Virginia Beach—David Furman, 95, died on Tuesday, June 10, 2014 in a local convalescent center.
He was born in Portlock, Va., and as a youngster moved with his family to South Norfolk, both now Chesapeake. He was the son of the late Annie Steinberg Furman and Joseph Furman.
David worked with his brother, Morris, in the Morris Furman Wholesale Produce Co. which became D and M Produce. They ultimately decided to try the retail food business and together they founded Farm Fresh Supermarkets of which David served as chairman of the board until he retired.
David served in World War II in the infantry on the front line and was honorably discharged after spending months in hospitals in France and England being treated for foot injuries.
He was the chairman of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, on the board of the Tidewater Jewish Foundation and a member of the National Conference of Christians and Jews. David was chairman of Tidewater Israel Bonds. He received the George W. Bush “Points of Light” Award for his work with Lee’s Friends, which helps people living with cancer in the Tidewater area. He did this in memory of his beloved wife of 35 years, Rosalie.
David was one of the founding members of Temple Israel Synagogue. He was a 32nd Degree Mason and a Shriner affiliated with the Berkley Masonic Lodge #167. David received the National Ariel America Friends of Midrasha Philanthropic Testimonial Award. He was a contributor to Tel Aviv University and funded the Professorial Chair at Virginia Wesleyan College Center for the Study of Religious Freedom.
He is survived by his son, Dr. Randall Furman and his wife, Jacqueline; a daughter, Jolene Shapiro and her husband, Larry; grandsons, Ryan Shapiro and his wife, Stephanie Bain, Paul Shapiro and his partner, Erica Meier; granddaughters, Erica Gerstin and her husband, Ari, Marissa Furman and Amanda Furman; and great-granddaughter, Layla Gerstin. David was preceded in death by his parents, his brother, Morris, and sisters, Sylvia Kaplan, Alma Belkov, and Bertha Glaser as well as his wife, Rosalie and second wife, Rhonda Furman.
A funeral service was conducted in the Norfolk Chapel of H. D. Oliver Funeral Apts. with Rabbi Israel Zoberman and Cantor Elihu Flax officiating. Burial followed in Forest Lawn Cemetery with Rabbi Michael Panitz officiating at the graveside. Memorial donations may be made to Beth Sholom Village, Lee’s Friends, Compassion Over Killing and the Humane Society of the U.S. Online condolences may be made at www.hdoliver.com.