Michael Saltzman, beach lover
Michael Robert Saltzman, 71, of Lewes passed away peacefully Thursday, Feb. 7, 2019, at Beebe Healthcare, Lewes. He was born July 19, 1947, in Glen Ridge, N.J., to Sheppard and Etta Saltzman.
He was raised in Caldwell, N.J., graduating from James Caldwell High School in 1965. Michael attended Syracuse University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in business, and met his future wife and loving partner, Fran Saltzman. After earning his MBA at Northeastern University, he went on to a career in government and public service.
Settling in Northern Virginia, first in Alexandria and then Vienna, where he lived for 40 years, he worked as a budget analyst for the United States Department of Energy. There he applied his skills in math and satisfied a love for learning about science and technology. He was a loving and involved father to daughter Erica, and son Dave, cheering at soccer games, attending band concerts, driving to color guard practices, and helping with homework and science fair projects. Always seeking to share his blessings with others, he volunteered his time teaching swimming to special needs children and was a consistent and dedicated blood donor.
Called by a love of the beach and the ocean, Michael and his family had many happy vacations at the beach, most notably in Bethany Beach, where he purchased and fastidiously maintained a condominium at Sea Colony. When he retired, the Delaware shore was an obvious choice.
Settling in Lewes, he began making immediate and important contributions to the community. He served two terms as co-president and one term as treasurer of the Seaside Jewish Community, instituting First Aid/CPR classes and building security measures and working on the initial committee from Seaside to establish the Jewish Film Festival in 2016 in conjunction with the Rehoboth Beach Film Society. He has remained on this committee since that time. He also served his Bay Crossing Community as the chair of the pool committee from 2012-17.
Michael had a lifelong love of swimming, choosing to spend his lunch break and free time clocking countless laps at the pool. He enjoyed the companionship of his beloved dogs throughout his life, treating Benji, Teddy, Kelly, Casey and Brady as the wise and giving family members they were, and was quick to befriend every dog he met. After spending a childhood around his father’s wood and metal shop, he had an intuitive knowledge of how to fix almost anything, and spent many hours tinkering in his basement workshop, building small items and repairing his homes. He’ll be remembered for his warmth, humor, wisdom and deep care and concern for friends and family.
Michael is survived by his wife of 47 years, Fran; daughter Erica Saltzman and her husband Carlos Mochon of Manhattan, N.Y.; son David Saltzman and his wife Stephanie Stanley of Brooklyn, N.Y.’ and his grandchildren, Andrew Mochon and Zoe Saltzman-Stanley.
Memorial services were held at Seaside Jewish Community Sunday, Feb. 10. Michael was a participant and active fundraiser for the ALS Walk For A Cure. Donations can be made in his memory to Seaside Jewish Community or the ALS Association of Greater Philadelphia.
Arrangements by Parsell Funeral Homes & Crematorium, Atkins-Lodge Chapel, Lewes.
Please visit Michael's Life Memorial Webpage and sign his online guestbook at www.parsellfuneralhomes.com.
