Max Samuel Orenstein

Redondo Beach, Calif. - Max S. Orenstein, 94, passed away peacefully at his home in Redondo Beach, Calif., on July 14, 2018. Max was the last surviving son of the late Phillip and Fannie (nee Cohen) Orenstein.
Max was born on Nov. 16, 1923, and grew up in Montville. He graduated from NFA, Class of 1941, and in 1942 was drafted into the U.S. Army Air Corps (now the U.S. Air Force). He rose to the rank of master sergeant. He served the majority of his time, from 1942 to 1946, in the South Pacific. Max always remained proud of his service and spoke of it often.
Returning to Montville after the war, he opened a small car repair service. In 1947, he met Janet Schwartz and they were married in 1948. Janet predeceased Max in 2014, after almost 66 wonderful years of marriage. Max and his brothers, Yale and George, eventually opened Yale's Auto Salvage, Inc. in New London, and then moved the business to the family farm in Montville. Max retired in the 1990s.
He and Janet raised eight children in New London and Old Mystic, and they retired to their beach house on Latimer Point in Stonington. Max loved playing cards, but his true passion was the water, and he owned and enjoyed his Boston Whaler into his late 80s.
He was a longtime member of Beth El Synagogue, and saw all of his children graduate from college. He had many fishing and poker buddies and loved to 'kibbutz' with them. He enjoyed restoring cars, learned to ski in his 40s, and made new friends wherever he went. He was always interested in the lives of anyone who had the good fortune of meeting him and he was loved deeply by his family.
In 2012, Max and Janet moved a final time to Southern California. He enjoyed the beautiful weather, walking along the beach every day, and being near grandchildren.
Max leaves behind his eight children, Sandra Rich (Neil), Eleanor Mezer (Harry), Harry (Ellen), Zelda, Phyllis Bresler (Sidney), Shelley (Aaron), Fern, and Gail (Robert), 16 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren, along with many nieces and nephews.
A service for Max was held on July 18 at Hillside Memorial Jewish Cemetery in Los Angeles.
Donations may be sent in Max's honor to Redondo Beach Veterans Memorial, City of Redondo Beach Cashiers Office, 415 Diamond St., Redondo Beach, CA 90277.