WARREN - Friends of Dr. Bernard Shultz recall a man who was active volunteering not only through his religious faith but with various organizations and groups in the community.
Shultz, 82, a lifelong Warren area resident, died Wednesday at Heritage Manor Retirement Community in Youngstown.
He was a dentist with a practice in Champion, and for many years was active in community events and with both Beth Israel Temple in Warren and Temple El Emeth in Liberty.
Rabbi Joseph Schonberger of Temple El Emeth said Shultz and his wife, Louise, were both very involved at the temple and in the community.
''He will be greatly missed. He was a very pivotal person in the community and was an anchor for a lot of people,'' Schonberger said.
He said many people looked up to Shultz, asking for his advice and guidance.
''He liked being involved and would often lead the services here at Temple El Emeth," Schonberger said. ''He was a Jewish leader in Warren and a very pivotal person in the religious community.''
Shultz served as lay rabbi and cantor, teacher and ritual director, Schonberger said. His great passions were conducting religious services for the synagogue, and educating the general community about Judaism.
Shultz was among those of the Jewish faith who would help at area hospitals, including St. Joseph Health Center in Warren on Christmas Day, allowing employees celebrating that holiday to have a day off.
''He would often call me about different events and matters that would be happening,'' he said.
Elyse Silverman of Liberty, whose father was a friend of Shultz, knew the Shultzes when she growing up.
''He, like his wife, was very kind-hearted and would do anything to help anyone. They were both very generous of their time and efforts,'' she said.
Silverman said her father and Shultz were both veterans with Temple El Emeth, honoring veterans with a special program.
Shultz had served as a dentist while in the U.S. Navy and later practiced dentistry for 40 years in Champion, retiring in 1998.
He also participated with the American Cancer Society, Trumbull Mobile Meals, Champion Kiwanis Club; Champion Lions Club, American Red Cross and B'nai B'rith.
In 1999, he was elected to the Warren High School Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame.
After retiring from his dental practice, Dr. Shultz prepared tax returns for H&R Block and AARP, and he loved to tell people about it.
Shultz joined Temple El Emeth after attending Beth Israel Temple for many years.
Services are 1 p.m. today at Roberts-Clark Chapel, Lane Family Funeral Homes in Warren. Interment will follow at Beth Israel Cemetery. There are no calling hours.
The week of Shiva will be observed at the family home.
The family is requesting that those who wish make a donation either to Tri-County Hadassah or to Temple El Emeth.