Herman M. Goldstein

Herman passed away in South Nassau, New York on May 30, 2024 surrounded by loved ones.  Herman spent his final year optimistically battling lung cancer and its complications. Herman was 76 years young.
Herman grew up in Queens, New York and was the son of the late Nathan Goldstein and Dorothy (Federman) Goldstein. After graduating from City College with his Bachelor’s Degree, he earned a Master’s Degree in Social Work from Adelphi University.  Herman spent his 40 year career helping those battling chemical dependency, while himself being a constant student of humanity and compassion. Herman started his Social Work career as the Director of Youth Services at Tempo Group in Woodmere. At Tempo he not only significantly impacted “his kids’” trajectories (some of whom he still had contact with to this day), but also made many of his closest lifelong friends, who became family to him. He later served as Program and Clinical Directors at several community based agencies including Southeast Nassau Guidance Center in Wantagh/Seaford, Friends of Bridge in Valley Stream, and Greenwich House in NYC. He also held a private practice. He was most passionate about mentoring students and new therapists in his field.

As a teen and in early adulthood Herman could be found most weekends working in the kitchen of his family’s nightclub and catering hall, Arele’s of Queens. This is where Herman learned to cook and was just part of Herman’s life-long culinary love affair.  In the summers, he served as a camp counselor where he began his journey of supporting and encouraging others.

Herman was an animal lover and delighted in the loving nature of animal companions. His devotion to his canine and feline companions was unparalleled and any animal loved by Herman was fortunate, although Herman would certainly have seen it as the other way around.

Herman was a life-long New Yorker and New York sports fan, he raised beloved show dogs, he enjoyed traveling and exploring near and far. He appreciated nature and shared with all his love of gardening, harvesting and enjoying the harvest. The beach was a joyful place for him as a child and he found peace living close to the ocean in his later life.

Herman marveled at the mysteries of life both grand and minute, found humor in nooks and crannies and every unexpected place he could conjure it, and was making jokes until his final time with us. He had an exceptional gift of connecting with people everywhere he went.

Herman is survived by his sweetheart Dana Sutter, his devoted sister and partner in levity Sharon Menashes, his dear friends Todd and Beth Benjamin, Joanne Verdino and Roland Ng, his niece Elissa Menashes, his nephew Matthew Menashes and his wife Emily, great nephew Eben Menashes, more true friends than one man’s typical share, and the extended Sutter, Menashes, and Goldstein families.

Funeral services will be at 3:00 pm on Sunday, June 9, 2024 at Guttermans, 175 N. Long Beach Road, Rockville Centre, NY 11570 with visitation beginning at 2:00 pm. For those unable to attend in person, live streaming is available at https://guttermansinc.com/rockville-centre-long-island/.

For those wishing to honor his memory with a donation, the family suggests donations be made to North Shore Animal League.