Menu
Search by Name
Search by Name
FUNERAL HOME
Jack Spiro Obituary
Jack and Marilyn enjoyed seven loving decades of dancing, learning, adventure, travel, scuba diving and horseback riding. They lived in many countries and gave birth to their eldest child in London, their middle child in Israel and their youngest in New Jersey.
Jack was a true renaissance man, as fluent in Shakespeare, poetry, history and religion as he was with boxing, tennis and football. Jack loved all creatures, great and small. He had many beloved dogs and a pet tarantula spider who he named Igor Arachstein.
Jack served his community in multiple capacities, with significant roles in the Richmond United Way, Richmond Human Relations Commission and other service organizations. Jack earned his undergraduate degree with honors from Tulane University and earned graduate degrees from Hebrew Union College and University of Virginia.
Jack's wife used to joke about Jack's three briefcases: one for Congregation Beth Ahabah, one for VCU teaching and one for his community service and volunteer work.
Rabbi Spiro is survived by his sister Janice Caplan, his sisters-in-law Barbara Loevy and Brigitte Spiro, his children Hillary Hawkins (James Hawkins), David Spiro (Annemarie Hensley) and Ellen Spiro (Sydney Mintz), his grandchildren, Benjamin (Jane), Jordan (Andres), Sophia (Cary), Jake, Maria, Arlo, and four great-grandchildren. Jack's beloved older brother Harry Spiro, Jr. predeceased him, as did his beloved wife, Marilyn.
As a youth in New Orleans, Jack lived above his family's shoe store, "Spiro's Shoes". Jack's father, Harry Spiro, Sr., an architect, was forced back into the family shoe business by the Depression. His mother, Rebecca Cohen Spiro, infused Jack with a passion for Judaism and education, as Rebecca herself dreamed of being a Rabbi. Living on a small family farm in her youth, in Galveston, Texas, Rebecca was rumored to stand on a metal milk crate every Friday evening to preach to her farm animals.
Jack was a Golden Gloves boxer in his college years. Decades later, when he was in his 60's, Jack won a Silver Medal in the Senior Olympics boxing competition. Jack was a running back on his New Orleans high school football team (Isadore Newman) and an avid tennis player and long-time member of Westwood Racquet Club, where he cultivated many friendships.
Jack served as a Chaplain in the Air Force for three years, Third Air Force European Command, based in London, where he was responsible for personnel on bases in Great Britain and Scandinavia. When Jack was stationed in San Antonio, Texas, he was known for driving around in a bright pink convertible.
While living in Israel, Jack's first book, "A Time to Mourn", was published. The Spiro's moved to New Jersey in 1964. While in New Jersey, Jack served as Rabbi of Congregation Anshe Emeth in New Brunswick, New Jersey and as the National Director of Jewish Education in New York City.
In 1972 the Spiro's moved to Richmond, Virginia where Jack served as the Senior Rabbi of Temple Beth Ahabah for 25 years.
In 1972, Jack co-authored a book with the Reverend and future Bishop, Jack Spong, called "Dialogue: In Search of Jewish-Christian Understanding."
Jack was a beloved professor at for over 40 years. His course "Death: Myth and Reality" was one of VCU's most popular and long-running classes.
The Spiro's lived on the 1800 block of Hanover Avenue for over 40 years. They loved walking around the Fan and dining with VCU hipsters at Manny Mendez's Kuba Kuba restaurant and other local spots.
The Spiro family would like to extend their deep gratitude to their gifted and compassionate caregivers, particularly Catherine Youtagar and Jenneh Swarray for giving Jack his dignity through dementia.
Jack's indescribable humor, warmth, charisma, compassion and loving presence will be missed by all who loved him.
Donations in honor of Jack can be made to the Rabbi Jack Spiro Adult Education Fund at Congregation Beth Ahabah:
https://www.bethahabah.org/rabbi-jack-spiro-adult-education-fund.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Jack Spiro
Sponsored by Bliley's Funeral Home Central Chapel.
Jon
December 31, 2024
I met Dr. Spiro as a young child in the mid 1970s at Beth Ahabah. I recall Kindergarten in Mrs. Weidenfeld's class and walking into the sanctuary with other grades. We sat excited in the pews, beckoning Rabbi Spiro to tell us stories.
Rabbi Spiro became close friends with my mother and helped her make her way through her divorce.
One of my happiest memories was sitting upstairs in the balcony with "junior choir" while we sang during family services. It was a special vantage point to see Rabbi Spiro lead the congregation.
