Isaac Paster

Isaac “Ike” Paster, 92, of Delray Beach, Florida and formerly of Norwich, CT, died peacefully on Wednesday evening December 8, 2010 at a hospital in Lake Worth, FL from complications following open heart surgery. Mr. Paster was born in Canterbury, CT on April 17, 1918. He was raised in Preston, CT on a farm owned by his parents, Morris and Dora (Shevach) Paster.

He graduated from Poquetanuck Elementary School and Norwich Free Academy, class of 1936. He married the late Marcia Reisman of Norwich, CT on March 15, 1942 in a ceremony performed by Marcia’s father, the late Rabbi Osher Reisman of Norwich.

In the late 1940s, when his parents and siblings moved to California, Mr. Paster chose to remain in Preston, so Marcia could stay close to her family. He continued to operate the family farm, and built and operated a milk-processing plant with a fleet of delivery trucks. He would rise at 2 AM to deliver milk in the Norwich area. With his family growing, he moved into Norwich, and continued to sell milk until the early ‘60s, when he opened a small dairy bar, featuring ice cream and sandwiches.

In 1964 he expanded the dairy bar into the full-service Preston Dairy Bar and Restaurant. He was good-natured and well-liked and he was always quick to help people in the village of Hallville. Local villagers would congregate at the restaurant to banter with Marcia and Ike at the counter. They affectionately called the restaurant “The Dairy”.

In 1989 he and Marcia retired, and purchased a condominium in Delray Beach, FL. They were “snowbirds” for five years before moving there permanently in 1994. Isaac’s beloved Marcia died in 2003. He stayed in Florida where the warmer weather suited him.

While living in Norwich, Mr. Paster was an avid pinochle player and a member of the Elks and Masons. He was an active member of the Brothers of Joseph Synagogue in Norwich and Temple Anshei Shalom in Delray Beach. He also belonged to C.O.P. (Citizens On Patrol) in Delray Beach. He was proud to patrol and watch over his community.

He will be missed by his survivors, who include children Sharen S. (Paster) Peters and her husband, Dr. Thomas B. Peters, of Mansfield, CT; Joseph P. Paster and his wife, Elaine (Strachman), of Sudbury, MA; and Barry N. Paster and his wife, Deirdre (Taylor), of West Barnstable, MA. He also leaves his grandchildren Michelle Paster and her husband, Josef Blumenfeld; Susan (Paster) Epstein and her husband, Peter; Rick Paster and his wife, Robyn (Roditi); and Jack Paster. He leaves five great-grandchildren: Shoshana, Yael, Brandon, Jared and Lily. They all called him “Papa Ike.” He also leaves his “granddog” Rebel Peters who he loved to cuddle up with when he visited CT. He is survived by his sister, Dr. Gussie Sitkin, and her husband, Joseph, of Studio City, CA; and brothers Abraham of Lake Forest, CA; and Jacob of Canoga Park, CA. He also leaves many nieces and nephews and their families. He was pre-deceased by sisters Evelyn Paster, Esther Vollowitz, and Celia Witler; and brother, Joseph.

Funeral Services will be held at the Church and Allen Funeral Home, 136 Sachem Street, Norwich, CT on Monday, December 13, 2010 at 11 AM, followed by interment at Brothers of Joseph cemetery in Preston, CT. Following interment, the family will be receiving guests and observing Shiva at the homes of Sharen and Thomas Peters, 82 Stone Ridge Lane, Mansfield, CT; and Joseph and Elaine Paster, 48 Phillips Road, Sudbury, MA: The Peters will continue to receive guests from Monday, December, 13 through Thursday, December 16, 2010 from 6 to 8 PM – and at the Paster home during the evenings of Monday, December 13 through Wednesday, December 15; and afternoons of Tuesday, December 14 through Thursday, December 16.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Brothers of Joseph Synagogue, 2 Broad St., Norwich, CT 06360; Temple Anshei Shalom, 7099 West Atlantic Ave., Delray Beach, FL 33446; The American Heart Association, 1 Union Street, #301, Robbinsville, NJ 08691-4183; or Alzheimer’s Association, PO Box 96011, Washington, D.C., 20090-6011.