Phoenix philanthropist and Jewish community leader Irving Shuman was found murdered in his office the night of Sept. 2.
Shuman, 84, a former Arizona chairman of AIPAC and a former president of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix, was a community leader for about 50 years.
Police say Shuman’s body was found inside the offices of Standard Realty and Development Co. in central Phoenix at about 7:15 p.m. The medical examiner said Shuman died of strangulation and blunt force trauma.
Shuman’s vehicle, a 1998 gold Lexus, was found late last week in San Ber-nardino. Police did not release any additional details.
“Our investigators are currently conducting interviews surrounding the recovery of the vehicle,” Detective Stacie Derge of the Phoenix Police Department told KPHO-TV in Phoenix.
“This is the most shocking news,” said Paradise Valley resident Arnold Smith. “I knew Irv for more than 50 years. He became an integral part of the Jewish community. He was instrumental to building the Jewish federation.”
“I am shocked and deeply saddened to hear that this happened,” said Adam Schwartz, president and CEO of the Jewish Feder-ation of Greater Phoenix. “Irv had a deep and tremendous passion for the Jewish community. He was the epitome of a mensch.”
“He gave funds that enabled children to learn and grow through the arts,” said Colleen Jennings-Roggensack, assistant vice president of cultural affairs for Arizona State University. “He was really a gift to this community.”
Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) has known Shuman since 1985. Interviewed by telephone from the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minn., Kyl said he and his wife “are devastated at the news.”
“Irv was indefatigable in his work for a strong U.S.-Israel relationship and was a good friend and supporter of mine,” Kyl said. “My immediate reaction to hearing this terrible news was that the stupid, selfish person who did this had no idea what Irv meant to his friends, his family and to his community, and therefore what he took away from all of us.”
Shuman was the recipient of the Jewish Federation of Greater Phoenix’s highest award, the Medal of Honor, as well as a Man of the Year Award from the Valley of the Sun Jewish Comm-unity Center.
In 2005, Shuman received the Dorothy Pickelner Enduring Legacy Award from the Arizona Jewish Historical Society to honor his contributions to the Jewish community.
“Irv always set the example for the kind of philanthropy that makes our community work,” said Larry Bell, executive director of the Arizona Jewish Historical Society.
Shuman moved to Arizona in 1960. He is survived by his companion, Theresa, two daughters, a son, six grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and a nephew.
Funeral services were held for Shuman on Sept. 5 at Beth El Congregation in Phoenix.