Irvin Szames

Irvin Szames, age 86, passed away on July 4, 2022. Irv was born in Trochenbrod Poland but fled with his family at a young age after experiencing the brutality of an invasion leading up to WWII. He and his small but extended family then endured unimaginable harshness and depravity as they survived the Holocaust for 3 years hiding in the woods of Poland and Ukraine. Later, he was on the fateful (historic?) ship Exodus 1947 that was turned away from Palestine and returned to Germany. He leveraged his will to survive to build a growing family in Columbus and gave back in countless ways by figuratively and literally feeding the Columbus Jewish community for decades. He is preceded in death by parents, Shlomo Szames and Toiba Bruck. Survived by wife, Francine Szames; sons, Steven (Linda) Szames and Brian (Andrea) Szames; daughter, Elizabeth (Jeremy) Kalef; brother, Gerald Szames; sisters, Sandy (Mark) Hackman and Rita Redfern; grandchildren, Michelle (Ryan) O'Donnell, Rachel (Adam) Licker, David (Elise) Szames, Bennett Szames, Samuel Szames, Max Kalef (fiancé, Lily Kleinman), Rose and Neil Kalef; great grandchildren, Joshua, Zachary and Hannah O'Donnell, Dylan, Noah and Ava Licker; nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Funeral services will be held 11:00 am on Tuesday, July 5, 2022 at Epstein Memorial Chapel, 3232 E. Main St. Interment will follow at New Beth Jacob Cemetery. Shiva will be observed at Francine and Irvin's residence Tuesday-Thursday, and Sunday from 6-8pm. In lieu of flowers, contributions in Irvin's memory may be made to the Irv and Francine Szames March of the Living Fund at the Columbus Jewish Foundation, 1175 College Avenue, Columbus, Ohio 43209 or Congregation Torat Emet, 2375 E Main Street, Bexley, OH 43209.