Harold Goldstein

Harold Sylvan Goldstein, 91, died on Sunday, July 22, 2018.  Harold (Goldy) was born on October 23, 1926, to the late Samuel and Dora Schwartz Goldstein in Missouri Valley, Iowa.  He grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, with his parents & older sister, Frances.  He enlisted in the Navy in 1943 until 1946.  He attended Georgia Tech in Atlanta, Georgia & graduated with a Bachelor of Science & Bachelor of Architecture degrees. Harold met his future wife, Dorothy Finkelstein, when they were 10 years old.  (There was some story about them playing “spin the bottle” at a party.) They grew up together in Nashville, fell in love, & married on Dec. 28, 1947.  They moved to Atlanta, Georgia & then Houston, Texas to begin to build their life of 59 years together.  They added to the population of Houston by having five wonderful children, Sharon, Robbie, Mitchell, Adele & Barbara.They had a very active social life, going out monthly with “The Dance Group, “ which consisted of Shirley & Bill Loeser, Beverly & Israel Wuntch, Milton & Bebe Herzog, & Harold & Dorothy. Dancing their way across Houston, from the Shamrock Hilton to the Petroleum Club, they all enjoyed each other’s company for about 30 years. Even after they stopped dancing together, they remained life-long friends.  Harold became an accomplished architect in Houston as a partner in the Klein Partnership, Falick/Klein Partnership, and then opening his own firm, HSG.  Through the years, his wife & children were so proud of him as he helped change the face of Houston & the Jewish Community, as he worked on many projects, too many to list.  A few are: Palm Center, 2016 Main Apt. House, Houston House Apt., Temple Beth Israel, The Jewish Community Center, Goldberg Towers Senior Citizen Apt., Savoy Field Hotel, Braeswood Shopping Center, Weingarten Shopping Centers, Seven Acres, Jewish Home for the Aged, The Hippo House, Small Mammal House & Reptile House at the Houston Zoo.Bowling and fishing were Harold’s passions. He was a member of the Ramblers Bowling Team in the B’nai Brith Men’s League. Tuesday was bowling night, well into his 70’s. He went fishing every chance he got, much to the chagrin of his wife & children.  One of the highlights of his life was a fishing trip to Cuba & he loved relaxing as he fished in the pond behind his house in Memorial for almost 40 years.  Thank you to Eric Swithin for creating Camp Goldy, which took senior men for a weekend of fishing & camaraderie over the past few years.Harold & Dorothy were long time members of Congregation Emanu El.  He was committed to serving his community and was involved in many organizations such as B’nai Brith Memorial Lodge (President), B’nai Brith Council, Masonic Order-Temple #4, Scottish Rite, Shrine-Arabic Temple, Houston Chapter of American Institute of Architects, Chamber of Commerce, Committee on Aging/Trims, Emanu El Religious School Committee (Chairman), Emanu El Board, Rotary Boys Club, Greater Houston GA. Tech Alumni Association, (President), the Boys and Girls Club of Houston, Flyfishers Club of Houston, Houston Couples  Lion’s Club, Memorial Rotary Club, River Oaks Rotary Club, and was a present member of the Galleria/River Oaks Rotary Club.  Goldy was also a long time & current member of the Houston Community Service Club. For over 20 years he was instrumental in organizing and raising funds for HCSC for Turkey Baskets to be given out each Thanksgiving to students & families at the Sharon G. Halpin Early Childhood Center, an HISD school in Southwest Houston named after his deceased daughter, Sharon.Family was the most important thing to Harold and Dorothy. They loved their 5 children and Harold worked hard to provide for them his entire life.  He was ecstatic when each of his 10 grandchildren was born and even more proud as he became the great grandfather of 7.The family would like to thank Viola Kaplan, (of blessed memory) & Sharon Martin, special & caring friends who looked out for him at Lamar Towers. We would also like to thank the staff and residents at the Village of Meyerland where Harold lived for the past 3 years.  A most special thank you to Grace Austin, his caretaker of 8 years , who loved him & cared for him as if he was a member of her own family.Harold is preceded in death by his wife, Dorothy Goldstein & his daughter, Sharon Halpin.  He is survived by his children, Robbie & Stephen Moskowitz, Mitchell Goldstein & Susan Schiffer, Adele & Jay Scherotter,  Barbara & Steve Walling, Steven & Phyllis Halpin, his Grandchildren, Jennifer & Matt Long, Stephanie & Geoffrey Camp, Lauren & Emerson Yenokida, Geoffrey & Katie Moskowitz, Alyssa Moskowitz, Samuel Goldstein, Leah & Sach Kirpalani, Nathan Scherotter, Sarah Walling & David Walling, & his Great Grandchildren, Larkin & Layne Long, Truman & Audrey Camp, Alexandra & Anderson Yenokida, & Ethan Moskowitz.  He is also survived by his sister, Frances Kaminitz & his nieces and nephews, Susan & Bob Schlein, Marian Kaminitz, Gerald & Ginny Kaminitz.Harold was a kind and sweet man who always had a smile on his face. He was a loving husband, father, and friend.  His family will miss him very much & we will work hard to make sure that generations to come will know of him & his legacy.Those wishing to make a memorial contribution may do so to Halpin PTO. at The Halpin Early Childhood Center, 10901 Sandpiper Dr., Houston, Texas, 77096.Funeral services will be held on Thursday, July 26, at 10:00 a.m. in the Kagan-Rudy Chapel at Emanu El Memorial Park, 8341 Bissonnet, Houston Texas 77074. Rabbi Josh Fixler will officiate.