PITTSBURGH — As friends and family members of the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting victims continue to mourn, there are also fond memories of those who were killed being shared.
One of the victims, Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz, was a physician who helped many families in the area with their health.
STORY: Condolences from Pittsburgh politicians, sports teams, officials nationwide
Jerry Schmitt was one of his patients and he said Rabinowitz was anything but typical.
“He was just somebody that I could go to and he was, he just never let me down,” Schmitt said.
The two met over three decades ago when Schmitt saw Dr. R, as some called him, for a hand injury. The doctor told Schmidt he was more concerned with his blood pressure -- and got him to think about changing his habits.
If you want to receive BREAKING ALERTS, please download our WPXI News App. You can also follow WPXI on Facebook and Twitter.
“He talked about a radiator in a car, and if it springs a leak that means a car is going to overheat. He got me to thinking if I sprung a leak in my brain I might have trouble,” Schmitt recalled.
That care even extended to Schmidt when he was thousands of miles away on business in India and caught a gastrointestinal bug. Dr. Rabinowitz called him every day for two weeks just to check in.
Schmitt couldn't imagine a better doctor.
RELATED:
- LIVE UPDATES: 11 victims identified in Pittsburgh synagogue shooting
- What we know about victims killed at Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh
- Blood donations needed to help victims of Pittsburgh synagogue shooting
- Penguins will hold collection before Tuesday's game for shooting victims' families
- Pope Francis grieves for Jewish victims in Pittsburgh
- Download the WPXI News App for continuing coverage of this breaking story
“He used to ask me if I was going to retire because of my age and I said I wasn’t sure and then I’d say, ‘What about you?’ And he would say, ‘No, I’m never going to retire.’ And in my mind I’m thinking ‘don’t you ever leave me,’ but he left me unfortunately.”
PHOTOS: Victims of the mass shooting at the Tree of Life Synagogue
Rabinowitz, 66, was one of the 11 killed when a gunman ambushed the Tree of Life synagogue where they prayed.
Schmidt is heartbroken but holds fast to the memory of a physician become friend.
“He’s one of the sweetest, gentlest people I ever knew,” Schmitt said.
Cox Media Group
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/XCUXZC2XYZHCRGNNGKFEX6U3LQ.png)
