HAGER, Rabbi Emil
Rabbi Emil Hager, 73, of Bloomfield, beloved husband for 41 years of Karen Ann (Halpern) Hager, passed away on Wednesday, (December 29, 2010), at St. Francis Hospital. Born in Vienna, Austria on July 1, 1937, son of the late Jakob and Regina (Bier) Hager, he had immigrated to Canada as a young man at the conclusion of World War II. After graduating from McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada, Emil moved to Manhattan, NY and began his career as a teacher at a Hebrew day school and as a cantor at the Fort Lee Jewish Center in New Jersey. During that time, he continued his education at Columbia University and graduated with an MBA in Finance. After working in business for a short time, Emil decided to continue to pursue his passion as a cantor. He served several congregations in Connecticut, Delaware and Massachusetts as a cantor and as a teacher. He continued his cantorial studies at the Jewish Theological Seminary in New York and then obtained his Rabbinic Ordination from the Tifereth Yisrael Rabbinical Yeshiva in New York. After being ordained as rabbi in 1999 he served congregations in New Britain and in Torrington. He also worked as a chaplain at Connecticut Valley Hospital in Middletown and at Jewish Family Services in West Hartford. Most of all, Emil will be remembered for his love of people, teaching and singing prayers. Besides his wife, he leaves a son, Jeremy Ian Hager and his wife Rachel Isaac of Brooklyn, NY; a daughter, Laurie Rebecca Hager and her husband Jason Eric Frick of Portland, OR; three grandchildren whom he loved dearly, Cora Chaya Frick, Abraham Frick, and Sophie Nidea Isaac Hager; a sister-in-law, Judith Hager of Brooklyn, NY; and a niece, Rachel Hager of NY, NY. He was predeceased by his brother, Adi Hager. A funeral service will be held on Sunday, (January 2, 2010) 9 a.m., in the chapel of the Carmon Windsor Funeral Home, 807 Bloomfield Ave., Windsor. Burial will follow in Beth David Cemetery, Elmont, NY. His family will observe a memorial period at their home on Monday, January 3rd and on Tuesday, (January 4, 2010) from 4-8 p.m. with a Shiva Minion at 7 p.m. Memorial donations may be made to the Hebrew Health Care, ATTN: Adult Day Center, 1 Abrahms Blvd., West Hartford, CT 06117. For online condolences please visit, www.carmonfuneralhome.com.