Paul Huz, age 99, passed away peacefully in his home in Brooklyn on August 5, 2020. He was born in a small town in what is now Northwestern Ukraine called Povorsk. Paul was the second youngest of eight children. When war broke out in his area in 1941, Paul became a member of the Russian military and was able to participate in actions that turned the Nazis back from his hometown area and eventually led to their defeat.
As the war wound down Paul returned to his hometown to find that all of the Jews (including his parents and youngest sister) were killed by Nazi murderers and their assistants in 1942. Paul also heard that members of a family he had known before the war, the Singals, had survived and were in a neighboring town. Paul sought them out and the youngest member of that family, Riva, would later become his life partner. Paul and Riva began a 71 year marriage in a displaced-persons camp in Bari, Italy where their daughter Shulamith was born. Soon after, in 1949, Paul, Riva, and Shulamith began their new life in America.
Paul worked hard in the garment industry and at one point owned his own clothing manufacturing company. He was very proud of his success in achieving the ‘American dream’ of arriving in the United States - totally unfamiliar with the language and without any resources – and being able to own his own home and provide for all his family’s needs. Paul was selfless in spirit and opened his home to Riva’s mother, Chaya, and her brother, Ezra.
Paul and Riva built a warm Jewish home for Shulamith and their son, Steven. Paul was deeply devoted to Riva and cared for her in their home until she passed in 2018.
Paul’s synagogue life at Marine Park Jewish Center, where he served as congregational president, was very important to him. His regular presence at Marine Park was celebrated by many of the younger congregants who often tell stories of how they were mentored and inspired by him. He attended services nearly every Shabbos until they were suspended by recent events. He truly derived much pleasure from being a regular shul-goer.
Paul was very proud of his children, grandchildren and great children and saw them as a key element of his legacy. He will be warmly remembered for his generosity of spirit, his will to survive and perhaps most of all his warm smile.
Paul is survived by his daughter, Shulamith; son, Steven (Sharon); his grandchildren; Aaron (Katy), Joseph (Krista), Sarah (Marcus), Jonathan (Sarah) and Ilana; and his great grandchildren; Matthew, Gabriel, Lola, Zemirah, Robbie, Rosie, Amita and Ami. He is predeceased by his wife, Riva, his parents Shmuel and Surah Ghuzz, his brother Itzik and sisters, Sheyndel, Pearl, Edith, Zlata, Bryndel, and Molleh.
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