Shear family recalls memories of Rosenthal brothers

ED CARROLL | STAFF REPORTER ecarroll@cjn.org | @EdCarrollCJN

The tragedy in Pittsburgh on Oct. 27 hit hard for Solon resident Howard Shear, son of Helen and Leon Shear of Beachwood. He was related to two of the victims, Cecil Rosenthal and David Rosenthal.

Their father is Helen Shear’s second cousin, and Howard Shear said his parents are close to Eli and Joy Rosenthal, the parents of Cecil and David.

“As a young kid, we knew each other well,” Howard Shear told the Cleveland Jewish News via text message from Israel. “Cecil used to call me ‘Cousin Howard.’ He would go up to my mother (and) give her a huge hug and always ask about my sisters. The parents have been to all (of) our simchas. My mother grew up with Eli (Rosenthal).”

Howard Shear said he hadn’t seen the brothers in more than 20 years, but his mother especially was “heartbroken.”

He cited a quote by his father Leon, a Holocaust survivor: “Evil things can happen. Innocents can be destroyed. We need to learn from these atrocities. Don’t hate – hate kills.”

Howard Shear said he works hard to live by his father’s words.

“Unfortunately, it happens, we post it on Facebook and it fades away,” he said. “We need to constantly remember Pittsburgh, Charlottesville, (Va.), and (Parkland), Fla.”