Byron (E.) Kopel

Byron E. Kopel, 66, of Enfield, passed away unexpectedly on January 5, 2011. He was the son of the late Leah and Carl Kopel. He was born and raised in Portland, ME and graduated from Deering High School and University of Maine with a Bachelors and Masters degree in education. After college he served in the US Army for two years, spending one year in Viet Nam as a radio and communications specialist. Byron retired from the Somers school system after teaching high school Math there for over 30 years. He most recently was an adjunct professor in the math department at Holyoke Community College in Holyoke, MA. Byron enjoyed working with children and adults of all ages and volunteered for Literacy Volunteers of Greater Hartford teaching English as a second language. He is survived his brother Stuart A. Kopel and his wife Sheryl of Newington and sister Nancy E. Kopel and her companion Larry Wiener of Waltham, MA, his Aunt Pearl Issokson of Vineyard Haven, MA, several cousins and very close friends. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, January 9, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. in the Chapel of the Weinstein Mortuary, 640 Farmington Ave., Hartford with interment following in Beth Hillel Synagogue Cemetery in East Granby. Rabbi Gary Atkins will officiate. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Heart Association or Beth Hillel Synagogue in Bloomfield. Shiva will be observed at the home of Stuart and Sheryl Kopel in Newington on Sunday, January 9 through Thursday, January 14 at 7:00 p.m. For further information, directions, or to sign the guest book for Byron, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com.