Milton “Milt” Portnoy of Monroe passed away peacefully on Sept. 5, 2023. He was 96 years old.

Milt is survived by his companion Hannah, daughter Teresa, son Michael, son-in-law Robert, daughter-in-law Allene, son-in-law Wayne, his grandchildren Joseph, Blake, Simone,and Austen, as well as nieces, nephews, cousins and countless others of extended family.

He was predeceased by his mother Anna, father Joe, brothers William and Herbert, daughter Eleanor and grandson John.

During his lifetime, Milt wore many hats which included serving during World War II as a corporal in the United States Army, driving a New York City Taxi, creating a start-up magazine and working as a salesman for Sears.

A few testaments to Milt’s generosity are the plethora of organizations he supported which included the Audubon Society, the Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the Chabad of Orange County, N.Y.

Milt possessed an unmatched green thumb. Once, after returning from a winter in Florida, he salvaged a snake plant, from a mere frozen leaf and nurtured it back to a sprawling plant.

As a nature lover, he enjoyed watching butterflies flutter around in his garden and visiting wildlife preserves, such as Wakodahatchee, to see all the various species of birds flying in their natural habitat.

He was fiercely independent; driving, cooking, and swimming, even into his 90s.

A few weeks before his death, he had driven two hours into New Jersey to spend the day with friends and had driven back in the same day.

He loved to make sauce and prided himself on his famous salads.

Milt rivaled the comedians of the Borscht Belt with his quick wit, humor, and the funny faces he would make. These traits enabled him to make friends within minutes of meeting any person.

Milt’s long life is testified by the many people he loved and the many he leaves behind who loved him.

A Graveside Service took place on Sunday, Sept. 10, at Mount Hebron Cemetery in Flushing.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made in Milt’s honor to the National World War II Museum, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, Southern Poverty Law Center, the Audubon Society or Chabad of Orange County in Monroe.