clark Gable and Betty Davis. Lewis graduated from Haaren High School with a degree in drafting and served throughout the European Theater during WWII, attaining the rank of technical sergeant.

Upon his return from the war, Lewis and Milly married at the Jewish Theological Seminary on July 13, 1946. They moved to West 15th Street in Manhattan, where their son, Donald Craig, was born, and returned to the Bronx, where their daughter, Deborah Lynn, was born. In 1956 they bought a home in Huntington Station, back when Oakwood Road was lined with potato fields. Lewis became active in community organizations and founded and served as first president of the Foxwood Neighborhood Civic Association. In 1973, he became branch manager for Suffolk County OTB, the job from which he retired.

Lewis was active in the Huntington Town Democratic Party from the time he moved to town into his 90s. He was a party zone leader, running the election campaigns of many town officials, canvassing, and fundraising. He served as the town’s house enumerator and on the Zoning Board of Appeals and Accessory Apartment Review Board.

An avid photographer, he documented his WWII years, family life, his beloved “Cousins Club,” and his many travels with his family and later with Milly. His love of fishing New York state rivers and reservoirs began with his father and brothers and later was passed on to his son. His ability to repair most anything was legendary at a community thrift shop where he and Milly volunteered into their 90s, benefiting Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic and providing endlessly entertaining stories.

Lewis could always be counted on to help family, friends, and neighbors with kindness, good humor, and the infectious “Abrams smile.” He loved a J&B on the rocks when hecame home from work, a Budweiser at dinner, and Breyers butter pecan ice cream for dessert.

Lewis was predeceased in 2018 by Milly, his wife of 71 years. He leaves behind his brother Calman, son Donald (Lisa DeLisle), daughter Deborah Abrams-Simonton (late William “Simon” Simonton), grandchildren Cara Abrams, Grant Simonton, and Ellie Bean Abrams, and great granddaughter Ruth Micah Abrams. He is loved and will be missed very much by all.

In lieu of flowers please donate to Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic: www.plannedparenthood.org/planned-parenthood-hudson-peconic/donate

Lewis’ online memorial can be found at: https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/11373891.

We urge anyone who knew him to please add any remembrances, stories or pictures to his memorial page.