Sy Fruchter was born in 1925 on the lower east side of Manhattan. He graduated high school at the age of 16 an went to work. Although he always dreamed of going to NYU, the $12 a credit fee was more than he or his family could afford.
He wanted to major in Physical Education and become an elementary school teacher, Assistant Principal, Principal and Deputy Superintendent. Uncle Sam got in the way and was he was inducted into the army. He served in Europe and was part of the second infantry division that marched into Normandy.
He was awarded the Purple Heart and five battle stars. When he came home, he completed his education. He became a physical education teacher and eventually worked his way up to Deputy Superintendent of Schools in Queens.
He married Harriet, in 1946 and moved to Farmingdale in 1958. They wanted their children Marsha and Len to have a Jewish education so they joined the Farmingdale Jewish Center. He was very involved on the Board of Trustees and Education Committee.
In 1996, he became Vice President and in 1997 became President for 5 years of the Farmingdale Jewish Center.
In 2007 when FJC consolidated with Wantagh Jewish Center, now Congregation Beth Tikvah he immediately became very involved with all the functions of his new congregation.
He was married to his wife Harriet for 51 years until she succumbed to cancer. Sy met Helene in 1997 at the Farmingdale Jewish Center. They met at a journal dinner in which they were seated together. He asked her to dance and as they say “the rest is history”.
Helene’s two sons together with Sy’s children have given them nine grandchildren and five great grandchildren.
Sy looks forward to his continued involvement at Congregation Beth Tikvah and is deeply honored to be chosen as FJMC Man of the Year by our Men’s Club.
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Avery Benjamin Grantis is a 7th grade student at Wantagh Middle School. He is preparing for his Bar Mitzvah which is in November at Congregation Beth Tikvah.
Avery enjoys playing the cello and has attended both NYSSMA and All County Music Festivals. Outside of school, Avery loves fishing and his favorite sport to watch on television is Mixed Martial Arts. Avery also started wrestling at Wantagh Middle School this year.
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