Harold E. Suresky

Harold E. Suresky, 98, passed away on the Gray Oaks campus of Moorings Park in Naples, FL on January 27, 2025.  Harold was born on April 9, 1926 in New York City.  His parents were Raymond Isaac and Sarah Kirschner Suresky whose parents immigrated to America from Poland and Russia respectively.

    Harold was Chairman of the Board of R I Suresky & Sons, Inc. in Goshen, NY.  He is a 1944 graduate of Goshen High School.  He is a World War II Veteran who was drafted and served in the United States Air Force from 1945 to 1947.  He graduated from Middlebury College in 1949 under the government funded GI bill.  He entered the family business that was started by his father Ike Suresky in 1916.  He began working in the service and parts departments eventually transferring to the sales department at 160-164 West Main Street in Goshen.  The business moved into a larger building at 224 West Main Street in Goshen in 1951.  It was a remodeled warehouse owned by the Dexter Rubber Company.  Today, it is the company’s Collision Center.  In 1986, the company moved its Chrysler dealership to Hatfield Lane, which is just off Route 17, in Goshen.  The business continues to thrive.  In 2023, the company moved into another new building next to the Chrysler operations for its Hyundai dealership.  

    Harold met his wife Helen on a blind date.  They were married by Helen’s brother-in-law Rabbi Moshe Goldblum on November 2, 1952, at the Hebrew Community Center in Middletown, NY.  Helen later on joined the family business.  Helen was instrumental in the success and expansion of the business.  The business continues to flourish and prosper as one of the oldest car dealerships under one family ownership in the entire country.  Harold and Helen were married for 71 years, and were inseparable both in work and at home up until Helen’s passing a year ago.  Harold followed the family business closely right to the end.  He read three newspapers daily, and was fully aware of all current events in both Naples as well as back in New York.   

    Harold attained significant achievements within the community and business world throughout his life.  Much of his success can be attributed to his strict upbringing from his father Ike, as well as being from the greatest generation.  Growing up during the Great Depression coupled with serving his country during the Big War had a tremendous influence on Harold.  Harold had an outstanding work ethic filled with honesty, integrity, humility along with plenty of self-sacrifice.  Harold was the Patriarch of the Suresky family throughout his entire adult life.  Harold was always the “go to person”.  His father Ike instilled that personality into Harold, and then, in turn to Harold’s son Joseph.  

    Some of his activities outside of his business included being the President of Temple Sinai in Middletown, NY, President of the Goshen Rotary Club,  Chairman of the Board of Directors at Arden Hill Hospital, Director at the National Bank of Orange and Ulster Counties, Director of Orange County Chamber of Commerce, Master of Goshen Lodge and District Deputy of Orange and Rockland Counties of the Free-Masons including 32nd degree Mason, Grand Marshall at the Goshen Memorial Day Parade, member of the Executive Committee for Hudson Delaware Council of Boy Scouts, member of Chrysler Dealer council and Dodge Dealer Advertising Association, Community Lifetime Achievement award from Chamber of Commerce, Time Magazine Automobile Dealer of the Year in 1989, member of American Legion and VFW, member of Minisink Hook and Ladder Company, and so many more accomplishments too long to list.

    Harold is survived by his daughter Suzanne (Paul) Passeri of Danvers, MA, his son Peter (Marcela Cardoso) Suresky of Atlanta, GA, his son Joseph (Lorraine) Suresky of Goshen, his grandchildren Gregory (Elisabeth) Passeri, Julianne (Guy) Passeri Mitrano, Jordan Suresky, Alexandra Suresky, Nicolas Suresky, Jared (Garima Dhingra) Suresky, Rachel (Dr. Elise Seyferth) Suresky, 3 great grand-children Andrew Passeri, Hank Mitrano and Viviana Mitrano, his sister-in-law Corinne Suresky Bednarik, his nephews Rick Robinson, Andrew Suresky, Dr. Simeon Goldblum, Charles Goldblum, Full Colonel David Goldblum, Dr. Scott Wolf, Roy Gibson, his nieces Nancy Smith Walters, Dr. Liba Goldblum, Orah Goldblum, Heather Bonime, Lisa Wolf, Jill Raut, and many other cousins.  Harold is predeceased by his beloved wife of 71 years Helen Wolf Suresky, his parents Ike and Sarah Suresky, sister Marilyn and Dr. Alan Robinson, brother Dr. Philip Suresky, his niece Linda Robinson Martin and his nephew Russell Gibson.

    Funeral services will be held 10AM Friday, January 31st at Temple Sinai, 75 Highland Ave., Middletown, NY. Rabbi David Sislen will officiate. Interment will follow in Temple Sinai Cemetery, Circleville, NY.

   The family requests memorial contributions be made to the Hudson Valley Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. 

   Arrangements have been entrusted to Cornelius, Dodd & Connell Funeral Home, Middletown, NY.                       

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