Virginia Beach—After a long and fruitful life, Pops passed away November 25, 2021 surrounded by his loving family.
Pops was born September 8, 1930 in Antwerp, Belgium and immigrated to the United States when he was five years old. He was raised in Brooklyn, N.Y. where he met and married his beautiful bride, Sandra Gilman Pearl. He enlisted in the USN during the Korean Conflict and retired 21 years later as a Senior Chief. Through numerous duty stations, they settled on Virginia Beach to raise their family.
Pops was always actively involved in coaching his children in every sport they played. He helped start the Woodstock Mustangs program, eventually forming the Virginia Beach Mustangs in 2001. With over 50 years of coaching he touched the lives of thousands of children in the Tidewater area. He was so proud of his Mustangs, he always wore his two national championship rings wherever he went.
Pops was a do it yourself type of guy who owned every tool known to man and knew how to use them. He developed a love for gardening in his later years and grew numerous vegetables in his yard, most of which he gave away to family and friends. He was nicknamed “Farmer Sid from Brooklyn.”
Pops is survived by his loving wife of 69 years, Sandi and his five children, Michele (Claude), Keith (Tina), Kenneth (Carlen), Mike (Gail), and Bruce (Michelle); nine grandchildren; 10 great grandchildren; his one sister, Gertrude Roffell living in Israel; and his four-legged children, Buddy and Grace.
A graveside service with military honors was officiated by Rabbi Israel Zoberman at Woodlawn Memorial Gardens. Donations to the Virginia Beach SPCA. Please visit Pops’ webpage at www.woodlawnnorfolk.com.