I left after in third grade, but returned for many major holidays and had the benefit of always having a front or second row center seat to Rabbi Spiro's services and wonderful sermons.
To listen to Rabbi Spiro lead a service was like listening to a Shakespearian Sonnet. His voice could soothe, as well as artfully amplify to underscore a profound message within his sermon. Rabbi Spiro was a master of cadence when he spoke to the congregation. He had a gift for weaving the past biblical stories into relevant, contemporary messages.
I attended VCU graduate school in the mid to late 90s and would occasionally see "Dr. Spiro" on campus. He was always smiling and the role of academic fit him so well.
You will be missed, Rabbi Spiro.
Melvyn Arshan
November 27, 2024
I was Bar Mitzvah in November, 1961 at Anshe Emeth Temple in New Brunswick. New Jersey, by Rabbi Nathnial Keller. Rabbi Keller had been Rabbi there for many years. He was highly respected by all, but he was quite older by then (probably not as old we thought he was). Rabbi Keller passed away soon after I was Bar Mitzcah, and Rabbi Spiro became our Rabbi. He brought a new excitement with him. Not only was he very young, but he was enthusiastic, involved and energetic. I became involved with the temple's youth group for the first time, and did the publicity for the group. On a number of occasions. Rabbi Spiro took the time to send me notes complimenting me on the clever publicity. Obviously, this had an impact on me, because I am now 76 years old and I still remember his thoughtfulness. At a time when many men stopped going to Hebrew School after their Bar Mitzvah, I was inspired to continue, and eventually graduated in 1966, due to the involvement of Rabbi Spiro.
Taryn Gore Rickman
June 24, 2024
I was one of many students who was lucky enough to Rabbi Spiro's course "Death: Myth and Reality" in 2013. It really inspired me in many ways, and opened my way of thinking regarding death and those dying. It made me question what path I wanted to take in life as well. Though it is over a decade after the class, I am now planning to begin the process of being certified as a Death Doula, and decided to look up Rabbi Spiro today, and in turn learned of his passing. I am so sorry for the loss of him for all his family and friends. I hope it is a small comfort to know his light and teachings touched so many lives, and will continue to do so for many years. I am sending all my love and hopes of comfort to his family.
Susan Johnson Vega
February 16, 2024
I loved Rabbi Spiro- I took several of his classes back in the early 90´s at VCU, and immensely enjoyed every one. I´ve thought of him often over the years, especially when I made my pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 2019. He´s one of those professors that I wish I could´ve gone back to have lunch with and have great conversation.
Jodi Manz
December 21, 2023
Rabbi Spiro was a gift to his students, his congregants, and everyone fortunate enough to know him. His legacy is immense. May his memory be a blessing.
Arden Taub
December 20, 2023
I have memories of Rabbi Spiro from AEMT. He was one of he best story tellers of my youth. May Jack Spiro's memory abide for blessing.
Rickey & Dana Stein
December 20, 2023
Dana and I were Rabbi Spiro's first wedding performed when he arrived at Anshe Emeth Memorial Temple in New Brunswick New Jersey. While only with us for two years, we have fond memories of Rabbi Jack and Marilyn and mourn their passing. " - May their memories be a blessing for all time.
Jared Parker
December 20, 2023
Dear family, I mourn with you and offer my sincere condolences. Dr. Spiro was my professor at VCU in the early 2000's and continued to be a friend as my career kept me at the university's AV department. I took several of his classes because I enjoyed learning from him. He had a wonderful, kind spirit and wisdom that had such depth. He will always be remembered as one of my favorite professors. It was my honor to know him.
Katherine
December 20, 2023
Hillary, I am so sorry to hear and my prayers are with you and your family.
Your father and mother are amazing and many have been blessed by their living and teachings. You and your extended family are that continuing blessing to us all.
Kathleen
December 7, 2023
Oh my heart hurts to read of your passing Dr. Spiro. You were my advisor at VCU and changed the academic course of my life. I´m forever grateful to have known you and studied under you. May peace be to your children and family.
Ron and Marilyn Artz
December 5, 2023
Our condolences to the Spiro Family. We always enjoyed Jack's erudite sermons and lectures. He was especially kind to our family while officiating at both of our son's bar mitzvahs and will be remembered with great fondness.
Professor Cliff Edwards
December 4, 2023
After serving as a professor of religion at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, I accepted a position at Virginia Commonwealth University, and almost immediately met Jack Spiro, Rabbi of the famous Jewish Synagogue close to Virginia Commonwealth University. His welcoming presence was to be a special joy during my decades at the university and at events at Beth Ahabah Synagogue. Our offices at the university were within steps of each other, and his greetings and conversations enriched me day after day.
