Isaac “Yits” Kantrowitz was a Woodridge native who made a lasting impact on his community and Sullivan County.

He passed away on Thursday, April 1 at the age of 88.

Unfortunately, in August of 2016, he was involved in a serious car accident, which claimed the lives of two teenagers and resulted in Mr. Kantrowitz being convicted last month to Reckless Driving, charged a $1,000 fine and the permanent revocation of his license.

This article explores Mr. Kantrowitz's tremendous contributions to many Sullivan County communities as seen through the eyes of his family, friends and colleagues.

Woodridge — Isaac “Yits” Kantrowitz, well-known public servant and retired businessman, passed away on Thursday, April 1. He was 88 years of age.

The son of the late Nathan and Bertha (Goldstone) Kantrowitz, he was born on January 13, 1933 in Woodridge.

It was a place “Yits” would call home for the rest of his life.

His wife of 68 years, Gloria, said her husband was “A good, kind man who loved to make people smile.”

Woodridge Village Mayor and lifelong friend Joan Collins couldn't agree more.

“You couldn't be in the same room with Yits for two minutes without him lighting it up,” Collins said. “He was so kind and compassionate.

“His number one attribute was his sense of humor,” she said. “He could always ease a difficult situation.”

To say Yits loved his community - and Sullivan County - would be an understatement.

He owned Yits Service Center in Fallsburg for 18 years and was also elected to serve on the Woodridge Village Board as well as the Village Justice.

He also was elected Town of Fallsburg Judge, serving 29 years in that position and once was employed by the Town of Fallsburg Highway Dept.

“The way he treated people… how he adjudicated cases and how he treated his family and friends was the best,” Collins said.

Fellow firefighter and long-time friend Jack Halchak praised Yits' dedication to the fire service.

“He lived for firematics,” Halchak, himself a Sullivan County Deputy Fire Coordinator and Hurleyville fireman, said. “Yits and I, along with our wives, Gloria and Mary, would sit together at many firemen's dinners and I had the honor of presenting many awards to fellow firemen alongside Yits.”

Gloria said Yits often spoke before the assemblage and would hand out some good-natured barbs during his speeches.

“And after almost every dinner, people would come up to Yits and say, ‘You didn't pick on me tonight,'”Gloria remembered. “They all loved when Yits talked about them.”

Halchak said, “Yits served as the Chaplain for the Sullivan County Volunteer Firefighters Assn. and was a fireman at heart, he loved what he did.”

Yits also served as chaplain of the Woodridge and Woodbourne Fire Departments.

Halchak remembered Yits running a Fire Police Seminar for the Hudson Valley Firemen's Assn. when Nelson “Nellie” Durland was president.

“Yits was one of our main speakers and did an outstanding job,” Halchak said.

Sullivan County Fire Coordinator John Hauschild said, “I served on the Board of Directors alongside Yits and he was very supportive of firematics. His heart was in the fire service.”

Sullivan County Historian, John Conway knew Yits almost all of his adult life.

“Yits was my best friend for 40 years, and was the kindest and most generous man I have ever known. He also served as Town of Fallsburg Historian for several years beginning in 2016, and while he was not a formally educated historian, he was passionate about history and was particularly adept at recalling information about the many businesses that made up the thriving village of Woodridge and the hamlet of Fallsburg during the county's heyday.

“He was extremely generous with his time and never tired of trying to help people in their quest for information, no matter how trivial it might seem, because he knew it was important to them,” Conway added.

Family Man

Gloria said that family was everything to Yits.

“He had adoring grandchildren and he was adored by his children,” she said. “He was their mentor and friend.”

Gloria and Yits have three children: Debi Levine and her husband, Charlie, of Monticello; Karen Billig and her husband, Jacob, of Glen Wild; and Beth Sheindlin and her husband, Ben, of Brookline, MA.

They also have five grandchildren: Meredith and Jesse Levine, Emily and Austin Billig and Lily Sheindlin.

At the end

Yits died on April 1, 2021 at Garnet Medical Center in Harris.

“The hospital staff was so wonderful to Yits and our family during his passing,” Gloria said.

Given Yits' good nature, great sense of humor and many pranks, Gloria said it was almost fitting he died on April Fools Day.

“He would have liked that,” she said.

In June of 2019, Yits was involved in a terrible car crash on Glen Wild Rd., when he struck and killed two teens.

“He died in that accident,” Gloria said. “He gave up everything he loved.”

In the 20 months following the accident Gloria said Yits lost 45 lbs. and was consumed in anguish.

The trial ended just a week before Yits died, on March 25.

A graveside service was held on Friday, April 2, at Congregation Ohave Sha­lom, Glen Wild, NY. Rabbi Chanowitz and Rabbi Grossman officiated.

“A piece of Woodridge is gone,” Mayor Joan Collins said. “And a piece of our hearts.”