Shirley Hammer Reitman

April 28, 2022

Shirley Hammer Reitman, 93, beloved wife of Seymour Reitman, died April 28, 2022 at their home at Duncaster in Bloomfield, CT. Born in Atlantic City, N.J. on Feb. 2, 1929 to Louis and Sadie Hammer. Shirley and her sister Edith were raised just off the Boardwalk during the city’s heyday. She graduated from Atlantic City High School and secretarial school where she became a whiz at shorthand, a skill she retained all her life. She met her husband Seymour on a blind date after his return from WWII where he served in the Army in Germany, fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. Newly married, they moved to Washington D.C. where Shirley supported Seymour while he was in law school. Over the years they lived in Hartford, Milwaukee, and Fort Wayne, Ind., before returning and settling in the Hartford area, raising three children. Shirley was always socially engaged with a large circle of friends throughout her life. Her many activities included organizing bus trips to New York City and New England. Upon her husband’s retirement in the 1980s, they took up sailing on their boat “Cash Value.” They also traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and internationally. She is survived by her husband Seymour, son Bill, daughter April, grandson Jake, and daughter-in-law Sandra. Shirley was pre-deceased by both her son Larry and her son-in-law Steve in 2011. Our family would like to thank the staff at Duncaster where Seymour continues to receive loving care.