Cole Zelwin, 11-year-old Solon boy, remembered at funeral service as ‘a force for good’

PEPPER PIKE, Ohio – It wasn’t alleged to be like this, Rabbi Hal Rudin-Luria instructed a standing-room crowd of about 1,000 those that packed the sanctuary at B’nai Jeshurun Congregation.

“Nobody might have imagined we’d be right here, incomprehensible and unthinkable that we’ve got to say goodbye to the sweetest boy – Cole Samuel Zelwin,” mentioned Rudin-Luria, the congregation’s senior rabbi, who officiated on the boy’s funeral service Friday (Might 5).

Cole Zelwin, a fifth-grader at Orchard Center College in Solon, died early Wednesday (Might 3) at College Hospitals Rainbow Infants and Youngsters’s Hospital of problems from leukemia. He was 11.

“Regardless of how transient Cole’s life was, in simply 11 brief years, he touched so many lives,” Rudin-Luria mentioned. “He was a pressure for good – candy, caring, selfless and sort.

“He was cherished; oh, how he was cherished, surrounded by a household that cherished him.”

Cole’s father, Solon Ward 3 Councilman Jeremy Zelwin, mentioned phrases couldn’t describe how tough it has been for him and his household the previous a number of days – “going from having an brisk, vigorous son, to bringing him to Rainbows Infants and Youngsters’s Hospital and having your entire life shatter earlier than your eyes.”

Zelwin mentioned Cole would discuss concerning the future and what he wished to do and who he wished to be.

“We have been alleged to be standing right here (on this pulpit) on April 26, 2025, celebrating his bar mitzvah,” mentioned Zelwin, choking again tears.

“That was going to be adopted by an epic social gathering to rejoice ‘Cole-chella,’ the place he was going to open the social gathering on stage along with his guitar.”

Zelwin mentioned his spouse, Courtney, would typically speak about how particular Cole was and the way he was destined to do nice issues.

“Cole wished to be a pediatric orthopedic surgeon,” he mentioned. “Critically, what 11-year-old desires to be a pediatric orthopedic surgeon?

“He wished turn into a physician so he might purchase his mother a seashore home the place we might all keep collectively. He was at all times placing others forward of himself.

“He was one of the vital particular children you possibly can ever meet.”

‘Smart past his years’

When Cole was born April 10, 2012, a “modern-day renaissance man was born,” Zelwin mentioned.

“Cole cherished artwork, music, cooking, household, his canine, Miles, and a lot extra,” he mentioned.

Cole’s infectious persona was evident from a really younger age, Zelwin mentioned.

“Cole cherished to speak, and he might discuss to anyone,” he mentioned. “Cole had the present of gab. He was smart past his years. He was an grownup trapped in an 11-year-old physique.

“He might learn folks’s feelings higher than some adults and will have a dialog with anyone.”

Cole was a vibrant, delicate and caring boy who was additionally witty, Zelwin mentioned.

“He didn’t prefer to learn or do math, however he was actually good at math,” he mentioned. “Cole’s favourite topic, nonetheless, was artwork.

“He was an excellent artist. I’ve two of his authentic work hanging in my workplace at work.”

Cole performed for the Solon Soccer Membership for 5 years, and Zelwin coached his group the previous 4 years.

“We could not have received many video games, however I used to be at all times proud to be his coach and watch him and his group work arduous,” he mentioned.

Taking part in electrical guitar for College of Rock – a music training college with a number of places in Larger Cleveland – was certainly one of Cole’s biggest joys, Zelwin mentioned.

“Cole cherished it a lot, he began taking vocal classes and was the lead singer on many songs in his upcoming live performance,” he mentioned. “There’s nothing cooler than watching your 10-year-old son play Nirvana in entrance of your dad and mom whereas they surprise what they’ve gotten themselves into.”

Zelwin mentioned Cole additionally cherished collaborating in Stagecrafters Theatre, a dramatic arts program for kids supplied by Orange Group Schooling and Recreation.

“Cole was so excited for (Stagecrafters’) upcoming manufacturing of ‘Joseph and the Wonderful Technicolor Dreamcoat’ and was already planning his subsequent tryout track for the summer time,” he mentioned.

Cole had a job in “Joseph,” slated for Might 12-14 at Orange Excessive College.

Cole cherished his older sister, Cailey, greater than phrases can describe, Zelwin mentioned.

“That they had essentially the most particular bond collectively,” he mentioned. “They have been inseparable and had massive desires to journey the world collectively, following our journey to Europe this previous winter.

“However there was one one that sat above all of them for Cole – his mom,” he continued. “Cole was a mama’s boy and happy with it. Their relationship was certainly one of a form.

“One among his favourite issues within the morning was making his mother a cheese omelette for breakfast. He cherished to prepare dinner dinner, bake and watch different folks take pleasure in what he made.”

Zelwin mentioned he discovered this week that Orchard Center College Principal Cari Mineard desires to start out the Cole Zelwin Kindness Award on the college. He mentioned it will be given to college students who exhibit “the traits that Cole confirmed daily: kindness, caring and at all times being a buddy to others.”

“What an excellent tribute,” he mentioned.

Zelwin mentioned he wished to acknowledge the workers at UH Rainbows Infants and Youngsters’s Hospital.

