Obituary: Herman Poritzky

From the family of Herman Poritzky

Herman Poritzky, loving husband, father, stepfather, grandfather, great grandfather, friend, business partner, and unofficial mayor of Peekskill, NY passed away peacefully on November 30 th as a result of the coronavirus.

Born in Peekskill, NY on September 23, 1928, he was the son of the late Rose Kasnetz and Samuel Poritzky. Born the 5 th of 6 boys, he was predeceased by his elder brothers, Robert/Bob, Harold, Bernard/Bunny, and Boris. His younger brother, Alan/Sandy lives in Mohegan Lake, NY with his wife, Ann.

Herman attended Oakside Elementary School, Drum Hill Middle School and Peekskill High School where he was the president of his senior class and competed in tennis all four years, culminating in a Davis Cup match. After graduating from Peekskill High School in 1946, Herman attended Utica College and graduated from Syracuse University in 1950 with a degree in Physical Education and Recreation.

In 1950 Herman married Joan/Joy Miller and they had two children. Their daughter, Marianne/Meme Weinheim lives in Cortlandt Manor and their son, Dr. Scott Lee Poritzky, is a chiropractor in Croton.

A consummate businessman, Herman lived to work, make connections and help people. He had a long career of over 50 years in commercial mortgages and real estate, a field in which he naturally flourished given his business acumen, incredible generosity and genuine love of people. His honesty and integrity magnetically drew people to him, often creating lifelong friendships with business partners and clients. With pencil, paper and Rolodex as his tools, Herman was a true master in the art-of-the-deal and worked until the very month of his passing.

Herman was an exceptional sports talent. As a student, he played football, basketball, and tennis, with tennis as his first love. His finesse with the racket dated back to his high school years and a climb to the New York State Public High Schools AA District One Tennis finals where he qualified for the national scholastic event. His command for the sport continued to thrive as he played throughout the rest of his years, often competing with top players half his age only to cinch victory on the court.

A self-proclaimed nutritionist and the original “health nut”, Herman was a devotee of juicing and cleansing long before juicing and cleansing were a thing. His love for healthy eating and exercise, which he learned from his oldest brother, Bob, was a strong influence on those close to him and an inspiration to all who knew him. His extraordinary balance of lifestyle afforded him exceptional grace as he aged, allowing him to enjoy his golden years without dependence on pharmaceutical prescriptions.

Herman is survived by his loving wife of 35 years, Elaine Hartel-Poritzky, his two children, Marianne/Meme (Ron) Weinheim and Scott Poritzky, his stepchildren, Robin (Andrew) Drummond, Kathy (Dan) Colleluori, Holly Flukinger and Stan Flukinger, his 2 granddaughters, Alana (Baruch) Baum and Hollie (Anthony) DiGiorgio, 9 step-grandchildren, Amanda, Jake, Vaughn, Leah, Lucas, George, Olivia, Jack and Billy, 3 great-grandchildren, Ari, Lev and Anthony Jr., … and a new great-grandson, due in February.

Herman and Elaine enjoyed a loving relationship that was truly unrivaled. With a shared passion for tennis, movies & theater, travel and dancing the Lindy, their relationship was forever buoyed by extraordinary friends, laughter, and joyful experiences. As snowbirds alternating seasonally between Ossining, NY and Jupiter, Florida their circle of acquaintances, friends and tennis partners spanned the map and was continuously growing.

Herman was an extraordinary human being who will be sincerely missed and forever held in the hearts of so many.

Memorial donations to the Israel Tennis Centers are welcomed and would be appreciated by the family.