John (D.) Dragat

John D. Dragat, of West Hartford, died Monday, August 11, 2008. Born in Hartford, he was the son of the late Edward and Eva (Sack) Dragat. He graduated from Wilbraham Academy and from Yale University and he received his J.D. from Cornell University School of Law. He was a US Navy Veteran of World War II. He was admitted to practice law in 1953 and shortly thereafter became Assistant Clerk of the Probate Court. He resigned in 1958 to go into private practice. He was a former chairman of the West Hartford Planning and Zoning Board, and was a long time member of the West Hartford Republican Town Committee. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Social Service and later became president of Jewish Family Service. He was also a member of the Hartford County and Connecticut Bar Associations, Congregation Beth Israel, West Hartford, and a former member of Tumble Brook Country Club of Bloomfield. He leaves two daughters: Julie S. Dragat of New York, NY and Kathryn D. Goldberg and her husband Adam of Needham, MA; two grandchildren: Alexandra Eva Goldberg and Max Evan Goldberg; and a brother, Andrew S. Dragat and his wife Linda of Lennox, MA. He also leaves his former wife, Linda (Horwitz) Dragat of West Hartford. Funeral services will be held on Thursday, August 14, 2008 at 10:00 am in the Chapel of the Weinstein Mortuary, 640 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, with Rabbi Stephen Fuchs officiating. Interment will follow in the Beth Israel Cemetery, Ward and Affleck Streets, Hartford. A memorial period will be observed at the home of Linda Dragat, Thursday following the funeral. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Helen and Harry Gray Cancer Center, c/o Hartford Hospital, 85 Retreat Ave., Hartford 06106-2527 or to The American Cancer Society, 538 Preston Ave., PO Box 1004, Meriden 06450. For further information, directions, or to share memories of John with his family, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com.