Theodore (Ted) (Heinz) Pisk

Theodore (Ted) Heinz Pisk, 98, of West Hartford, died peacefully on Monday, October 1, 2007. Born on January 31, 1909 in Linz, Austria he was the oldest, and last surviving child of Alfred and Hilda (Englmann) Pisk. As a young adult he was active in the Zionist Youth Movement in Vienna and social justice became a life-long passion. Ted met and wed Edith (Kuflik) in Czechoslovakia in 1937. They left there for the United States in 1939, narrowly evading the Nazis. Ted and Edith celebrated their seventieth wedding anniversary this past August. In 1943, Ted was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served in the Combat Engineers under General Patton in the European theater. After the war, Ted established a dental supply company, Dri-Clave, in Long Island, NY where he first imported and then championed the use of dry heat sterilizers. Ultimately, his efforts revolutionized the sterilization of dental instruments. After retiring in 1972, he and Edith divided their time between residences in Farmington and North Miami Beach, FL, at which time they became devoted tennis players. Their greatest passion, however, was always their family. Ted is survived by the love of his life, Edith, and their daughter Miriam Miller and her husband Stephen; two grandchildren: Rick Miller and his partner Lori Wong, and Shana Kates and her husband Stephen; and one great-grandson, Jordan Kates. A graveside funeral will take place on Friday, October 5, 2007 at 11:00 AM at the Beth Israel Cemetery in Avon with Rabbi Stephen Fuchs officiating. Memorial contributions may be made to The Social Action Committee of Congregation Beth Israel, 701 Farmington Ave., West Hartford 06119. Funeral arrangements are entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford. For further information, directions, or to share memories of Ted with his family, please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com.