Stuart Fishbone

— Stuart Waterford Jay Fishbone, 85, of Waterford, passed away Friday, May 20, 2022. Born Oct. 9, 1936, he spent the first 11 years of his life in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he loved watching the elevated trains going to Coney Island and developed his devotion to all NY sports teams.

Then, his family moved to Norwich, and he graduated from Norwich Free Academy in 1954. He graduated from Mitchell College in New London in 1956, and then worked in various accounting positions for the State of Connecticut. He also served in the U.S. Army, both active and reserve duty, for approximately five years.

On March 8, 1964, he married Marilyn Beth Shafner in New London, and went on to work as a tax examiner for the State of Connecticut for more than 30 years, traveling all over North America to audit companies. He retired at age 55, and still continued working part time and traveling throughout the world.

He was also devoted to community service. He served in many roles, including treasurer and founding member of the endowment committee at Temple Emanu-El in Waterford. In 1998, he received the Illson Award for lifetime dedication to the Temple. He also served as the steward of the A&R Union while he worked for the state, and in retirement he co-founded the Connecticut State Employees Retiree Union Chapter of Southeastern Connecticut.

In his spare time, he loved to play tennis, go to local sporting events, and spend time with his two grandsons.

Also of note, he served as a Justice of the Peace and officiated weddings in many locations, including Harkness Memorial State Park in Waterford.

Besides his wife, he is survived by his sister Gale Fishbone of Norwich; daughter Marianne Hirshman and her husband Lenard Hirshman of Horseheads, N.Y.; his son Brian Fishbone and his husband Jonathan Blandford of San Bruno, Calif., and San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; and his two grandsons, Ryan and Harrison Hirshman. He was predeceased by his parents, Barney and Beatrice Fishbone; and his sister Judy Fishbone.

A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. Monday, May

23, at Temple Emanu-El, 29 Dayton Road, in Waterford. Burial will be at the Jewish Aid Congregation Cemetery on Gillettes Lane in Colchester. Donations may be made to Temple Emanu-El at the address above or to a charity of the donor’s choice. Please visit www.byles.com to sign the guest book or share a memory with the family.