Authorities have released the names of the 11 people killed by a gunman during worship services in a Pittsburgh synagogue, while a Toronto synagogue confirmed that one of the victims grew up and got married under their roof.
Joyce Fienberg, 75, was a researcher. Sunday morning, she was described as a "magnificent, generous, caring, and profoundly thoughtful human being'' by her research partner.
Joyce Feinberg z"l, one of the eleven, grew up at Holy Blossom Temple. She was married here. Her Confirmation photo is on our wall of honour.
— Holy Blossom Temple (@holyblossom) October 28, 2018
This morning's service was full. The sounds of... https://t.co/zev3AZW4q6
At a news conference around the same time, officials announced that the victims ranged in age from 54 to 97. They included brothers Cecil and David Rosenthal and husband and wife Bernice and Sylvan Simon.
The Allegheny County medical examiners’ office released the victims’ names Sunday. David Rosenthal was the youngest at 54. The eldest was 97-year-old Rose Mallinger.
The dead also included Richard Gottfried, Jerry Rabinowitz, Daniel Stein, Melvin Wax and Irving Younger.
Joyce Fienberg: 'Magnificent, generous, caring'
Fienberg and her late husband, Stephen, were intellectual power houses, but those who knew them say they were the kind of people who used that intellect to help others.
The 75-year-old spent most of her career at the University of Pittsburgh's Learning Research and Development Center, retiring in 2008 from her job as a researcher looking at learning in the classroom and in museums. She worked on several projects including studying the practices of highly effective teachers.
In a statament sent to NEWSTALK1010, Holy Blossom Temple's Deanna Levy confirms Fienberg was from Toronto and a one time member of the midtown synagogue.
"She grew up here, was confirmed and married to fellow congregant, Stephen Fienberg at Temple in 1965," the synagogue confirms. "They moved to various cities in the U.S. and eventually settled in Pittsburgh where Steve was Professor Emeritus at Carnegie Mellon University (Steve passed away in December 2016)."
The Fienbergs have two sons - one living in Paris with his wife and five children, and the other in Virginia with his wife and daughter.
Fienberg's brother and sister-in-law live in Thornhill and will be travelling to Pittsburgh later this week to attend her funeral.
Dr. Gaea Leinhardt, who was Fienberg's research partner for decades, said she is devastated by the murder of her colleague and friend.
``Joyce was a magnificent, generous, caring, and profoundly thoughtful human being,'' she said.
Authorities say gunman Robert Bowers made statements about genocide and killing Jewish people prior to opening fire.
Bowers has been arrested and is being treated for gunshot wounds at a hospital.
The U.S. attorney’s office has charged Bowers with 29 federal counts. Bowers is scheduled to make his first court appearance Monday. State authorities have also leveled charges.
In the GTA, a number of vigils are planned for Sunday evening and Monday to remember the victims.
- With files from Jackie Rosen