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Louis Brechman was born in Williamsburg, New York—a grand old neighborhood of Brooklyn—on Nov. 2, 1916. Louis had fond memories of growing up there with his sisters Thelma and Ruth, and his parents Abraham and Ethel. It’s where he met his many lifelong friends while still in junior high. Louis graduated from Brooklyn College, where he studied geology and considered a career as an optometrist.

Like most men of his generation, his personal plans were interrupted, though, by service to the country in World War II. He had vivid memories of his time serving under General Patton in Morocco and Italy, and had photo albums of his journeys across this country while in training. Louis met his future wife Pearl at the going-away party thrown for him and another neighborhood boy. Through letters and short visits, they nurtured a blossoming romance and were happily married in 1945.

Following the war Louis and Pearl raised three daughters, Delia, Toby, and Linda in East Flatbush, Brooklyn. He and his brother-in-law Dave took over his father’s sweater mill named DelBar for the first-born children of the two men. Happy Sunday mornings were spent with Pearl and his girls listening to the classical music and opera that Louis loved, reading the New York Times, followed by family gatherings with Louis’ parents and his sisters’ families or with Pearl’s family. The extended families were very close and summertime saw them together on road trips to upstate New York, Washington, DC, and Virginia. In the early 70’s Louis and Pearl moved to Belle Harbor in Rockaway, New York, where they lived near Louis’ mother and sister Ruth and brother-in-law Dave, before Pearl died tragically in 1975.

Louis was fortunate to find happiness again and married Belle, gaining another daughter Robin as well. In retirement, Louis and Belle moved to Florida very near daughter Delia, where they enjoyed good friendships at poolside and Louis served his condo community as a director and treasurer of the board. Louis was finally convinced to move to Connecticut to live with daughter Linda and son-in-law Mac a couple of years after Belle died.

Blessed with five grandchildren, Damon, Pamela, Preston, Heather, and Marc, Louis was affectionately known as GG to his great-grandchildren Evan, Joshua, Alexandra, and Colin.

He was often seen playing 500 Rummy or Scrabble with Linda, and with Toby and Delia when they visited from Colorado and Las Vegas. In November Louis celebrated his 100th birthday.

Memorial donations may be made in Louis’ honor to a charity benefiting veterans, such as Paralyzed Veterans of America, Inc., the Wounded Warriors Project, or a similar charitable organization.