David Trachtenberg was born in Wurtsboro, New York on April 4, 1925. At nine years of age he entered high school in Middletown, New York. By eighteen he graduated from Hartwick College in Oneonta, New York where he met the love of his life, Selma Harris, and married before he was honorably discharged from military service. Their love bloomed for seventy years. Selma passed on March 17, 2016; David joined his beloved on August 2, 2021.
David was drafted as he neared the end of his college studies, and was sent to the front in France. He and his search group were ambushed and became a wounded POW. Fortunately, he was in one of the few local prisoner exchanges. David earned two bronze stars, a purple heart, and the war service medal. He was proudest of the purple heart, saying that he showed he would shed his blood for his country. In October before the pandemic the French brought a warship into the harbor in Miami, and ceremoniously made him a member of the Legion of Honor.
After returning from the war David earned a Masters Degree at the State University of New York in Albany. He and Selma taught school, Selma in elementary school and David at the high school. He earned a doctorate in education, an Ed.D. at the same time that son Carl earned his bachelors degree and son Bruce earned his associates degree.
Rising from school teacher to Assistant Superintendent of Schools in Middletown, New York, where he and Selma raised their two sons, Carl Harris Trachtenberg and Bruce S. Trachtenberg, David retired to attend law school. His high school yearbook picture, which appeared on his retirement dinner program, said “Dave plans to study law.” It just did not say that it would take forty one years of planning. He graduated number four in his class and was senior editor of law review. Turning down a partnership track position in the growing Schenectady, New York firm of his number two son, David clerked for the Florida District Court of Appeal in West Palm Beach for a dozen years.
He and Selma were founding members of Congregation Beth Tikva in Lake Worth. He served on the board, was in the choir, and for a time was principal of the Hebrew School. He and Selma volunteered for many activities at the synagogue. He was proud of his award winning bulletin, created crossword puzzles based on the parsha, and developed and taught course in Yiddish. Together they supported many secular and non secular eleemosynary institutions and organizations.
David is survived by son Carl Harris Trachtenberg (Carrie), son Bruce S. Trachtenberg (Mary), grandsons Alexander Jay Trachtenberg (Tim) and Jordan Robert Trachtenberg (Annie), granddaughters Ezraela M. R. Trachtenberg and Aliza R. R.Trachtenberg, great grand sons Chase and Bentley, great granddaughter Izabella, and the apple of his eye, for whom he may have extended his life waiting for, Levi Arrow Trachtenberg
A graveside service for David will be held Friday, August 6, 2021 from 10:00am at IJ Morris at Star of David of the Palm Beaches, 9321 Memorial Park Road, Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33412.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.starofdavidfunerals.com for the Trachtenberg family.
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