By COLlive reporter
Many in the Lubavitch community in Miami Beach, Florida, attended the funeral of Dr. Ira S. Barton, a prominent supporter of Chabad institutions in the city.
A chiropractor in New York from 1963 to 1973, Dr. Barton owned nursing homes in New Jersey. Upon arriving in Florida in 1980, he operated assisted living facilities, retail and hospitality projects.
For 30 years he focused on business and real estate, acquiring the Deco Walk hotel on South Beach’s Ocean Drive and a retail building at 655 Lincoln Road. Most recently, he purchased the South Shore Hospital and renamed it the South Beach Community Hospital.
His financial success were translated into generously supporting local Chabad causes, among them the Shul at Florida Lubavitch Headquarters and the shul at the Jewish Learning Center – (JLC).
This past June, Dr. Barton dedicated the dining room in the girls division of the Lubavitch Educational Center after his mother.
He passed away in his sleep this week, leaving many friends and appreciative community members in shock. The funeral of Israel Peretz ben Dov OBM took place at the Beis Peretz Synagogue in the JLC.
Head Shliach of Florida, Rabbi Abraham Korf, stressed at the funeral how Dr. Barton’s last years were devoted to yiddishkeit and spreading it to others, and this is a tremendous zechus.
We. Will all miss u
Sorry to hear
Steve was an extraordinary person who will be terribly missed. He always had a smile, a kind word or great advice to share. Steve, you have left a void in many people’s lives. We will never forget you. Please storm the heavens and come back with moshiach Now…
He was loved by everyone and he loved everyone as well. A big baal tzedaka and Oihev yisroel. There are many many temimim from Yeshiva Gedolah of Greater Miami who have been cared for by him personally. My heart broke when I found out. I miss him already.
We miss Dr. B:(