Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home

Age 94
Birthplace New York City, New York
Resident of Rockland, Maine
Funeral Service
Twelve-Thirty in the Afternoon
Friday, September 20, 2002
Adas Yoshuron Synagogue
Interment
Berliawsky-Small Cemetery
Rockland, Maine
ROCKLAND - Harry L. Isikoff, 94, died Tuesday, September 17, 2002 at a Winterport health care facility.
The oldest surviving child of Nathan & Rose Kahn Isikoff, he was born July 22, 1908 in New York City. Orphaned at the age of 11, Harry basically grew up on his own. At 16, he hitchhiked to Missouri to attend the University of Missouri. After one year he transferred to University of Oklahoma, before returning to New York where he worked at assorted jobs.
In the early thirties, Harry attended George Washington University Law School nights, graduating with a degree in law in 1938. His wife, Sylvia Bonnett, was also a member of his graduating class.
Harry went on to work with the U. S. Dept. of Agriculture, where he was involved with creating the original food stamp program.
During World War II, he joined the war effort, serving with U. N. Relief as a Lt. Colonel. While serving in England, he followed the forces to Germany, setting up facilities and programs for war refuges.
After the war, he briefly practiced law, before moving on to the real estate business. He first worked with Leo Bernstein and later established his own office in Washington, D.C. He was proud to have been a friend and business associate of Abe Poulin, owner of basketball and hockey teams in the Washington area. Harry retired in the early 1970s.
Following retirement, he briefly resided in Israel, but returned home due to his inability to learn conversational Hebrew, in spite of fluency in five languages.
A longtime supporter of Israel and the Democratic party, he donated to many candidates and campaigns. He attended the National Democratic Conventions in 1956 and 1964.
His greatest pleasure was reading. He kept up on the topic of the day and regularly read politics, biographies, literature and Jewish subjects. Harry traveled to five continents, (all except Antarctica), concluding his trip around the globe in the late 1970s. He also was a regular at the local gym from age 75 to 90. Mr. & Mrs. Isikoff resided in Washington, DC and later in Florida. Following Mrs. Isikoff's death, Harry lived alone until moving to Maine at age 90, to be near his son.
Mr. Isikoff was predeceased by his wife of 17 years, Faye Engleberg Isikoff and siblings, Morris Isikoff, Sol Isikoff and Doris Isikoff Silverberg. Surviving are three sons, Nathan R. Isikoff and his wife Susan of Washington and New York City, Michael B. Isikoff and his wife Sharon of Titusville, Florida, Donald A. Isikoff of Rockport; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren, soon to be six and his first wife, Sylvia Bonnett Gorman of Coconut Creek, Florida.
A Funeral service was held Friday, at the Adas Yoshuron Synagogue, Willow Street, Rockland. Interment followed at Berliawsky-Small Cemetery, Rockland.
Memorial donations are suggested to either the Rabbinic Fund at Congregation Adas Yoshuron, POB 1250, Rockland, Maine 04841 or the Mojan David.
Arrangements are with Burpee, Carpenter & Hutchins Funeral Home, 110 Limerock Street, Rockland.
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