In memory of Abraham Slamowitz

“I put my hand on his heart and felt the beats beneath it, felt the chest rise and fall with every breath, felt the warmth of his body beneath my hand. I felt life; it was in my grip. But, it wasn’t real. It was a mask of medicines and machines, hiding the inevitable, sustaining the life of my father.”

On Jan. 12, the world lost a wonderful husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin, friend and mentor.

Abraham Slamowitz was a model individual. In Oceanside, he was well known for his professional photography, capturing every moment on film: weddings, school photos, town events, scenery. Every person he met can say that they have been changed because they knew Abe. He went out of his way for everyone he encountered, and cared about every last one with all of his heart.

His childhood was rough, riddled with defeats and challenges. Abe immigrated from Israel to the United States in his early teens, faced a language barrier, and the threat of polio in his right leg. Forced into a wheelchair and into a lower grade level, Abe jumped every hurdle life threw at him, and eventually made his way to a full scholarship at York College in New York, studying law and photography.

His professional photography company skyrocketed from there as he began getting gigs around town, and culminated with the opening of his own businesses, Long Beach Photo and Austin Photo in Rockville Centre. He was married and had two children, who are pursuing their college education in New York State schools.

The morning of Jan. 9 was a stormy one, with a weather forecast full of freezing rain, hail and snow. And for once, the weatherman was correct. Abe went to take out the trash and fell on the front porch of his house, slipping on the ice that had collected on it and hitting his head. The ambulances were called immediately.

At the hospital, Abe was rushed into surgery for two subdural hematomas and swelling of the brain. The blood clots were removed successfully, but the brain swelling was extensive, leading to the crushing of his brain stem, “the seed of consciousness.” The doctors insisted there was no hope, and told the family they should say their goodbyes.