Morton (I.) Fishman

Morton I Fishman 82, of West Hartford passed on Monday, January 22nd, surrounded by his loving family, at Hospital at Hebrew Senior Care after a lengthy illness. Mort was the son of William Fishman and Rose Rosenthal Fishman and is survived by his wife Carol Fishman, his children Scott Fishman and his wife Mary Fishman of South Windsor, Loren Seaman and her husband Hank Seaman of Goodland FL. Along with his brother Herb Fishman and sister in law Ruth (Tutti) Fishman and three grandchildren Caroline, Lindsay and Bryan Fishman. Also his Mother inlaw, Babe Erickson and sister inlaw, Joy Erickson and many nieces and nephews. Mort was predeceased by his grandson Alexander and his sisters Helen Fishman, Silvia Wernick and his Brother Marshall Fishman. He was raised in West Hartford and attended Hall High School where he played football and was the CT state pole vault champion. He went on to attend the University of Miami and the University of Connecticut. He joined his brother in their father’s business, Fishman and son’s roofing and sheet metal company. Mort along with his brother made the Liberty Tree sculpture for the New York Worlds Fair. He continued his passion as an artist; sculpting and painting into his late 70s. He was ahead of his time creating an ecology sculpture that was in West Hartford center and then moved to Hall High School. The sculpture today is displayed on the grounds of Hartford Distributors Manchester CT. In an explosion in the 1960’s, Mort was burned over 90 percent of his body with 3rd degree burns and had over 30 skin graft operations. Once he recovered he saw a fire on Liberty street in Hartford and ran to the building to wake up to get the tenants out of the building. He also had a passion for golf and at one time he was a scratch golfer and was a member of the old Cliffside Country Club. His other passion was animals. It seemed like he could talk to them, he would feed the birds at the reservoir and at his home he would feed raccoons, skunks and any other animal that showed up in his yard. He also would go around trying to help find lost dogs and cats. One of his greatest joys was watching his grandchildren play sports. He would try to make every soccer game, lacrosse game and Lindsay’s track meets. Mort was also involved with the MDA association sponsoring children to go to camp, and volunteering his time to work with the children that attended the camps. He also brought some of the kids to NY Jets’ games and other sporting and cultural events. We would like to thank his caregivers at Masonic care hospice and everyone who made his last days comfortable at the Hospital at Hebrew Senior Care. The care and compassion they showed was amazing not only for Mort but his entire family. We would also like to thank Dr. Bilgrami at the Smilow Cancer Center at St.Francis Hospital, who would not give up trying to find out what was causing Mort’s illness and aggressively treated him again with compassion. And to his care giver Pat Spencer who became his best friend, and in the process part of our family. There will be a memorial service at Weinstein’s Mortuary, 640 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105 at 2:00 January 25 The family will be siting shiva at his son’s house at 802 Sandstone Drive, South Windsor, CT 06074 following the service and Friday 12:00 pm to 8:00 pm In lieu of flowers and donations can be made to Hebrew Senior Care Center Foundation West Hartford CT. Arrangements are entursted to Weinstein’s Mortuary, Hartford CT

Service Date: 01/01/1970