Adored family man and friend remembered

When Beatrice Orzac’s friend set her up on a blind date she was reluctant to go but once she laid eyes on Ed Orzac, a clean cut gentleman, the two were married on July 18, 1948 and their adventures as a couple began.

Orzac, a Hewlett Harbor resident who died on Dec. 9, was the founder of the Valley Stream-based Franklin Medical Center. He travelled around the world with his wife while working in various medical clinics in India and Kabul, Afghanistan in 1973. “I was terrified to go but I had such confidence in my husband,” Beatrice said.

For more than 20 years, Orzac lived and worked in India for several months a year, teaching at Kasturba Medical School in Manipal, India. He also taught at NYU’s Graduate School of Medicine, Stony Brook Medical School and Adelphi, St. John’s and Hofstra universities.

When Orzac decided to open the hospital in 1963, he was extremely dedicated to serving the community, according to Beatrice. “He could have built a private hospital but he wanted to make it for the community,” she said. “The biggest mark he left behind is the hospital.”

Although, Orzac has been honored by the Boy Scouts of America, City of Chicago and the UJA-Federation of New York, and received a Bronze Star after serving in World War II, his biggest accomplishment was his family. “He always put family first but never himself,” Beatrice said.

Orzac and Beatrice had three daughters Caroline, Virginia Elizabeth.

Almost 23 years ago when Caroline, a Chicago resident, got married and gave birth to her daughter, Elisa, she emulated her father’s way of parenting. “I tried to open up the world, not just by saying but by doing,” she said. “He always said we chose the right parents but they chose us.”

Though Caroline remembers her father was not thrilled when she wanted to become a lawyer, he later changed his mind and ending up paying for law school. “He encouraged me to get my master’s in business administration and my sisters have doctorates,” she said. “He was definitely an educator as he got a master’s in history 36 years after he became a doctor. Education is a lifelong journey.”

Judge Arthur Spatt met Orzac more than 25 years ago and considers him one of the best friends he’s ever had. “He was one of the finest men I’ve ever known,” Spatt said. “He was caring, considerate and bright as can be. He was a wonderful host when he had [my wife and I] as guests.”

A member of the Seawane Club in Hewlett Harbor, Orzac invited Spatt to attend the country club with his wife, Dorothy. “As we pulled up [Orzac] was in the front door welcoming us,” Spatt said. “He was so friendly, caring and smart. He was just a delightful guy.”

Beatrice has been involved with the Center for Adult Life Enrichment (formerly the Five Towns Senior Center) for the past 30 years and also continues to pursue playing the violin, a longtime passion of hers, in the South Shore Symphony. “I’ve been playing the violin since I was 8,” she said. “It makes me feel good and I like doing it.”

And though Beatrice will continue to occupy her time with those interests, she will certainly miss her companion. “We had a wonderful marriage and we balanced each other,” she said.

“He adored my mother,” Caroline chimed in. “I adored him.”