Irwin Sarason

Irwin Sarason died at his home in Bridgehampton on February 10th. He was 85. Born in Brooklyn to Sarah and Sam Schmalberg, he grew up in Forest Hills after his family moved to their new house a year later. He attended local public schools and as a youngster was able to study at the Art Students League in Manhattan. After graduating from Forest Hills High School he attended Parsons School of Design followed by a career as an art director at various advertising agencies in Manhattan.

His father died when he was 11, leaving his mother to raise her three children on her own. As adults, he and his older brother, to honor their mother, changed their last name to Sara(son).

Once able to support himself he moved to Manhattan and over the years visited the East End, where in 1969 he bought his first house in Amagansett. While still living and working in the city he on his own and later with a friend bought additional properties. By 1980 he was able to stop working in the city and devote himself to his real estate interests. Over the years, even when he worked in the city, he did an occasional freelance design/advertising job. One job that might be of interest was the timetable for the Hampton Jitney when the company was first started in the early 1970s.

He was also a very good artist. He painted rather large paintings of both local and New York City scenes. He could have shown his paintings at galleries but preferred to use them to establish his own presence in the houses he owned.

Besides many friends, he is survived by his brother David Sarason, sister Muriel Schmalberg Ullman, nephew Scott Sarason, niece Lori Sands, niece Claire Ramsey, their children, his many cousins, and long time friend Ted Jeremenko.

Memorial services will be held at 2 PM on Saturday June 5th at the Yardley and Pino Funeral Home in Sag Harbor and later continued at the Oakland Cemetery.