11 People Were Gunned

Down at a Pittsburgh
Synagogue. Here are their
Stories:

By: Professor Elad Cohen

Quick Background

 When: October 27, 2018

 What: a mass shooting, ending the lives of 11 victims
 Where: the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Irving Younger

 69 years old
 Real estate agent
 A coach for Little League and had a son who played on his team
 Involved in the synagogue for at least 10 years
 Remembered for his kindness
 “He liked to make sure you knew where you were in the prayer book. It was his
duty. He felt responsible. He felt like his role was to help serve.” –Barton
Schachter, Tree of Life President
Melvin Wax

 87 years old
 Accountant
 Typically one of the first to show up to the Friday night and Saturday morning services
 Truly passionate about his grandson, religion, and the Pittsburgh Pirates
 “Always in a good mood, always full of jokes.” –Bonnie Wax, sister
 “Known as Mel to everyone, he was a generous, sweet man who would help anyone.
We recently found out that even though he was 87, he parked several streets away
from the synagogue to leave the closer spaces to ’those who need them more’.” –
family within a statement
Rose Mallinger

 97 years old
 Regular participant of temple with daughter, Andrea (injured in the shooting)
 Growing up, she had the job of a school office secretary
 According to family friend, Stephen Neustein, she managed to cook high holiday
meals
 “Spry, vibrant and full of life”
 “She was a sweet and lovely lady who was quick with a friendly greeting, a hug and
a smile.” –Robin Friedman, a student who studied at the school Mallinger worked at
 “To Bubbe, family was everything. She knew her children, her grandchildren and her
great-grandchildren better than they knew themselves. She retained her sharp wit,
humor and intelligence until the very last day.” –family within a statement
 Sylvan & Bernice Simon (husband
and wife)

 Sylvan (left in photograph): 86 years old, Bernice (right in photograph): 84 years

old
 Got married at the same synagogue over 60 years ago
 Regularly helped their neighborhood as well as their Jewish community
 “Sweetest people you could imagine.” –Jo Stepaniak, neighbor in Wilkinsburg
 “They wanted to give back to people and be kind.” –Jo Stepaniak
Jerry Rabinowitz

 Age not publicized (in article)

 Primary care physician in Edgewood of Pennsylvania
 Treated patients with HIV
 Member of one of the three congregations that celebrates Sabbath at the synagogue
 ”You know how they say there are people who just lighten up a room? You know that cliché
about people whose laugh is infectious? That was Uncle Jerry… It wasn’t a cliché. It was
just his personality.” –Avishai Ostrin, nephew
 According to Rabinowitzs’ nephew, Jerry was not present in the basement that the
congregation met up in during the shooting; he was outside of the room.
 ”Why? Because when he heard shots he ran outside to try and see if anyone was hurt and needed
a doctor. That was Uncle Jerry, that’s just what he did.” –Avishai Ostrin
Joyce Fienberg

 75 years old
 Research specialist at the University of Pittsburgh
 Husband died two years prior to this incident due to cancer
 Mother of two sons as well as a grandmother
 “Cherished friend… an engaging, elegant, and warm person.” –employers at
Learning Research and Development Center
 “She was a very petite woman but lit up a room with her huge personality. We
weren’t just welcome in the [husband’s] classroom, but into their home.” -Jason
Connor, former student of Joyce’s husband
Richard Gottfried

 65 years old
 Married to a Catholic
 Dentist for his district
 The husband and wife opened a dental practice together in the 80s
 Joined a group that provided educational lectures and workshops in dentistry
 Guided other interfaith couples when it came to the topic of marriage
 “We are deeply saddened by this tragedy.” –Patrick Mannarino, superintendent of North
Hills School District
Daniel Stein

 71 years old
 Retired
 Lived with wife in Squirrel Hill, a residential neighborhood in Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania
 Attended synagogue every Saturday
 ”A simple man” who “did not require much.” –Joe Stein, son
 “He was a great guy… He was a fun guy, he had a dry sense of humor and
everybody loved him.” –Steven Halle, nephew
Cecil & David Rosenthal
(brothers)

 Cecil (right in photograph): 59 years old, David (left in photograph): 54 years old
 From Squirrel Hill of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
 Cecil was very dedicated to being a Tree of Life congregant
 David devoted much of his time towards working for Goodwill Industries
 They sat in the back of the temple to greet people who came in
 “Cecil… was tall and gregarious... His younger brother… was the serious one. They were
always there. And they will always be there in our hearts.” –Suzan Hauptman, a woman who
grew up in the synagogue
 ”Cecil’s laugh was infectious. David was so kind and had such a gentle spirit. Together, they
looked out for one another. Most of all, they were [individuals] with a strong faith and respect
for everyone around.” –Chris Schopf, vice president of a nonprofit striving to support people
with disabilities
Works Cited

 Grinberg, Emanuella, McLaughlin, C. Eliott, Sidner, Sara, and AnneClaire

Stapleton. “11 people were gunned down at a Pittsburgh synagogue. Here are
their stories.” CNN. 01 Nov. 2018. https://
www.cnn.com/2018/10/28/us/pittsburgh-synagogue-shooting-victims/index.html