Obituaries

Jay Jeffrey Reichenthal, 80, passed away peacefully on October 18, 2023, in Boca Raton, Florida, after a brief illness. Jay was born on February 12, 1943 in the Bronx borough of New York City to parents Abraham and Frieda Reichenthal. He began serving in the U.S. Army Reserve in 1962, rising to the rank of Sergeant (E-5), until his honorable discharge in 1968. At that time, he found his calling as a leader in health services, becoming Supervisor of Medical Labs at Montefiore Hospital and Medical Center. In the early 1970s, Jay left the Bronx, moving to Los Angeles, California, where he studied Healthcare Administration at Cal State University at Northridge. He soon became a fixture within administration leadership at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, serving as Director of Medical/Surgical Services, where he worked for 30 years until his retirement in 2006. Jay maintained a lifelong passion for classic cars and competitively drag racing at Los Angeles County Raceway, where he became “Track Champion” in 2000 behind the wheel of his 2000 Pontiac Firebird V8. Over decades of racing, his well-known “OM CAR” license plate was inspired by the multiple spiritual journeys he took to India. Upon retirement, he moved to Lititz, Pennsylvania, continuing to drag race at Maple Grove Raceway where he was “Class Winner” in 2012 behind the wheel of his 2012 Ford Mustang GT. In 2016, he arrived at his ultimate retirement destination in Boca Raton, Florida. Jay will be remembered for his good humor, love for family and friends, steadfast support of Penn State football, delight in Doo-wop music, pride in his Jewish faith, undisputed reliability and trustworthiness. He is survived by his loving wife Marilyn Goldman, his son David Reichenthal, his grandchildren: Samuel Reichenthal, Erin and Ryan Symonds, Kelly, Oliver & Eve Goldman, his great-grandchildren Theodore and Zoey Reichenthal, Jane Symonds and Eva Cerda Symonds, his daughter-in-law Lillian Reichenthal, and step-son & step-daughter Eric and Kimberly Goldman. He was predeceased by his sister Susan Morris.