STAVIS, FRANK

STAVIS, Frank

Frank Stavis, 70, of Beacon Hill Drive, West Hartford, retired president of King Koil Northeast and Jewish community leader, died Saturday, (May 1, 2004) at Hartford Hospital. Born in Revere, MA, he was the son of the late Harold J. and Belle (Benjamin) Stavis. He received a BA degree from Boston University. In 1956 Frank joined the family business, the Blue Bell Mattress Co. in Hartford. As the business grew, he became president of the company, which became part of King Koil. After a 46 year association with the business, he retired in 2002. Frank was active for three decades in the Greater Hartford Jewish Community Center and Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford. He was a past president of the Greater Hartford Jewish Community Center in West Hartford. He was a former Campaign Chairman of the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford. Frank was a past president and former Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford. He was a member of the Board of Directors of the Hebrew Home & Hospital in West Hartford, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. He was also a member of the Board of Directors of the Jewish Federation of Palm Springs, CA. He was a member of Beth El Temple of West Hartford, Tumble Brook Country Club of Bloomfield, and Mission Hills Country Club of Rancho Mirage, CA. Frank coached West Hartford Youth Football for many years. He was the devoted husband of Reeva (Byer) Stavis; beloved father of Robert M. Stavis and his wife, Amy of Larchmont, NY, Susan Rahn and her husband, Eric of Boca Raton, FL, and Patricia Dweck and her husband, Michael of Scarsdale, NY; and cherished grandfather of Adam and David Rahn, Jacob and Samantha Stavis, and Evan, Allison and Nicole Dweck. He was predeceased by a son, Andrew Alan Stavis. Funeral services will be held TODAY at 1:30 p.m. at Beth El Temple, 2626 Albany Avenue, West Hartford with Rabbi James Rosen officiating. Interment will follow in Beth El Temple Cemetery, Avon. A memorial period will be observed at his home, TODAY following the funeral and Wednesday. The memorial period will continue through Friday afternoon at the home of his son, Robert M. Stavis in Larchmont, NY and at the home of his daughter, Susan Rahn in Boca Raton, FL. Memorial contributions may be made to Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford, 333 Bloomfield Ave., West Hartford, CT 06117 or to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 18 North Main St., 3rd Floor, West Hartford, CT 06107. Arrangements are entrusted to Weinstein Mortuary, Hartford. For further information, directions, or to share a remembrance of Frank with his family please visit online at www.weinsteinmortuary.com.