Saul Rosenbaum

Date: Monday, February 8, 2021

Time: 12:00pm

Location: Isaiah Chapel

Cemetery: Mount Ararat Cemetery

Saul Rosenbaum, age 91, passed away peacefully at home on February 5, 2021, the month of his birth. Saul was the wise, kind, generous and admired patriarch of a large extended family. A devoted husband to Betty for 68 years, he was a loving father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, cousin and mentor, and a friend to many around the world. Saul grew up in New York City’s East New York, a vibrant community of recent immigrants escaping persecution in Poland and Europe and seeking a new life in America. His father, Abraham, worked seven years in New York and New Jersey, putting aside enough money to bring his wife Rose (Erlichman) Rosenbaum, and children Lillian, Mac and Sarah to the U.S. Saul was born to Abraham and Rose a little more than a year after the family was reunited in New York City. An excellent student, Saul was voted class president and was a member of the honor society at East New York Vocational High School in Brooklyn. His high school yearbook lists his career plan as “electrical engineer.” He soon began working earnestly in that field and it was one in which he excelled for decades. Following graduation from high school, Saul enrolled in the United States Navy. He was recruited for training in the burgeoning electronics field. He remained stateside, primarily in Texas, repairing and maintaining radar equipment and other developing technologies. Following his honorable discharge, Saul started a TV repair business with dear friend Harold Kriegsfeld. At a dance event one evening, he met and quickly fell in love with the beautiful Betty Zaffe (Rosenbaum). Saul and Betty shared a loving bond of marriage for over 68 years. Saul accepted a position with Leviton Manufacturing Company, first in the test lab and then in electronics research and development. He rose from a bench technician to Engineer, Chief Engineer, Research Director, and Vice President of Research. He had a knack for analyzing and solving problems, as well as listening and incorporating the ideas of others. Saul and his team developed and improved scores of innovative electronic products. He held more than 40 patents as an inventor, ranging from dimmer switches, remote and voice command modules, and the earliest home automation systems. The Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI), one of his patented products, is a ubiquitous and widely adopted safety product. It has saved thousands of people from potential electrocution in homes, offices and construction sites worldwide. Saul even commuted to work for a time in the late 1970’s in a prototype electric car, as part of a groundbreaking U.S. Department of Energy study. Saul participated in numerous standard-setting panels and international conferences designed to coordinate international protocols for electronic products. He served on and chaired the Home Automation Association System Board of Directors of the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) and was recognized for his years of service to the National Electrical Code (NEC) and the National Fire Prevention Association (NFPA). He also enjoyed nurturing young talent at work and while representing Leviton in MIT’s Business Innovation partner program. Saul traveled internationally for Leviton throughout his career and was part of American Airlines’ first VIP recognition program, earning the designation of Admiral of the Flagship Fleet. Saul and Betty had the good fortune of often traveling together through those years, and they built relationships and friendships that lasted throughout their lives. They frequently attended synagogue services during their travels, including while in Japan, Russia, Australia and Israel. Saul worked for Leviton Mfg. Co. for more than forty years. The family wishes to extend their admiration and great appreciation, posthumously, to Harold and Shirley Leviton, and to the entire Leviton family and community. Saul and Betty’s East Meadow home was a loving gathering place for family and friends. For decades, they hosted lively Rosh Hashanah dinners with their dearest friends, the Goldstein family. Their treasured Passover seders welcomed visitors and eclectic guests as well as loving family and friends. Saul and Betty were long-time members of the East Meadow Jewish Center, Temple Emanu-El of East Meadow and Temple Shaaray Tefila in New York City. The entire family wishes to extend great thanks for the spiritual home these synagogues have provided. Saul is survived by the couple’s three children – Marcy Rosenbaum (Barry Nierenberg), Marty Rosenbaum and Loryn Zangwill (Steven). Saul was a devoted and loving grandfather to Jesse Rosenbaum (Heather), Andy Rosenbaum, Ariel Livovich (Jacob, Faye and Aubrey) and Jami Zangwill, and great-grandfather to Jordyn Blanche Rosenbaum. He was a deeply-loved “grandfather across the street” to Jason Reminick (Carole and Jules), Sean Reminick (Nicole) and Alex Reminick (Jennifer), children of the couple’s cherished friends Jill and Marty Reminick. Saul courageously fought Parkinson’s Disease in recent years. He was a favorite among the staff at the Mt. Sinai Beth Israel Movement Disorders clinic, keeping his strength and mobility years beyond expectations. For more than 20 years, he and Betty were regulars at the Parkinson’s Center at the New York Institute of Technology in Old Westbury. He spent many hours with Marsha’s speech group, in physical therapy with Jack, and participating in Rock Steady Boxing. His family wishes to extend great thanks to Dr. Susan Bressman, Dr. Adena Leder, Sim Basta, and many others for the excellent medical and supportive services they provided. Saul and the family also wish to extend special gratitude and thanks to their skilled and devoted aides who assisted Saul in recent years, including Ivy, Merline, Yami, Anne, Sandra and Loraine. Their warm, funny and thoughtful recollections of their time spent with Saul are of great comfort to the family. There will be a private indoor service at Star of David Chapel on Monday, February 8, 2021 followed by a graveside service at Mount Ararat cemetery. Due to health precautions, the shiva will be private. The family will share details of future memorials or events that will be held in Saul’s honor. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations honoring Saul’s life and legacy be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research: https://www.michaeljfox.org/donate Memorial donations may also be made to the Educational Activities Scholarship Fund of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) https://www.ieeefoundation.org/how-to-give/tribute-giving which provides need based scholarships for students wishing to learn more about engineering and technology through IEEE’s TryEngineering Summer Institutes

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