Obituary
William (Bill/Billy) Daniel Goldstein, 98, a longtime resident of Orlando, FL and Hartford, CT, died on May 2, 2024. Bill was born in Hartford to Sadie and Maurice Goldstein. He was a devoted husband to Joyce Goldstein to whom he was married for 37 years. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Margi Goldstein and Rex Denton; his son and daughter-in-law, David and Karen Goldstein; and his stepdaughters, Tricia Mosher and her husband Doug Mosher, Joan Beard and her husband Larry Altman, and Laura Beard. Bill was the beloved grandfather of Richard Denton and his wife Rosy Denton, Jonathan Denton, Ellen Goldstein and her partner, Sean Roskamp, Andy Goldstein and his partner, Amileah Sutliff, Rebeckah Liu and her husband Theo Liu, Jacob Mosher, Hannah Mosher, Aaronn Altman, and his great-granddaughter Clementine Liu. Bill is also survived by his brother Harvey Goldstein and his partner Alice Rotfort, and many cherished nephews and cousins.
Bill was an extremely accomplished musician, studying clarinet with the world-renowned Simeon Bellison and earning his Bachelor’s degree from the University of Hartford’s Hartt School of Music. He began his performing career on the alto saxophone in the Navy Jazz Band and was replaced by none other than John Coltrane. After leaving the Navy, Bill was an Assistant Professor at the Hartt School of Music and the Principal Clarinetist of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, a chair that he held for 35 years. This gave him the great fortune to play with some of the greatest musicians in the world. He and his brother Harvey Goldstein (oboist) were revered in the symphony and the Hartford community. Bill and his brother also ran the Thompson Music Company in West Hartford for many years. Bill taught clarinet to a myriad of students, young and old, including many who continued on to have successful performance careers of their own.
Bill’s creative talents included photography. His photographs would capture spontaneous moments and facial expressions that have been treasured by family and friends. One of his photos won a Hartford Times amateur photo contest in 1964.
Bill continued to perform after moving to Orlando and in his later years played the clarinet daily for his own enjoyment, constantly tinkering with the clarinet keys and inventing additional fingerings that allowed his arthritic fingers to function. His dream was to have a functional clarinet in his hands until the day he died.
Bill was a gentle soul who was loved by all. His words of wisdom brought solace to his children, through their own adulthood. There was never a problem that couldn’t be solved by his unique and positive view of life. His sense of humor was subtle, but ever-present, appearing when least expected. He will be remembered not only for his extraordinary musicianship but also for the kindness and compassion with which he approached every aspect of his life.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the AdventHealth Hospice Center in Altamonte Springs, Florida or the World Central Kitchen.
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