Alvin Monroe Hurwitz

On March 14, 2008, a man known for his integrity and warmth, Alvin Monroe Hurwitz, passed away peacefully after a brief illness. He was born on June 20, 1915, in Cleveland, Ohio to Isaac and Sarah Hurwitz. He was the youngest of the family, with four sisters and one brother. His father died during the Depression, and after helping support his widowed mother during his high school years, Alvin left Cleveland and moved around the country following jobs. He worked for a pharmacy chain until he moved to San Antonio and later Corpus Christi, managing drug stores he and his family opened together. He met the love of his life, Sherlie Isenberg, after switching partners on a double date. They married on May 23, 1943 before he left to serve his country as a reconnaissance photographer in World War II. Alvin entered the bowling business in Corpus Christi, and devoted almost 40 years of his life to the industry. His first bowling center was Ayers Bowling Lanes but he later owned and operated bowling centers in Austin and in San Antonio as well. He was the organizer and executive director of the International Bowling League, an exchange program which held tournaments annually in Mexico City and Corpus Christi for many years. He won the President's Award as the most outstanding bowling proprietor in the nation from the Bowling Proprietor's Association of America. He also organized free bowling programs for Boys City, the physically handicapped and juvenile offenders. Helping children was always a passion of his. He was always willing to donate his time, energy and resources to help anyone who needed it. He was awarded a citation from Governor Connally for his efforts to employ the physically handicapped and worked to help his community through the Better Business Bureau, the Kiwanis Club, the Texas Youth Bowling Association and the Drug Abuse Council and Methadone Clinic, among others. He was an active member of the Jewish community at Temple Beth El in Corpus Christi and at Congregation Beth Israel, once he moved to Austin. He became involved in the Service Core of Retired Executives in 1986 and used his immense expertise as a businessman to mentor new entrepreneurs. He continued working with SCORE until very recently when his health prevented him from doing so. His passion for photography never diminished after WWII and used his pictures and videos to chronicle his love for his family and the world around him. These memories and the close knit family he worked so tirelessly to commemorate are his legacy. Alvin is survived by his wife Sherlie Hurwitz; his children Sandy Hurwitz and fiancee Leslee Donovan, Jill and husband Jerry McLain, and Donny and wife Joyce Hurwitz; grandchildren Kelley and husband Chris Ahr, Kevin and wife Tamara Hurwitz, Brandon Hurwitz, Daniel Hurwitz, Shawn and husband Robert Bonsen, Dana and husband Mark Williams, Shelley Gale and significant other Chip Riley, and Macy Hurwitz; and great grandchildren Allanah, Micah, and Jacy Ahr, Adva Hurwitz, Tristyn Bonsen, and Colton and Ryan Williams. They, along with all of the countless others who were lucky enough to be on the receiving end of one of his crushingly tight bear hugs, will miss him deeply. There will be a service to honor his memory at Congregation Beth Israel on March 16 at 11:00 a.m. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that those wishing to honor Alvin's memory to make a donation to the Congregation Beth Israel Greene Family Camp Youth Scholarship Fund.