The Last of a Generation

The Passing of Daniel Dube

Danny's 103rd Birthday Portrait

My Great Uncle, Danny passed away Thursday night.  He was 103 years young!  He was an amazing man with a warm smile, a kind heart, a great sense of humor but not a great sense of direction.  We love him and will miss him dearly.

Danny was my Grandmother, Judy's (my mother's mother) brother.  Danny’s father, my great-grandfather Newman Dube, came to America in 1888 at the age of 20 from Russia.  He peddled pots and pans in Wisconsin, and even became involved in boy’s suit manufacturing.  He married and settled in the Boro Park section of Brooklyn.  After Newman's daughter, Lillian, Danny's sister, died from the Spanish flu, Newman gathered his friends and told them that the neighborhood needed a hospital.  They founded Israel Zion Hospital.  Newman was its first president.  Israel Zion is now a 700-bed teaching hospital, Maimonides Medical Center. 

Danny, Newman, Joe and Herbert (in front)

In addition, Newman started a family business, Park Surgical a medical supply and orthopedic fitting business.  His second-to-youngest son, Daniel was there from the beginning.  Oldest son Joseph also joined the business a couple of years later.  During WWII, youngest son Herbert enlisted in the army and Daniel was drafted.  Newman and Joseph kept the business going during the war.  Dan rejoined Park Surgical, bringing with him his experience fitting corsets and prosthetics, which he acquired during the war at Fort Sam Houston. Herbert’s 2 sons Jim and Peter run the business and Jims children and Peter’s wife also work there.  

Peter, Danny and Jimmy clowning around at Danny's 103rd Birthday Party

Up until a few days ago Daniel Dube at 103 years old still walked to work every day at Park Surgical and still fit prosthesis.  “I’ve never been married, I take a tablespoon of cod liver oil daily and I eat lots of wheat bran” is what Daniel Dube attributed his longevity to.  His father, Newman, lived to be 105 years old.  Uncle Danny was never married and had no children, but he had a ton of family who loved him and who will miss him.  He was the last of that generation.

Danny's 103rd Birthday Party with the family

New York Times Obituary:

DUBE--Daniel L., died February 23, 2012 at the age of 103. Son of Newman and Jennie. Brother of Judith Seakwood, Joseph, Irving, Lillian and Herbert Dube. Uncle Dan was the uncle to scores of family members and friends. Dan and his father founded Park Surgical Company of Brooklyn, NY where he worked until the end of his life. He was at the first meeting of Israel Zion Hospital (as a child) which became Maimonides Medical Center of Brooklyn. His father was the founding president. Counselor at Camp Winadu in its inaugural year, trustee of Temple Emanu-el of Boro Park and president of the Boro Park YM-YWHA. Truly the end of an era. He will be sorely missed by everyone who ever met him. Dan was absolutely one of a kind.