Howard Kotkin, a past president of the Suffolk Association for Jewish Educational Services (SAJES), died Oct. 18 in his Bayville, L.I., home after a long illness. He was 82.
Mr. Kotkin, a Brooklyn native, served as a funeral director for 62 years, first with I.J. Morris, then for the last 18 years with Gutterman’s in Syosset.
He served on the board of the Gurwin Jewish Geriatric Center in Commack, and was president of Temple Judea in Massapequa.
“Howard was a gentle man who supported Jewish education and cared deeply about the Jewish community. Howard’s dedication was unparalleled,” the leadership of the Board of Jewish Education of New York-SAJES said in a statement. “He was a respected leader and supporter of UJA-Federation and many of Long Island’s agencies and synagogues.”
Mr. Kotkin attended Brooklyn College and the American Academy of Embalming and Mortuary Science.
He is survived by his wife, Marcia; a son, Michael, two sisters, Julie Levy and Lori Kotkin, and four grandchildren.
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