“They did the whole lot of their energy to attempt to be sure that Cole might be right here at this time, however sadly, the leukemia and different problems turned an excessive amount of to combat,” he mentioned. “We tremendously respect the compassion and professionalism of the entire group.”

Zelwin closed by saying the easiest way to honor Cole is “to by no means let his reminiscence die and to share your recollections about him.”

Sobs have been audible within the viewers as he mentioned, “Cole, one of many biggest honors of my life was being your father. I really like you, buddy.”

Household’s power ‘unbelievable’

Rudin-Luria mentioned the Zelwin household has proven “unbelievable resilience, kindness, love and togetherness.”

“You’ve been examined in a approach that nobody ever must be,” he mentioned. “And nonetheless, by means of all of it, you’re targeted on serving to one another, and your power is unbelievable.”

Cole’s members of the family shared many tales with Rudin-Luria of what made him so particular and the way he lived for others, he mentioned.

“Cole was the sweetest boy with the most important coronary heart – a mensch,” he mentioned. “He cherished folks, all folks. He caught up for you; he sacrificed for you.”

Cole cherished Camp Smart, a Jewish in a single day camp in Claridon Township, Rudin-Luria mentioned.

“Rabbi Dan Utley, the (Camp Smart) director, shared with me that Cole was the lifetime of your complete village at camp,” he mentioned.

“He was the unofficial mayor of Solon. Similar to his father and (grandfather), he helped out on the Solon Fireplace Division donation drives with the boots.”

Cole was about to start out a enterprise along with his finest buddy, Carly, making blankets for canine beds and crates, Rudin-Luria mentioned.

“He really secured his first buyer after making a profitable gross sales name,” he mentioned. “He was a person with a plan.

“It’s now our job to honor Cole, a boy who exemplified love, kindness and selflessness,” he continued. “Cole has impressed us to dwell with kindness, and that’s our mission.

“Cole introduced gentle to this world, and it’s as much as us to maintain that gentle shining, to honor Cole in all that we do. And in that approach, he won’t ever be forgotten, and he’ll dwell on in all of us.”

‘Cole’s power was infectious’

Rabbi Josh Foster, B’nai Jeshurun’s training engagement rabbi, mentioned he felt blessed to have had the chance to know Cole and to be taught from him.

“His knowledge was far past his years,” he mentioned. “Cole’s power was infectious, at all times prepared for competitors and to share a witty remark.

“Once I would name him as much as lead prayer, generally Cole would have a look at me incredulously. ‘Actually? Once more?’ But with out fail, he would lead us in prayer impeccably.”

Cole was happy with chanting from the Torah at providers and supplied a prayer at his sister Cailey’s bat mitzvah in March, Foster mentioned.

“Via the devastation of this week, could we search to emulate Cole’s kindness, compassion, power, knowledge, humor and delight — delight in his household, his congregation and his group,” he mentioned.

A gaggle of youngsters – together with Cole’s cousins and pals – got here as much as supply tributes to him.

“Because the oldest of the cousins, I at all times felt prefer it was my accountability to take care of my youthful cousin,” Ari Zelwin mentioned. “Properly, let me let you know about my first yr at Camp Smart.

“My first yr at in a single day camp was really Cole’s second yr, and despite the fact that I used to be the older, greater cousin, Cole felt that he had to verify I used to be OK on my first night time of camp. That was the sort of particular person he was.

“I’m at all times going to overlook Cole’s hilarious impressions, voices and most of all, the way in which he considered different folks’s emotions. He was really essentially the most compassionate particular person I’ve ever met.”

Prayers have been sung by B’nai Jeshurun Cantor Alyssa Rosenbaum and Cantor Aaron Shifman, the congregation’s earlier cantor.

Rosenbaum additionally led a particular track in Cole’s reminiscence, “To The place You Are.”

Messages from metropolis, colleges

This message was posted Wednesday (Might 3) on the Metropolis of Solon’s Fb web page and on the town web site:

“It’s with deep unhappiness that we discovered of the passing of Cole Zelwin. Cole was a well-known face at council conferences and metropolis occasions, typically seen accompanying his dad and sharing in his ardour for public service.

“Many people have fond recollections of seeing Cole using his bike round city, exploring all of the corners of our group. He was a vibrant and proficient younger man, and his loss is felt deeply by all who knew him. He shall be remembered for his type coronary heart, infectious smile and unwavering spirit.

“Our hearts exit to Jeremy, Courtney and their household throughout this extremely tough time.”

In an e mail Might 3 to Solon Colleges households and workers, Superintendent Fred Bolden mentioned the district’s grief groups will present ongoing help to college students and workers “as we navigate the times and weeks forward.”

“As at all times in Solon, we’ll help one another as we work by means of this tragedy collectively,” he mentioned.

Burial adopted the service at Mount Olive Cemetery in Solon.

The Zelwin household will observe shiva (visitation) on the residence at 6578 Creekside Path, Solon, from 4-7 p.m. Sunday (Might 7) and 2-4 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Monday (Might 8), Tuesday (Might 9) and Wednesday (Might 10).

Contributions could also be made to the Cole Zelwin Memorial Scholarship Fund, with checks payable to Solon Board of Schooling, 33800 Inwood Street, Solon, OH 44139.