Former Syracuse resident Gideon I. Shay, 93, died Monday in Rockford, Ill. A native of Syracuse, Mr. Shay lived in Rockford 55 years. He retired in 1990 after more than 50 years as an optometrist in Belvedere, IL. He was a 1939 graduate of Illinois College of Optometry. Mr. Shay was a member of Temple Beth El of Rockford, Bnai Brith and the Optometric Association of America. He was a life member of Philo-Mount Sinai Masonic Lodge. Surviving are his wife of 68 years, Ziporah; a daughter, Leatrice Shay of Rockford; and several nieces and nephews.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday in Frumah Packard Cemetery, Syracuse, Rabbi Charles Sherman and Cantor Harold Lerner officiating.
Brothers: Mortimer Shay, Maurice Shay 1893-1985, Dr. Gideon Shay 1901-1995, and Bernard (Benzlon) Shacofsky 1905-1915
Sisters: Bertha and Edna