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IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Ira
Wells
October 11, 1923 – March 11, 2019
Obituary
Ira Wells, formerly of Staten Island, New York, died peacefully on March 11 in his home in Boynton Beach, Florida. He was 95 years old.
Ira retired as a Social Studies teacher in 1981. He spent most of his career at Curtis High School on Staten Island, at which he had previously been a student. Ira was a dedicated teacher who rarely missed a school day, in some way managing to be sick only on weekends. Early in his career, he taught at Port Richmond, Tottenville and Bay Ridge High Schools in New York City.
Ira was a graduate of Wagner College and had a Masters degree from New York University.
During World War II, Ira served in the Eighth Air Force. Based in England, he flew 35 missions as a nose gunner on a B-24 Liberator.
After returning home from the war, Ira met Mildred, the love of his life, on a blind date. Ten weeks later, they were married. They would have celebrated their 70th anniversary in July.
Following his retirement, Ira worked part-time for the United Federation of Teachers. He visited public schools throughout New York City, giving presentations to teachers about their benefits. He also returned to the place of his birth, St. Vincent's Hospital (now Richmond University Medical Center) on Staten Island, to do volunteer work. Not only did Ira help others with his time, he donated his blood to those in need who shared his rare blood type.
Ira and Mildred took advantage of their retirement years together to travel extensively, including to Alaska, Hawaii, Israel, Turkey, Russia, and China. They moved to Florida in 2015.
Those who had the privilege to know Ira will always remember his keen intellect, unshakable integrity, devotion to family, and dry wit.
In addition to Mildred, Ira is survived by daughter Helene Wells (Steve) Hoffman of Boynton Beach, Florida and Wall, New Jersey; son Andrew (Melanie) Wells of New York, New York and Kent, New York; granddaughters Justine Wells and Georgina Wells, both of Brooklyn, New York; and sister Florence (Sheldon) Toder of Newington, Connecticut. Ira's parents were Dr. Harold and Lillian Welkowitz.
Arrangements are private. The family asks that people consider making contributions in Ira's memory to the Alzheimer's Association at
alz.org
.
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