Hewlett Harbor's Sydney Engel, successful businessman, 98

Known for his passion and work ethic, Hewlett Harbor resident Sydney Engel had what grandson Jon Weiss called an “urgency not seen today” to accomplish projects and tasks, an attribute that led him to build two successful companies, including one he helped found at age 74.

Engel, who loved his family, always worked until the job was done and was considered one of the most respected and successful real estate developers of his generation, died on Nov. 27. He was 98.

Born in Brooklyn on May 10, 1923, he lived in a household in such dire financial straits that he and his brother, Arthur, shared the one good pair of shoes they had. Even as a young man, Sydney took on leadership roles. He instructed his fellow Army Air Force recruits in the Carolinas on the technical aspects of radar.

“He loved his family. He loved his wife. They were married for 70 years,” Weiss said. “He was relentless. If 17 calls had to be made, he made 17 calls. That’s who he was.”

Weiss recalled a story about his grandfather’s refrigerator, which he had for 30 years. He had paid for a service warranty, and when the unit broke down, he repeatedly called the company. “He got a new one, he called so many times,” his grandson said. “He never stopped. He was relentless, never gave up.”

Engel lost his mother when he was young and his father was alone, so he returned home from the Army in 1942 to care for his father, Louis, who had become ill.

At the same time, he established an insulation company, which he named for his father. His work ethic, along with a reputation he gained for efficiency and job performance, helped him expand the business to include oil burner conversions, roofing and siding.

The company also grew as banks and other lending institutions depended heavily on Engel to upgrade their properties. They referred so much business to him that at one point, 15 salesmen worked in his Brooklyn basement office/apartment, according to family history.

Others took notice as well, including members of the iconic New York families the Mellons and Rockefellers, who hired Engel because of his no-nonsense approach, his ability to stay on schedule and on budget as a general contractor and to deliver what he promised. He flourished, as he often became a partner in the development projects under his construction supervision.

Partnering with Saul Henkind — his first non-family partner — Engel expanded the business for half a century by building nursing homes, office buildings and thousands of rental units across New York and New Jersey.

“He had the most incredible work ethic, and he had a passion — he worked six days a week,” said Scott Burman, a principal of Engel Burman, the real estate development company Engel created in 1997, when he was 74, with Jan Burman, Scott’s father, and Steven Krieger. Working at the firm since 2001, Scott said, he leaned much from Engel, who had a vast knowledge of the industry, and called him “a role model” and an “elder statesman” of real estate.

Engel Burman’s first project was The Bristal Assisted Living Facility at East Meadow. He remained involved, and until his death, he was the firm’s partner in charge, supervising millions of square feet of new construction.

His love for family and professional relentlessness blended when his great-granddaughter Sawyer Weiss was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare form of cancer, three and a half years ago. In the years since, Engel helped raise $2 million for pediatric cancer research.

“He refused to think there wasn’t a way for her to get better,” said Jon Weiss, Sawyer’s father. She eventually recovered. “He stayed with her and let the doctors know he was there,” Weiss said.

“He’ll be missed,” Engel’s grandson added. “He had an impact on the community, his industry, and left his mark on local construction.”
Engel founded a nonprofit hospital in Mo Bay Hope, Jamaica, the island nation he adored, and oversaw the hospital’s construction.

He was awarded the honor of Commander by the Jamaican government for his charitable efforts, and was a board member of the American Friends of Jamaica.

He also served on the boards of the Anti-Defamation League, Hadassah, Franklin General Hospital in Valley Stream (now Long Island Jewish Valley Stream) and Temple Israel in Lawrence.

“It is amazing to me that Sydney, at 74, said he needed more action,” Krieger said, noting that Engel would routinely drive to a New Jersey property at 4 p.m., resolve a problem and return home five hours later. “He was tough as nails, but he was a good man, and philanthropic.”

There was a graveside service for Engel at Pinelawn Memorial Park in Farmingdale on Nov. 30.

Sydney’s wife, Sylvia, died in 2016. They are survived by three children, Robin Rudolph, Cathy Weiss and Dr. Lewis Engel; eight grandchildren, Jon, Scott, Brian, Kimberly, Ashley, Alexander, Nick and Matt; and six great-grandchildren, Dylan, Harper, Sawyer, Liv, Brock and Sasha.