Jay Norman Maisel, 93, of Sarasota, FL and formerly of Harrisburg, PA, passed away on Friday, August 30, 2019 in Sarasota.

He was born in New York, NY to the late Milton and Rose (Schiffman) Maisel. Jay attended Bucknell University from 1942-1944 when he left school to join the Naval Reserve where he served as a Lieutenant (JG) for the remainder of the war. After the war, Jay enrolled at Indiana University in Bloomington, IN where he met his wife to be, Diane. Jay and Diane were married for 59 years until Diane's death in 2008. From 2009 Shirley Ross had been his companion.

Jay and Diane founded Commonwealth Packaging Company in 1959 in the basement of their home in Harrisburg. Today, the business has offices in NYC and San Diego, as well. Jay was a member of Beth El Temple. He was a past president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg. In addition, Jay was the Jewish Federation campaign chair and Nachson Society member. He loved theater and movies, vodka gimlets, golf, and travel, especially Nantucket and St. Martin.

Jay's greatest legacy is his family. Surviving are his children, Mark Maisel and his wife Neysa, Jill Miller and her husband Barry, Steven Maisel and his wife Linda Berger, six grandchildren, Lauren, Matt (Tina), Jared, Sydney (Andrew), Aaron, and Michael, and two great-grandsons, Joey and Jonah.

Funeral services were held on September 3 in the Beth El Cemetery Chapel. Burial in Beth El Cemetery.

Memorial donations can be sent to The Jay Maisel Endowment Fund, c/o Jewish Community Foundation of Central PA, 3211 N. Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110, Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg 3301 North Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110, Beth El Temple 2637 North Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110, or the charity of your choice.