Dad Shure Came Around

You might say James M. Shure rebelled against his father — by following his father’s career path.

Jimmy’s father, Robert, initially saw it that way. He was determined that Jimmy would not go into the burial business.

Robert started the Robert E. Shure Funeral Home on George Street in 1939. Generations of Jewish families came to depend on him to handle one of life’s most sensitive tasks: Arranging for the burial and often the funeral of a loved one. 

Robert kept young Jimmy away from the funeral home. But Jimmy overheard the late-night and weekend phone conversations when distraught families called his father to seek help and reassurance. He heard from friends about the important role Robert had played in honoring others’ lives. He knew his dad’s work mattered.

Jimmy at first followed his father’s advice to avoid the funeral business. He went to college, then grad school. He earned a PhD in English literature.

The one day it hit him: He didn’t want to spend his life teaching King Lear in the classroom. He wanted to pursue his father’s line of work. 

“He was so upset,” Jimmy recalled. Robert even boycotted his son’s graduation from mortuary school.

But within six months, Robert ​“was the highest guy in the world” seeing his son carry on the tradition.

Jimmy joined the business. ​“We built an incredible relationship” working together, Jimmy said. 

In 1975, Robert retired. Jimmy took over the business. He has continued to operate it since, handling burials in the Jewish tradition with understanding, comfort, and confidence.

Jimmy, now 70, stays out of the limelight. But this coming Tuesday, May 19, the Jewish community is shining it Jimmy’s way to recognize his lifetime of devoted service. Starting at 6:30 p.m., the Jewish Family Service of Greater New Haven will hold its annual fundraising spring community gala, where Jimmy will be the guest of honor. (The event will be held in a tent. Click here for registration details.)

Jimmy Shure told his story and delved into the fine points of Jewish burial tradition during an appearance on WNHH FM’s ​“Dateline New Haven.” JFS’s Rachel Scolnic Dobin joined the conversation to describe the important work her agency does. Click on the video below to watch the conversation.