Jack shared his kindness and expertise with me for our decades together. He invited me to join him in editing the world-famous Menorah Review journal he had established. He took me into his office and showed me the table overflowing with new books on Judaism, and especially the large pile of books sent him on the holocaust. With his encouragement I began reading those books that so shocked, moved, and enriched my life.
My wife and I were invited into his home and enjoyed the hospitality he and his wife offered us.
He kindly invited me to give one of his yearly Brown Lectures, and I made it a point to hear his lectures delivered to a wide variety of audiences in Richmond, Virginia, always stimulating me in my own work.
Jack's kindness to my son Christopher and his wife was a special gift to our family over our years together. We will never forget his friendship, his brilliance as a scholar, and his contributions to the university and community.
Susan Croghan
December 4, 2023
I am one of Rabbi Spiro's former students at VCU. I have long remembered his classes in the History of the Jewish People as some of the most stimulating I ever had, plus the conversations I had with him afterwards. He will never be forgotten.
Chris and Elana Edwards
December 3, 2023
Thank you, Jack, most importantly for being such a good colleague and friend to my father at VCU for many decades. And thank you for being kind to me and my wife Elana the times our paths crossed - for helping me to convert to Judaism, for being willing to travel out of state to officiate our wedding. We'll forever treasure you being a part of that day.
Chris and Elana Edwards
Ken and Karen Olshansky
December 3, 2023
We´re sending our heartfelt condolences. I, Ken, had the pleasure and fun to meet with Jack for lunch in the Fan on several occasions and thoroughly enjoyed our time together. Not only was he brilliant but had a wonderful sense of humor. He will be missed. His life was rich with an incredible number of varied experiences. I´m glad I never had to meet him in the boxing ring. We both send lots of love to the entire Spiro family. Ken and Karen Olshansky
John Ulmschneider
December 3, 2023
For more than 22 years Dr. Spiro delivered the annual Brown-Lyons Lecture at VCU, a powerful and wide-ranging series of wise, inspiring, moving papers of immense scholarship. He brought the deepest learning and insight to the more profound questions we confront in our world, and he did it with enrapturing language and delivery. His wry, thorough, and quick-witted answers to questions from the audience (especially VCU students) were legendary, delighting all and never failing to illuminate perspectives he just couldn´t fit into his talk. Every lecture left attendees hungry for more. From VCU students to a broad diversity of community members, Dr. Spiro was a revered and enlightening presence in our lives through his lectures, classes, community service, and innumerable other ways. His stories left people in awe - he must be the only person ever to have prayed with with Elizabeth Taylor at her hospital bedside AND attended the trial of Adolph Eichmann - and his jokes left audiences almost in tears with laughter (he even delivered a lecture on Jewish humor). Dr. Spiro made a gigantic difference to our community and our lives, and he will remain an abiding presence in our memories for as long as we live. Thank you, Dr. Spiro, for everything.
--John Ulmschneider
Dean Emeritus and University Librarian, Virginia Commonwealth University
shambolina mili
December 3, 2023
Prayers de la Familia.
Showing 1 - 17 of 17 results
Make a Donation
in Jack Spiro's name
Memorial Events
for Jack Spiro
Funeral services provided by:
Bliley's Funeral Home Central Chapel3801 Augusta Ave, Richmond, VA 23230
How to support Jack's loved ones
Honor a beloved veteran with a special tribute of ‘Taps’ at the National WWI Memorial in Washington, D.C.
The nightly ceremony in Washington, D.C. will be dedicated in honor of your loved one on the day of your choosing.
Read more
Should I Send Sympathy Flowers?
What kind of arrangement is appropriate, where should you send it, and when should you send an alternative?
Read more
What Should I Write in a Sympathy Card?
We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time.
Read moreResources to help you cope with loss
Estate Settlement Guide
If you’re in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist.
Read more
Obituaries, grief & privacy: Legacy’s news editor on NPR podcast
Legacy's Linnea Crowther discusses how families talk about causes of death in the obituaries they write.
Read more
The Five Stages of Grief
They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel.
Read moreWays to honor Jack Spiro's life and legacy
Obituary Examples
You may find these well-written obituary examples helpful as you write about your own family.
Read more
Obituary Templates – Customizable Examples and Samples
These free blank templates make writing an obituary faster and easier.
Read more
How Do I Write a Eulogy?
Some basic help and starters when you have to write a tribute to someone you love.
Read more
