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Stamford resident Louis Felder was remembered as a loving father, a giving friend and a dedicated community member in an emotional funeral service attended by more than 600 at Agudath Sholom Synagogue Wednesday afternoon. Speakers were visibly shaken as they paid tribute to Felder, who was killed along with eight others by a workplace gunman on Tuesday, while struggling to accept his untimely death.
"Louie, you will be missed terribly by all of those who knew you," said Felder's brother, Joel, choking back tears. "Whenever anyone in the family needed something, Louie would drop everything and be there," he recalled.
"He always pushed us to be the best we could be," said Felder's son Gabriel, who vowed to his dad, "I will live to be everything you saw in me."
The sanctuary was packed with members of Stamford's Jewish Orthodox community and others who remain stunned about Felder's sudden death at the hands of a raging gunman. Felder, 50, was killed Tuesday in Manchester at his place of employment, Hartford Distributors, after a disgruntled employee opened fire at the workplace. Felder was among nine people killed, including the gunman.
He leaves his wife, Helenwhom he wed just eight months after meeting on a blind date and their three children, Gabriel, Stephanie and Samantha, among other family members.
"You are the best dad anyone could ask for, and for that we are so proud of you," said Stephanie and Samantha in a joint tribute.
A large man with an exuberant, large- than-life personality, Felder "didn't like to do things. He loved to do things," said Rabbi Elly Krimsky of Young Israel Synagogue, who officiated. Felder was a member of Young Israel. "He didn't do anything half way. It was real or it was nothing," said Krimsky, adding, "How can we believe that such a bundle of life is no longer with us in this world?"
Felder was buried at Independent Lodge Cemetery in Darien. More than 200 mourners attended the graveside service, including Mike Jablon, who played basketball with Felder almost every week during their 15-year friendship.
"He was a real family guy, dedicated to his kids," said Jablon. "He was the kind of guy who was larger than life."
Another Stamford resident, Avi Greif, remembered Felder. "He was very well-loved because he loved everyone," said Greif, a a fellow member of Young Israel of Stamford Orthodox Synagogue. "If anyone needed anything, he couldn't do enough for them."
Greif said the number of people who came to Felder's service is a testament to Felder's character. Cars lined Hoyt Street and Greenwood Avenue outside the Independent Lodge Cemetery. "We're going to miss him very much," Greif said. "Things will never be the same."
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