Aaron Brewer

by | Oct 31, 2014 | Obituaries

Portsmouth — Aaron Brewer, 91 years old, a native of Portsmouth, Va., passed away Saturday, Oct. 18, 2014. He was one of eight children born to Ida and Benjamin Brewer.

He was a photographer for the Portsmouth Star newspaper before being drafted into the army in 1943 and served in North African and Italian theaters. Later he attended the Modern School of Photography on the GI bill and he and his brother Sol operated Brewer’s PhotoService for over 20 years. He owned Carney’s grocery store and the Buy and Sell furniture store.

A member of Gomley Chesed Synagogue since the 1950’s, Aaron served on the board of directors, the Mens Club, the Chevra Kadisha and the cemetery committee. He also was the synagogues’ unofficial photographic historian. As a member of the Jewish War Veterans since WWII , he served as Commander of Post 453 in Portsmouth and was twice Commander of the Department of Virginia and North Carolina’s Jewish War Veterans, as well as served on the national executive committee.

An eternal optimist, he loved and celebrated the many facets of life. He enjoyed song writing and observing nature.

Aaron is survived by a wife he cherished for 60 years, Renee Hirt Brewer, their two children Lawrence D. Brewer and Ilene B. Anderson (Mattthew V. Anderson) and two granddaughters Megan Rose Anderson and Morgan Alyssa Anderson.

Funeral services were held at Gomley Chesed Synagogue by Rabbi David Goldstein. Burial was in Gomley Chesed Cemetery. Sturtevant Funeral Home.