Harold Teltser Obituary (1926 – 2022) – Union, NJ – The Star-Ledger – The Star-Ledger Obituaries

Harold Robert Teltser passed away peacefully from a short illness on April 18, 2022. He was 95. Harold was born in Orange, New Jersey on August 2, 1926, the third of four boys. His parents were Joseph and Regina (nee Chuka) Teltser, who both immigrated from Szatmar, Hungary (now Satu Mare, Romania). Harold attended Orange High School and played sports at the Orange YMCA, where he excelled at swimming and table tennis. After high school, Harold was drafted into the U.S. Army during the final year of WWII. Serving with the 700th Ordnance Light Maintenance Company, 45th Infantry Division, he was stationed at the U.S. Army base in the Dachau concentration camp after its liberation. After his honorable discharge from the army, Harold attended George Washington University in Washington, DC and later graduated from the GWU law school. Second in his law school class, Harold was awarded membership to the Order of the Coif. After graduation, he returned to New Jersey to clerk for Joseph Weintraub, future Chief Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court. Harold went on to work for the New Jersey Attorney General and then became an assistant prosecutor for Essex County, New Jersey in 1959. In 1961, Harold left the prosecutor’s office to join a private law practice that would become the law firm of Teltser, Byrne and Greenberg of East Orange, New Jersey, with future New Jersey Governor, Brendan Byrne, and future New Jersey State Senator Martin Greenberg. Harold later left the firm after Brendan Byrne was elected governor but continued the private practice of law until after the year 2000. Harold was involved in a number of business ventures in addition to the practice of law. In 1965, Harold, Brendan Byrne and Martin Greenberg co-founded the insurance company, Intercontinental Life Insurance Company. During his career, Harold also became part owner of a regional airline, an oil and gas exploration company, and several racehorses. He sat on the boards of directors of four public companies (including Intercontinental Life). In addition, Harold was a real estate developer, involved in the development and construction of a number of commercial and residential building projects throughout northern New Jersey. Later in life, Harold became an active investor in public securities and was featured on the cover of the Spring 2010 issue of the Charles Schwab magazine, On Investing. In 1956, Harold married Patricia Charash and had three children with her: Robert C. Teltser, Jill D. Teltser, and Thomas B. Teltser. Harold also became stepfather to Pat’s son from a prior marriage, Arthur Levine. The marriage ended in divorce. In 1972, Harold married Miriam Fagelson and began splitting his time between New Jersey and Florida. They moved in 1973 to Atlantis, Florida, where Harold would spend the rest of his life. They had a child, Joseph M. Teltser, in 1974. In Florida, Harold became an avid tennis player, a regular at the tennis club (and well sought-after doubles partner) well into his 70s. In his 80s, Harold frequently attended meetings of the Civil War Roundtable of Palm Beach County, where he would look forward to engaging friends in debates and discussions. With his outgoing personality and large sense of humor, Harold made many close friends throughout his life. His friends and family enjoyed the engaging conversations and thoughtful discussions that would invariably be had with him. Intelligent and witty, Harold could speak knowledgeably about a wide variety of subjects and be quick with a joke. And Harold took great pleasure in having those conversations and discussions with his friends. Harold was also thoughtful and generous with his friends and family, whom he loved deeply and who love him deeply. We will miss his love, his friendship, his comradery, his good counsel, his kisses and hugs, his company, his jokes, his insights, and the tremendous warmth and delight he could bring us. Harold was predeceased by his beloved brothers, Burton, Edward, and Richard. Harold is survived by his wife, Miriam Teltser, his son, Dr. Robert (Martel) Teltser, his daughter Jill Teltser-Kimelman (Boaz Kimelman), his son, Thomas Teltser, his son, Joseph (Maggie) Teltser, his stepson, Dr. Arthur Levine (Dr. Janet Schwartz), and his grandchildren, Jory Teltser, Remy Teltser, Atid Kimelman, Joshua Kimelman, Henry Teltser, and Hugo Teltser. He is also survived by a number of close friends, whom he held and loved as close family. Funeral services will be held at Beth Israel Cemetery in Woodbridge, New Jersey, April 21, 2022, 1:30 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hadassah.

Published by The Star-Ledger from Apr. 19 to Apr. 20, 2022.