W. Linenberg, 94, salesman and educator

William Linenberg, 94, of Langhorne, a retired salesman, Torah reader and educator who was awarded a Bronze Star for Valor during World War II, died Wednesday, Aug. 22, of myelofibrosis, a blood disease, at his home.

Mr. Linenberg graduated from West Philadelphia High School in 1935 and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was on the wrestling team.

In 1941, he enlisted in the Navy and was assigned to the aircraft carrier Bunker Hill as a gunnery officer.

The ship saw action in the Pacific, including the invasions of the Marshall and Marianas Islands, the invasion of Iwo Jima, and raids on Japanese bases.

On May 11, 1945, the Bunker Hill was hit by two kamikaze aircraft. The wooden deck was set on fire and 373 crew members died, with 264 more wounded. Mr. Linenberg pulled sailors from the gun turrets and carried them to safety, and was awarded the Bronze Star. He had nightmares for years after the war, his wife, Florence, said.

Mr. Linenberg remained in the Navy Reserve until 1953, resigning as a lieutenant commander.

After his discharge from active duty, he was a salesman for Penn Syrup Co. Then for 31 years, until retiring in 1991, he was with Marstan Manufacturing Co. in Northeast Philadelphia, a supplier of paper goods and equipment to restaurants.

He was a talented salesman, his wife said. He was handsome and charming without being flamboyant, and could walk into a room and own it, she said.

Mr. Linenberg raised two children in West Philadelphia and Mount Airy with his first wife, Estelle Meyerson Linenberg. They then lived in Elkins Park before divorcing.

In 1980, he married Florence Einbinder.

Mr. Linenberg's Polish immigrant parents were devout Orthodox Jews. At the age of 5 he began studying Hebrew, and at 15, he was hired to read the Torah at Lenov Hazedeh Synagogue in West Philadelphia. While he was in high school, he would spend 12 to 14 hours a week preparing his Torah readings, his son, Bruce, said. Later he was a Torah reader at B'nai Jeshurun, a Conservative synagogue then in Mount Airy, where he also taught Bar and Bat Mitzvah students.

From 1972 until retiring in 2003, when he was 85, he taught Hebrew to youngsters and later to adults at Temple Adath Israel in Merion, where he was also a Torah reader.

He was a superb teacher, his wife said. He made the classes fun and created a football board game for the youngsters to play on breaks. Even students with learning disabilities were able to read the Torah under his tutelage, she said.

He was always sorry he wasn't a professional, his wife said, and regretted turning down a scholarship to medical school or not becoming a full-time teacher.

His wife reminded him of the generations of Hebrew students he taught. He helped keep the Jewish tradition alive, his son said.

In addition to his wife and son, Mr. Linenberg is survived by a daughter, Marsha Rubin; stepdaughters Kathy Einbinder-Schatz and Amy Kegerreis; a stepson, David Einbinder; 11 grandchildren; and a great-grandson. His former wife died in 2008.

A funeral was Friday, Aug. 24, at Temple Adath Israel. Burial was in Montefiore Cemetery, Jenkintown.

Donations may be made to Temple Adath Israel, 250 N. Highland Ave., Merion, Pa. 19066.