SARATOGA SPRINGS — A good guy has passed on. Jesse Mittleman died on Wednesday, September 3, after suffering an aortic tear. He was a month short of his 95th birthday.
Born October 7, 1919 to Ada and Harry Mittleman, Jesse spent his early years growing up in New Jersey and Long Island. At 16 he graduated high school and attended Bowling Green University on a full scholarship.
During World War II, he served in the merchant marines which helped to match his philosophy as a pacifist.
His early career included being an editor for Newsday, but mostly he was what we call today, an entrepreneur. He owned and operated both printing and typesetting businesses. He taught at CCNY and also found time during this period to attend Columbia University and earn his Master’s degree in Political Science. Jesse was a published short story writer.
Jesse was an avid dancer until he died. He was known throughout the Seattle area for his Lindy Hop. He had a great sense of humor and fully enjoyed life. Jesse ran the NYC Marathon twice in his 60s and rode a motor cycle until he was 88. Entertaining and throwing parties was what he became famous for. He and Evelyn traveled the world seeing places many of us only read about. He was a resident of Laurel Hollow for nearly 50 years and Bainbridge Island, Washington for 14. He was a brilliant man and we will miss him dearly.
Survivors include his wife, Evelyn of Saratoga; his daughter, Amy Hunter (Mike) of Sudbury, Massachusetts; his son, Gary (Marilyn) of Loudonville; and four grandchildren, David Hunter, Laura Hunter, Caroline Mittleman and Matthew Mittleman.
Funeral services will be held at 4:30pm Thursday, Sept. 4, 2014 at the William J. Burke & Sons/Bussing & Cunniff Funeral Homes, 628 North Broadway, Saratoga Springs 584-5373.
The family will also sit Shiva and receive visitors at his son’s house in Loudonville from 10am to 6pm on Friday , Sept 5 and Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014.
In lieu of flowers please make a donation in Jesse’s memory to the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation of NE New York Chapter, 6 Greenwood Dr., East Greenbush, NY 12061.
Online remembrances may be made at www.burkefuneralhome.com.
