Obituary of Matthew Brian Shor

Matthew Brian Shor Sept. 30, 1993 - May 18, 2016 Matthew Shor had a smile that could light up a room or a night or a life. Lights dimmed in many a quarter when Matt died unexpectedly May 18 while on an educational and cultural trip to Israel. He was 22. Matthew Brian Shor was a lover of all things sports, a gifted athlete and competitive rock climber. At Woodson High School in Annandale, he played football and Varsity Lacrosse. He swam competitively for the local community summer league. And still he continued to climb. Matt's passion for sports was rivaled by his deep desire to help others through his growing understanding of the complexities of the human body. He was a healer at heart, his friends say. A rising senior at George Mason University, he studied kinesiology, with the goal of earning a doctorate in physical therapy (DPT), and working in the field of sports medicine. Most recently, he worked in a hyperbaric oxygen treatment center, and obtained Emergency Medical Technician certification. He was a brother in the fraternity of Phi Sigma Kappa. As he grew into adulthood, Matt became fascinated with his Jewish heritage. His trip to Israel, a longtime dream realized, was sponsored by Birthright Israel, a philanthropic group whose mission is connecting young Jewish adults with their roots by bringing them for a 10-day visit to the Jewish Homeland. Matt is forever loved and will be forever missed by his parents, Sam and Bonnie Shor of Reston; his brother Jeffrey Shor of Baltimore; his grandparents Alma Shor of Ashburn, VA., and Felicia and Irving Haytowitz of Chapel Hill, NC; his aunts and uncles Bob and Gail Shor of Reston, Robin and Doug Robinson of Chapel Hill, and Judy and Frank Gallo of Somers, NY; his cousins, as well as the many friends and colleagues he touched in so many ways during his brief but precious time on this earth. A memorial service will be held Monday, May 23, at 10 a.m., at the Northern Virginia Hebrew Congregation, 1441 Wiehle Ave, Reston, VA 20190. Interment will be at 12 noon at King David Memorial Cemetery, 7482 Lee Highway, Falls Church. Following internment, friends are invited to a reception at the Shor home, 2150 South Bay Lane, Reston, VA. In lieu of flowers, the family prefers donations in Matthew Brian Shor's name to: • American Foundation for Suicide Prevention www.AFSP.org • National Alliance on Mental Illness www.NAMI.org