Sheldon Faktorow
Sheldon Faktorow (Shelly), 89, of Mt. Laurel, NJ, passed away on July 23, 2023. He was born in Philadelphia to Theodore and Anna, and raised in Riverside, NJ and Philadelphia, Pa. Shelly was married for nearly 65 years to the love of his life, Miriam (nee Rudnick), before she passed in January 2019. The couple lived in Levittown, Pa, before moving across the river to Willingboro, NJ to raise their family.
Shelly earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Central High School in Philadelphia, and worked as an accountant while attending Temple University. After graduating, and earning his CPA, he went to work in Center City Philadelphia. He established his own accounting firm in the mid 70's after partnering with an accounting group in in Pennsylvania and serving as a comptroller for a New Jersey real estate development company. He retired at the age of 72, after 54 years of practicing accounting. Shelly was inducted to the Temple University Accounting Hall of Fame and was honored for 50 years of service by the New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants.
Shelly and a group of new residents to Willingboro, NJ, started the township's first synagogue in a house. The congregation grew quickly, and in the mid 1960's, Shelly was among those who broke ground on the site where Congregation Beth Torah would be built. He served as the Beth Torah's first President and was an active member for many years.
Shelly spent the past 25 years volunteering at the Katz JCC in Cherry Hill, NJ. Over the years, he served on the JCC Board, the Festival of Arts, Books and Culture Committee; co-chaired the Active Adult Committee and was founding member of the Couples Club. He also raised money for the Tree of Life Fund and Endowment Fund for JCC Jewish Film Festival Committee; he co-chaired the Jewish Film Festival for four years. As the pandemic was winding down, he was one of the driving forces in a campaign to encourage Senior Members back to the JCC.
For many year prior to the Pandemic, Shelly volunteered for Jewish Family Services driving patients to and from doctor appointments. Shelly was an avid reader, he loved art, travel, jigsaw puzzles, crossword puzzles, Soltaire and the Philadelphia Eagles, Phillies and Flyers. For several decades he played in a weekly pinochle game with his lifelong friends from Willingboro. But what he loved most, above all else, was his family. He leaves behind his children: Marci (Larry) Grimes, Rob (Linda) Faktorow, Debbie (Stephen) Fortino, and Terri (Joe) Campbell; his grandchildren: Katie (Tim) Farley, Becky (Chris) Celis, Danny (Sophia) Grimes, Alex Faktorow, Anna Faktorow, Sam Faktorow, Jaime Fortino, Brynn (Scott) Woodmansee, and Jenna Fortino; and his great grandchildren: Timmy, Ethan, Owen, and Austin Farley; Carson, Connor and Gabby Celis; Jordan Grimes; and Luca Woodmansee. Shelly will also be missed by the countless friends he has made over the years.
Relatives and friends are invited Tuesday, June 25th beginning at 10:00 a.m. to PLATT MEMORIAL CHAPELS, INC., 2001 Berlin Road, Cherry Hill, NJ, where funeral services will begin promptly at 10:30 a.m. Burial will follow at Crescent Memorial Park, Pennsauken NJ. Shiva will be observed at the home of Debbie & Steve Fortino. Contributions can be made to the Jewish Community Foundation to support The Faktorow Family Endowment Fund, https://www.jcfsnj.org/faktorow-fund. Checks can be mailed to: Jewish Community Foundation, 1301 Springdale Rd., Cherry Hill, NJ, 08003; or to Jewish Family and Children's Services, 1301 Springdale Rd., #150, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003.
