Obituary of Harold Taback

Harold Joel “Hal” Taback Hal was born August 1, 1931 in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania to Albert and Freda Taback. Hal was raised as an only child in Kittanning, PA where he excelled in academics and was also his high school’s quarterback. Hal received an ROTC scholarship to the University of Rochester where he achieved his Bachelor’s Degree in Engineering and played football as well. Upon graduation, Hal married his first wife, Lou Ann Taback, just before sailing around Cape Horn, serving as an officer in the US Navy. After his service, he started his family while studying for his Master’s Degree in Engineering at Princeton University. Hal landed his first job in 1958 as a rocket designer at Aerojet General in Sacramento, California, where he raised his three children, Philip, Dori and Robin. Hal’s professional focus over the years turned from aerospace to the defense industry, and later to air quality management as an Environmental Engineer. After a relocation to Southern California, Hal met and eventually married Joyce Mann in 1981 with whom he shared a loving relationship for well over 40 years. With many shared adventures, together, they would spread joy wherever they went and blended their families with unconditional love which included Joyce’s son, Dave Mann. Hal held a deep commitment to the Jewish people, their values and their traditions. His strong Jewish identity and support of Zionism was passed down to his daughters who both chose to raise their children in Israel. Dori Taback-Hazan, married Haim Hazan, and settled in Ashkelon, Israel, where they raised three of Hal’s grandchildren, Tzion, Reenat and Dahna. His youngest daughter, Robin, also made Aliyah to Israel with her husband, Yonatan Ariel, where they had planned to raise their two sons, Ben and Shalev. Tragically, Robin predeceased Hal in 1992 after a brief battle with breast cancer, leaving two young boys to Yonatans care. Since then, Hal and Joyce’s commitment to family brought them to Israel yearly over 30 times. Not only was it important for them to bond with all five of their Israeli grandchildren, the visits gave Hal a chance to develop professional contacts, resulting in his involvement in air quality management in Israel. Hal loved listening to jazz music, a passion that his loved ones and friends all appreciated and learned from him. Philip, Hal’s first born, shared his father’s love for music and excelled as a musician, playing the Oboe, Saxophone, and Piano. Philip, sadly, predeceased Hal in 2020. Hal was integral in the raising of Joyce’s son Dave and they later followed Dave along with his wife Jodi, and their two daughters, Lauren and Ellie Robin to Carlsbad, California. In 2015, Hal relocated again with Joyce, following Dave’s family to the Denver area in order to enjoy his final years. The fact that Dave and Jodi named their daughter after Hal’s late daughter is testimony to the strong family bond created through Hal’s union with Joyce. Hal’s brother-in-law and sister-in-law, Larry and Angie Krom and their two sons Greg and Erik, who reside in the Denver area, were also very close to Hal and appreciated, among many attributes, his ability to spin incredible limericks!! Hal was an avid tennis player and conversationalist (especially about Israel and politics). He loved to play Bridge and more recently Rummikub and Gin Rummy, most often prevailing over all comers! Hal Taback won most in the game of life! He was truly a great man, a mentor to his family, and a role model for inspiring us to work hard, act ethically, and maintain integrity. Hal, Dad, Saba, Uncle, you will be missed by us all, but will remain forever in our hearts! Private committal service, Thursday, Jan. 27th, 9:15am, public livestream will be available on Feldman Mortuary's YouTube Channel. A public memorial service will follow at 11:00am, Temple Sinai and will also be streamed live available on Temple Sinai's website.