Earl Jerome Horenstein

EARL HORENSTEIN April 23, 1922 ~ April 23, 2018 Earl Horenstein passed away on April 23rd, 2018, his 96th birthday. Earl's parents immigrated from Russia. He was one of seven children. He grew up among a close group of Jewish families in Northwest Portland. He graduated from Lincoln High School after having played as a 5' 9" center on the basketball team during the era when they jumped center after every basket. Earl started attending the University of Washington until he enlisted in the Navy as a signalman in the Second World War. After he returned from the war he met the love of his life Suzanne Spellman and they were married for 71 years. He went into the Spellman family shoe business and owned four stores in Vancouver and Portland over a 50-year career in the business. He was one of mainstays in the downtown Vancouver retail scene during its heyday in the 50's, 60's and 70's. He was one of the first shoe retailers to sell Adidas shoes when they made only one thing - a green striped shoe called the Italia. He never forgot a face, a name or a shoe size. He loved jazz music - the standards. He had a wonderful singing voice and was a fabulous dancer. He was always impeccably dressed and of course his shoes were always shined. Earl did not hunt, fish or play golf. His hobby was his family. He worked six days a week for fifty years yet found time to coach youth baseball and volunteer for the PTA and the scouting program. He rarely missed his children and grandchildren's sporting activities, music events, graduations, etc. Earl never had a bad day. To those who knew him, even for a brief time, he was known as the kindest, gentlest, most caring, humble, compassionate and sweetest man one could have known. When he talked to you, as far as he was concerned, you were the only person in the room. Earl was preceded in death by his parents, five of his siblings and his infant grandson. He is survived by his wife Suzanne; his sons Steve (Cindy), Scott (Donna), Todd (Dru); ten grandchildren; seven great grandchildren and his brother Donald (Lori). All Earl would want of anyone to do in his memory is to simply say something to someone today that would make their day a little brighter. He always did.

Earl Jerome Horenstein

April 23, 1922 - April 23, 2018