Jack Nadelman

Tuesday, December 11th, 2018. The sixth and youngest child of the late Charles and Mary Nadelman, he

was born on January 6, 1924, in New York City, NY, where he lived until moving to Florida in 1984. He is

survived by his wife of 72 years, Rita Nadelman, whom he met at Coney Island after WWII.

Always honest, Jack had a very outgoing personality eagerly engaging folks, and offering to help

whenever he could. Anyone who met Jack would soon have a friend for life.

In his youth Jack was very athletic and enjoyed participating in all types of sports. He attended Seward

Park High School where he was an outstanding basketball player.

Jack was drafted into the US Army in March 1943 where he served as a machine gunner and eventually

rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant (E-6) while fighting in WWII. He was awarded two purple hearts and

two bronze stars for meritorious service having saved several lives while under fire. Jack participated in

the invasion of Europe landing on the beaches of France one day after D-Day. He fought on the front

lines traversing Europe fighting in France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany where he was eventually

captured on October 18, 1944. He served seven months as a German prisoner of war in Stalag 11B in

Falinbasel – no simple feat for a Jew in Nazi Germany. He weighed 116 pounds when liberated.

The bullet wound to his right arm prevented him from ever playing basketball again. He then turned to

coaching and developed from scratch a sports program at New York Institute of Technology (NYIT). He

coached many sports in 19 years at NYIT, but his favorite was basketball and soccer. In addition to

coaching he worked full-time 37 years for the New York City US Postal Service (USPS), worked part time

as an institutional sales rep for a sporting goods store, and attended Long Island University for one year

on a scholarship.

While retired in Florida Jack and Rita lived in Longwood, Clermont, and finally Plant City just a few

houses from his daughter Susan and son-in-law Rob Anders. While in Clermont he and his wife helped

start up the city’s first Jewish synagogue – Temple Sinai, and Jack enjoyed a weekly friendly card game

with fellow congregants. Jack was often found entertaining his family and many friends (and strangers)

by telling many repetitive dad jokes – always resulting in much laughter. He especially enjoyed

entertaining his granddaughter, Beth Cooperman, who was born in May 1985, by taking her to Florida’s

many theme parks and drawing her cartoons. The many other activities he enjoyed included visiting

with family and friends; singing Rodgers and Hammerstein show songs; playing golf; watching sports,

Law and Order and game shows on the TV; and finally, last but not least, eating lasagna at Carrabba’s.

Jack is survived by:

 Rita Nadelman, wife of 72 years

 Susan Anders, daughter

 Beth Cooperman, granddaughter

 Karen Aravich, niece

 David Jacobowitz, nephew

He was preceded in death by:

 Charles Nadelman, father

 Mary Nadelman, mother

 “Baby” Nadelman, brother

 Sam Nadelman, brother

 Fay Tenner, sister

 Edward Nadelman, brother

 Alfred Nedelman, brother

Jack was a great husband, father, grandfather, uncle, and friend, whose passing is a great loss and who

will be dearly missed.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Woodlawn Funeral Home in Gotha, Florida,

located at 400 Woodlawn Cemetery Road, Gotha, Florida 34734.

Celebration of Life service will be Friday, December 14, 2018 at 2:00 PM.

Condolences may be offered at www.woodlawnfuneralhomegotha.com