Boston college professor’s daughter, son-in-law among dead in Israel: Couple died jumping on teenage son to save him from hail of bullets
Boston College professor’s daughter, son-in-law among dead in Israel: Couple killed when he jumped on teenage son to save him from hail of bullets
- Troen teaches Israel Studies at the private school, having studied there himself as an undergraduate before receiving his PhD at the University of Chicago.
A Boston College professor’s daughter and son-in-law were among those killed in Israel after a series of violent attacks by the Palestinian terror group Hamas.
Professor Ilan Troen, 83, recently retired from his role at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, and moved to Israel to be with his family.
The Boston-born academic recalled how his daughter and son-in-law were killed by gunmen from the Gaza Strip on Saturday – and how the two managed to save their teenage son by throwing their bodies over him.
The family was together in a safe room inside their home when they were invaded by Hamas fighters.
The young boy, Troen’s grandson, was shot in the stomach and is in hospital.
The death toll from the surprise attacks among Israelis reached 600.
Professor Ilan Troen recently retired from his role at Brandeis University in Waltham, Massachusetts, and moved to Israel to live.
Talk to NPR from a Soroka hospital room in Israel, Professor Ilan Troen said: ‘My daughter and son-in-law were killed today but, when they died, saved his life.
‘They followed his body.
‘They were all together in the safe room. And they covered his body, and he was saved. He – nevertheless, a bullet penetrated them and entered his abdomen.’
Brandeis University confirmed the professor’s tragedy.
They said in a statement: ‘We at Brandeis are deeply saddened to learn that Professor Troen has lost his daughter and son-in-law in the tragic events currently taking place in Israel.
A Brandeis alumnus, Ilan and his family have long been valued members of the Brandeis community, and we keep Ilan, his wife Carol, and his entire family in our thoughts.
“We condemn in the strongest terms terrorism as we have seen today committed against innocent civilians.”
Troen taught Israel Studies at the private school, having studied there himself as an undergraduate before receiving his master’s degree and PhD at the University of Chicago.
Journalist Bari Weiss wrote on social media: ‘So many of my friends consider Ilan Troen a beloved teacher and mentor. Today his daughter and son-in-law were killed by terrorists in their home. They managed to save their son.’
Historian Martin Kramer said: ‘My friend Ilan Troen, who has done so much for Israel studies in America, has suffered an unimaginable loss. He had just retired from Brandeis and returned home to Israel. A miracle wrapped in tragedy.’