February 10, 1927 – August 6, 2016
U.S. Military Service: August 11, 1942 – August 11, 1946
Passed away peacefully at home with his family by his side.
Relatives & friends may call on Wed., Aug. 10th, from 12NOON-2PM at the Funeral Home of ALVAH HALLORAN & SON, 2125 Chili Ave., Gates, where a memorial service will be held immediately following at 2PM. A procession will then be forming at the Funeral Home at 2:30PM and heading to White Haven Memorial Park where funeral and burial services will take place with military honors.
Benjamin was the son of the late Gabriel & Julia (Camhi) Sarfaty. Predeceased by brothers, Issac, Hyman, Louis, and Morris Sarfaty and sisters, Estelle (Sarfaty) Guerra and Mollie (Sarfaty) Setzer. Benjamin was married to the love of his life for 40 years, Grace (Rowan) Sarfaty, who passed away on February 24, 1988, whom he missed so deeply every day since.
Ben entered the United States Navy as a 15 year old kid to fight for our country. He was honorably discharged from the service as a man at the age of 19. Benny took his boot training at Sampson Naval Base on Seneca Lake and onto Boston Naval Yard to board the Destroyer USS Cole DD155 (the Tin Can). His ship took part in patrolling the Atlantic and into the Mediterranean, all the way to crossing the Equator several times. His ship took part in the Invasion of Sicily and North Africa, in which his ship was awarded 3 Battle Stars and the Presidential Citation Award. Ben’s service also included the South Pacific and the testing of the Atomic Bomb off the Island of Bikini Atoll. His Medals include the American Theatre Award and the Victory Medal.
Ben along with his brother, Louis, owned and operated B&L Furniture from 1952 to 1963 on Genesee Street. Ben then went on to open Commercial Wholesale Carpets in Rochester until his retirement in 1993. He was a very well respected man in the floor covering world by his competitors, community leaders, his customers and his friends. As Ben would say, “Not bad for a 9th grade education”.
Ben enjoyed life with his wife, Grace, and family, with vacations around the country, family gatherings, and most of all, their summer home at Kashong Point on Seneca Lake, where everyone was welcome. Ben and Grace loved fishing and spent countless hours on the lake together aboard the “Lady Grace”. “Benny Bass” was his nickname at Kashong. He was known as one of the best Bass fisherman on Seneca Lake, always a boat load. Ben was a well-rounded man, a self-taught individual who enjoyed working on his home or building something. He also could swing a decent tennis racket, waterski, and throw a good horseshoe. He was also an avid baseball fan attending minor league games in Rochester all the way to the World Series.
Survived by sons, Bruce (Christine), Wayne, and Morris (Jill) Sarfaty and daughter, Jean Blattner, 7 grandchildren, several great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews, and special niece, Sandy Palma of Coppel, TX.
Special acknowledgements and thank you to Ben’s medical staff at the VA: NP Melissa Kropf, PT Dept., Eric & Amy, HHA Yvonne McGhie. A very special thank you to Matthew Gross, MD, of the U of R Medical Center Nephrology Department.
Donations can be made on Ben’s behalf to the Tin Can Sailors, Inc., PO Box 100, Somerset, MA 02726, or to the U of R Nephrology Dept. at Gift & Donor Records, c/o Nephrology Dept., 300 East River Rd. PO Box 270032, Rochester, NY 14623. A scholarship fund will be established through the University of Rochester for a student pursuing Nephrology, in Ben’s name.
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