Dr. Richard Edelstein, 90, passed away on March 24, 2022 in Lenox, Massachusetts.
He was born on May 18, 1931 in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Samuel and Ida (Stelling) Edelstein. He married Patricia (Michaud) Edelstein in October 1982, in Cold Spring, New York.
Richard graduated with distinction from Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn in 1948 and, on an academic scholarship, went on to study at Cornell University, graduating in 1952. After serving in the U.S. Army during the Korean conflict, he attended The College of Medicine at George Washington University in Washington D.C. and received his degree in 1958. He spent his career working as a cardiologist in private practice and at Nyack Hospital in Nyack, New York, where he established and led the Coronary Care Unit. After retirement, Richard and Pat moved from Orangeburg, New York to Monterey, Massachusetts.
Richard served as a corporal in the Army and then in the Army Reserve from 1952–1956. An active member of Hevreh in Great Barrington, he was also a prize-winning photographer, a Scrabble champion, an astronomy hobbyist, and an accomplished ukulele player. He volunteered for many years as a docent at the American Museum of Natural History in Manhattan, and later with the Friends of Lake Garfield in Monterey.
Richard is survived by his daughter Roberta (Jim) Mulder, his son Steven (Amy) Edelstein, his daughter Rosalee (Ken) Opengart, his stepson William Michaud, his stepdaughter Debra (Tony) Miller, and his first wife Miriam, who is the mother of his children. He also leaves behind five grandchildren: Rebecca (Luke Santoro) Mulder, Stephanie (Andrew) Shay, Zachary Opengart, Juliana Opengart, and Aliya Opengart. Just days before he passed, he became a great-grandfather with the birth of Benjamin Shay, which absolutely delighted him.
Richard was predeceased by his wife Patricia.
Services: A graveside service will be held Monday, May 9, 2022 at Noon at Corashire Cemetery on Blue Hill Road in Monterey, where Richard will be laid to rest next to his beloved Patricia, followed by a celebration of his life at Koi on State Road in Great Barrington.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made in Richard’s memory to the Lifelong Learners Fund at Hevreh, in care of Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. To send remembrances to the family, please visit the Finnerty & Stevens website.
