In Memoriam

John F. Traxler John F. Traxler

On September 16, John Frederick Traxler passed away peacefully 11 days after his 61st birthday and nearly a 6-year battle with cancer. Having a strong interest in history and tradition, John long recognized the uniqueness of the Village of Garden City. As a young banker with a growing family, he set his goal to become a Garden City resident. He and his wife Maureen moved to this lovely community in July 1998.

John was born in Stamford, New York; yet, because of the nature of his father's career, the family frequently moved around the country and John lived in 10 states in his first 12 years. The family settled in Queens and John was enrolled in Archbishop Molloy High School. Following his graduation from St. John's University with a BA in History, he was drafted into the United States Army. An infantryman in the Americal Division, John served in Vietnam in 1971, and was the recipient of The Bronze Star Medal (First Oak Leaf Cluster), the Vietnam Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, and the Army Commendation Medal, and he achieved the rank of "Sharpshooter". In May 2007, he was instrumental in organizing the first reunion of his division, which was held in St. Louis, Missouri.

Richard Portney After his Honorable Discharge in 1972, John earned an MBA in Finance from St. John's University, while working his way up the ranks in the banking industry. He joined Reliance Federal Savings and Loan Association as an appraiser in 1973 and retired from Reliance as Vice President/Investment Officer in February 2000, following a merger with North Fork Bank.

John became a director of the Western Property Owners Association in 2004, and served as president from 2005-2007. While president, he chaired the Joint Conference Committee of the Garden City Property Owners Associations during the 2-year term of Mayor Gerard Lundquist.

John and Maureen became Life Members of The Garden City Historical Society in 1998, and John served a two-year term as Treasurer. John also served as Secretary-Treasurer of the Long Island Savings Institutions (SILI), a professional association of the banking industry, for over 16 years.

A generous man with a witty sense of humor, John will be deeply missed by his family and friends. He is predeceased by his father Fred and brother James. In addition to his wife Maureen, John leaves his beautiful daughters Diane and Jennifer, and his loving mother Shirley Traxler of Naples, Florida.

Visiting hours will be held at Fairchild Sons Funeral Home, Thursday, September 17 from 7-9 p.m. and Friday, September 18, 2-4 and 7-9 p.m. A Mass will be celebrated in John's remembrance at St. Anne's Church, 9:15 a.m. on Saturday, followed by interment at St. Charles Cemetery, Farmingdale.

Gifts in memory of John Traxler can be made to the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, P.O. Box 27106, New York, NY 10087-7105, or by calling 866-815-9501.

After years of pain and suffering, this gentle man-affectionately known as "Trax" by his close friends-in now at peace with the Lord in heaven.

Richard Portney

The congregation of Temple Emanuel mourns the loss of its co-president Richard B. Portney, of Kings Point, who served the synagogue with great distinction. His tragic passing, on August 13, was swift and unexpected; it leaves a void no words can fill. He was 63.

Richard and his beloved wife, Judy, joined Emanuel in 1975. They became members of the couples club where they made good friends, and Richard soon sought to involve himself in synagogue leadership. When Barrie and Randi came along, daughters in whom Richard delighted, they attended Temple Emanuel's Religious School. More recently, Rabbi Robert Widom officiated when Randi married Gregory Sandler at the synagogue. Richard was inordinately proud of all the members of his family, and they were devoted to him.

A CPA, his decades-long career in public accounting ranged from employment with a Big Four firm to his work as a sole practitioner. He believed in the power of education and was a voracious reader with a broad spectrum of interests.

Retaining the ideals of one who had come of age in the sixties, Richard found those ideals reflected in the values of his Jewish heritage. He remained actively involved in the work of the synagogue for more than thirty years, and regarded his election to the co-presidency in the spring of 2008-the zenith of his involvement-a great honor.

Upon being installed he commented, "The opportunity to serve as co-president with my longtime friend Alan Elkes adds a special dimension to the satisfaction I know will be mine, working with Rabbi Widom, my fellow officers and trustees, to insure that the synagogue's future is bright and strong as it maintains its important programs."

Richard was familiar with every realm of running a synagogue; he held the post of treasurer for numerous years, and served as vice president before he assumed the co-presidency. He was a regular attendee of adult education classes and thoroughly enjoyed hearing the commentary of Friday night speakers, his passions encompassing history, politics, music, medical research, physical fitness and more. Always concerned with the well-being of others, he looked forward to continuing to serve the congregation of Temple Emanuel well past his co-presidency.

Part of Richard's legacy is to remind us that life is not measured in days and years alone, but in the manner of our living it," said Rabbi Widom. "He will be sorely missed," Alan Elkes added. "May Richard's memory always be for a benediction."

Richard is survived by his wife, Judith; daughters, Barrie Portney and Randi Portney, son-in-Law and Greg Sandler.