Weintraub, David
David Weintraub of West Hartford recently passed away at home on March 18, 2021, joining Shirley, his beloved wife of 70 years who passed away five years ago. He spent his last day with his family. David kept his dignity and humor throughout his last days and would have been 97 this month.
David was predeceased by his parents, Anna and Isaac Weintraub; his in-laws, Jenny and Morris Bufferd; his three brothers whom he loved so dearly, Abraham (Al) Weintraub, Harry Weintraub, and Louis (Lou) Weintraub, their wives, Sonia, Sylvia, and Lillian; as well as by his brother-and sister-in-law, Mandell Bufferd and Patricia Bufferd. He is survived by his three children, Susan (Sue) Weintraub and her fiancé, Ché Cartafalsa, Marleen (Leni) Weintraub, and Jay Weintraub and his wife Sandra, his two grandchildren who he adored even while in utero, Jeffrey Weintraub and his partner, Erin Hutchins, and Julie Carlson and her husband Aaron Carlson, his two great-grandchildren, Caleb and Kai and many nieces and nephews. He graduated Central High in Bridgeport and attended junior college for a few months, only to drop out when he fibbed about his age (17) to enlist in the Army, joining tens of thousands of mostly other men of the Greatest Generation in WWII. After spending most of his service in Kodiak, Alaska (where he could not see Russia), he returned to Bridgeport to marry Shirley, his childhood sweetheart.
Following in his father's footsteps as a window washer, Dave moved to Hartford where he purchased a small company, Superior Window Cleaning. Brother Al joined him when they purchased Sanitas Cleaning Contractors, starting their fabled run. Dave's enthusiasm, intellect and eternal optimism persuaded successful service companies from coast to coast and Puerto Rico to sell their companies to Sanitas.
Dave the window cleaner took Sanitas public, trading over the counter. When all did not work out as planned, he was down, but not out. As he liked to say, “next case” and he quickly rebounded to start from scratch a new cleaning contracting service, Capital Cleaning Contractors, which grew rapidly to more than 2,000 employees servicing contracts for many iconic State and private business properties in Connecticut.
With a strong belief in the power of education, David proudly celebrated his children's three four-year undergraduate degrees, master's degree, and J.D. as well as his grandchildren's two undergraduate degrees, masters and M.D.
Life was always full for David. He was a founding member of Beth El Temple and Cliffside Country Club, as well as a long-time member of Tumblebrook Country Club, where he spent countless afternoons playing gin with his buddies. “It made me feel like a kid again.” In his youth, Dave was a star basketball player for the winning Bridgeport Boy's Club team with many undefeated seasons. His passion for playing basketball transitioned to being a devoted fan of UCONN men's and women's basketball.
Family and work were always important but David still found time to play basketball in an adult Hartford league (he often lamented the disappearance of the two hand set shot). A sports enthusiast, he led his family to indulge in alpine skiing, became a certified scuba diver, got his pilot's license and flew his own airplane (a single engine Mooney) throughout New England, to Bermuda and Florida.
David loved to exercise outdoors challenging himself both physically and mentally. A disciplined athlete both on and off the golf course and racquetball courts, his go-to activity to unwind and reflect was power walking. In his mid-50s he successfully power-walked a 26.2-mile marathon in East Lyme.
One of his favorite hobbies was gardening. Early mornings he enjoyed weeding and planting his flower gardens. With the first signs of Spring, he would return from 5 a.m. jaunts to the Hartford Farmer's Market with his car trunk loaded with trays of colorful annuals to fill his flower beds.
He believed strongly in helping others and seemed to never meet a charity he did not find a soft spot for. He also gave his time as a Big Brother, and as a director on non-profit boards.
David will be sorely missed by his family, friends, and the dedicated health care workers with whom he established a warm and loving rapport in his last years. His family extends a special thanks to all those who attended to him, but especially Felicia Vallace and Josephine Harewood, as well as a special note of appreciation to McClean Hospice for their kindness and sensitivity in his final days.
David never missed an opportunity to be in gratitude and to say thank you for the smallest of gestures. He leaves a strong spiritual legacy, treating everyone the same, with respect and kindness.
There was a private, graveside service on March 21, 2021, where Rabbi Rosen and Cantor Ness led a beautiful service. Weinstein's provided their very sensitive funeral arrangements.
For those who may wish to make a donation in David's memory, the family suggests either Beth El Temple, 2626 Albany Avenue, West Hartford, (860) 233-9696, bethelwesthartford.org; or Hillel at the University of Hartford at hillel@hartford.edu, (860)-768-7956.