Leonard Shawel

Leonard Shawel, who passed away at the age of 93 on Sunday, July 28th, at his home at Buckingham South, was born in Newport News, Virginia on September 26, 1919 to Max William and Anne Shawel. He grew up there and attended the local elementary and high schools.?? After high school he joined the US Navy and went to work at the naval shipyard there as a machinist.?? During World War II he was assigned to the USS Furse, a naval destroyer on which he served in the Pacific. Upon his honorable discharge in May of 1946 he married Sara Fox and their union produced two children, David Stuart Shawel and Elissa Ann Shawel, Leonard opened a very successful retail appliance store called Shawel's TV & Appliances, which still exists in Newport News today under new management. One of his prideful accomplishments in Newport News was his participation in the establishment of a Hebrew Day School. David later married Goldie Schuster of Cleveland, Ohio and Elissa was wed to Pesach Schaffer of Monsey, NY.



Leonard's first marriage ended when his wife became ill and passed away at the early age of 50. In 1980 he moved to Charleston, SC to join his son and daughter-in-law, Goldie. In Charleston he went to work as a salesman for Sonny Goldberg's Furniture Store, which he continued to do for 10 years.?? Through his son, who had become a Rabbi and mohel, one who performs ritual circumcisions, he was introduced to Sara (Horovin) Rabhan, of Savannah, Georgia, who he later married in 1982. It was the perfect melding of the two families, which included Sara's three children, Joseph Rabhan, Linda (Rabhan) Auerbach and Tziporah (Rabhan) Sperling. The couple remained in Charleston until 2001 when Leonard retired, and they decided to return to Savannah, Georgia, where Sara had previously resided for almost 30 years.



In September of 2012 Leonard and Sara moved from their residence in Savannah to an assisted living facility, Buckingham South. While there Leonard entertained the residents with his violin playing, which was his second love to Sara. Sara continues to reside at the facility.



As of this writing in July of 2013 Sara can pridefully boast of the fact that their marriage of 31 years grew to include twenty-five grandchildren and forty great-grandchildren. Tragically one of the grandchildren became ill and passed away at the age of 35.



The funeral service will be held at 1 o'clock Monday afternoon at the graveside, Bonaventure Cemetery, conducted by Rabbi Avigdor Slatus.



Remembrances: Congregation Bnai Brith Jacob ' 5444 Abercorn Street, Savannah, Georgia 31405 or Rambam Day School ' 5111 Abercorn Street, Savannah, Georgia 31405.