We bid farewell to a giant who walked this earth amidst us. In the words of a grandson, "he was great man who lived a great life."He grew up in Munhall, graduated from Munhall High, spent a year at the University of Pittsburgh, and joined the family Feed and Beer distributorship that pre-dated State Liquor Store requirements.
Max was born in 1916 to Minnie and Jake, remembered fondly by family as Mishka Dina and Ya'akov. They had met and married in Homestead, and Milton was the younger brother of Belle (Green), another sibling named Herbert has pre-deceased him. American-born young Max was often on the field--playing baseball or watching football. He and his "bashert" were married in the Homestead shul and welcomed a new generation with daughters named Ellen and Sheila. For many years they lived with their Seiavitch mishpacha on 408 Tenth Avenue in Munhall.
Some will remember Max selling cars in Sharpsburg or at "Mauro Sales" in Clairton. Almost everyone in the family can remember his brother in law on the Seiavitch side moving into the big house down the block. Those years featured family vacations to Atlantic City with Lois, of blessed memory, and Sunday dinners and Baseball games aplenty. Some years included trips with Florence and Herb to Conneaut and Niagara Falls. Soon Ellen married Mike Siegel and Sheila married Steve Bookbinder and new generations were on the way.
Max is remembered by almost all that knew him as a "man of few words," but his very essence conveyed love! Laura, Brian, David, Jeffery, and Katie all came into his orbit. I can personally attest to his great pride at Laura's wedding to Steve, and Gladys Gold remained a solid part of his inner circle. He increasingly enjoyed Temple Bingo in McKeesport and playing cards with the Thursday Night group. Every Shabbat Morning, I knew from the bima that I would see him on the far aisle at our Faye Rubenstein Weiss Sanctuary.
Max Burechson has died at the end of the year, end of the century, end of the millenium. He awaited news of the new life to be born and carry the name of his beloved Lillian. From this week of theTenth of Tevet we will have to wait just a little bit longer for the universe to complete that sacred cycle. RABBI'S HISTORICAL NOTE: one year later, approaching Seventeen of Tammuz on our people's eternal cycle of memories and affirmations, Abby Leah Schaffer was born and named for two beloved grandparents.)