Leon Crystal

Kingston- Leon Crystal of Merritt Ave. died Sunday, November 14, 2004 at Kingston Hospital. He was 79. He was born December 11, 1924 in Kingston, a son of the late Maurice and Eva Cohen Crystal. Mr. Crystal was raised on the Crystal Family Farm on Salem St. in Port Ewen. He attended #13 Elementary School in Port Ewen, Kingston High School and the Utility Engineering Institute in Chicago. He was a WW II veteran of the army serving in the Philippines with Company C of the 780th. Amphibious Tank Battalion. He was a member and former board member of Congregation Agudas Achim, served on the United Jewish Appeal, a former board member of the Jewish Community Center and a member of Bnai Brith, Zephiniah Lodge. He was a life member of American Legion Post #1298, Port Ewen, Jewish War Veterans # 625, Poughkeepsie and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5086, Hurley. He also belonged to the Mason’s Lodge, #10 and it’s Craftsmen’s Club, the Elks Lodge, #550 and AARP. He was an avid bowler. He served as an advisor to Upsilon Lambda Phi, and fraternity for Jewish teenagers during the 1950’s. An automotive mechanic, Mr. Crystal had worked for the former Jack Hayes Lincoln Mercury, DeMicco Motors, Gem Cadillac Oldsmobile, Prestige Cadillac. He was also a machinist for Ferraro’s Bowlerama. On November 28, 1971 he married Shirley Sucknowitch Crystal who survives at home. Also surviving are his son, Rabbi Moshe Crystal and his wife, Charna and three grandchildren Nosson Tzvi, Chava Gittel, Miriam Nachama of Queens, three brothers, Philip of Las Cruces, NM, Israel of San Jacinto, CA, David of Liberty and a sister, Helen Glater of New London, CT. A sister, Mabel Land died previously. Many nieces nephews and great-nieces and nephews also survive. Funeral services will be conducted on Tuesday at 1:00 pm at Simpson-Gaus Funeral Home, 411 Albany Ave., Kingston by Rabbi Y. Yitzchok Hecht. Burial will follow in Montrepose Cemtery. The family will sit shiva at the residence on Tuesday, Wednesday and thru noontime on Thursday. Shiva will continue on Thursday evening at the home of Rabbi Crystal in Queens. Memorial contributions may be directed to Congrgation Agudas Achim, 254 Lucas Ave., Kingston, NY 12401 or the Upstate NY N.C.S. Y., 11 Broadway, 14th. Floor, New York, NY 10004.