Friday marked one last day of funeral lines filled with people trying to reconcile anger and grief with their pride in the lives that were lived by 11 synagogue worshippers who were killed a week ago.
For some who stood in the cold for a chance to console family members, the day also was one more reason to find hope in how the city has responded.
Rose Mallinger, 97, of Squirrel Hill, was the oldest of the shooting victims. Her visitation and service at Rodef Shalom Temple in Shadyside marked the last of 11 funerals that followed Saturday’s mass shooting at the Tree of Life synagogue, one neighborhood over and not far from where she lived.
Ms. Mallinger, affectionately known as “Bubbie, the Yiddish word for grandma, was far from the typical 97-year-old, much younger in appearance, and much more active, those who knew her said.
“She was very vibrant and a very kind-hearted lady,” said Michele Organist of Point Breeze, who knew her from the neighborhood and the Pittsburgh Jewish Community Center. “She would still walk and do things. She would go out and take on the world.”
The 11 a.m. visitation drew a crowd so large that hundreds of mourners stretched from the parking lot at Rodef Shalom, down Morewood Avenue and briefly onto Fifth Avenue. Mourners near the end of the line said they were invited into the temple ahead of the 1 p.m. funeral when it became clear not everyone in line could get into the visitation.
Among the hundreds who turned out were Gov. Tom Wolf and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald.
The governor emerged from visitation without responding to acknowledging any questions as he and his security detail headed toward a waiting Ford Expedition, escorted by city police.
“I’ve known the Mallinger family for many years,” Mr. Fitzgerald said. “Alan (her son) runs the sports program at the JCC.
“I’ve played ball against him, coached against him. I’ve coached his kids.”
He and others also spoke warmly of Rose’s daughter Andrea Wedner, 61, who was one of six people wounded in Saturday’s shooting.
Robert Bowers, 46, of Baldwin Borough, is accused by police of storming the synagogue with a semi-automatic weapon having made threats against Jews. He was wounded by police and apprehended after the worst anti-Semitic killing in U.S. history, an attack during a synagogue service.
Mel Brody, 63, of Fox Chapel, said there were multiple reasons why he felt he needed to be at Rodef Friday.
“Number one, for the family, and number two, out of solidarity with the Jewish community at a time like this,” he said, standing on Morewood where city police motorcycle officers and wooden saw-horses kept traffic away from mourners.
Barbara Foye, 59, of Brighton Heights, is a Red Cross volunteer who had helped out earlier this week at the JCC as the funerals began. She said she wanted to show her support, too, and like others this week, was impressed with the way Pittsburgh handled itself as it grieved under the glare of national scrutiny.
“I think the community of Pittsburgh has really drawn together,” she said.
“Where do we go from here? I have to say I think that we as individuals have to make choices that are inclusive rather than exclusive.”
Bill Schackner: bschackner@post-gazette.com, 412-363-1977 and on Twitter: @Bschackner
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The city began burying its dead Tuesday as thousands of mourners attended services for a beloved family doctor and two brothers. The funerals have continued each day since.
Already laid to rest are:
▪ Joyce Fienberg, 75, of Oakland
▪ Irving Younger, 69, of Mount Washington
▪ Melvin Wax, 87, of Squirrel Hill
▪ Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz, 66, of Edgewood
▪ Brothers Cecil, 59, and David Rosenthal, 54, of Squirrel Hill
▪ Daniel Stein, 71, of Squirrel Hill
▪ Sylvan Simon, 86, and his wife, Bernice, 84, of Wilkinsburg
▪ Richard Gottfried, 65, of Ross
First Published: November 2, 2018, 10:46 a.m.
Updated: November 2, 2018, 7:05 p.m.
