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Manhattan Beach, CA—While the jewelry industry has helped many children around the world, one jeweler—Russ Varon, co-owner of Morgan’s Jewelers in Torrance and Rolling Hills Estates, CA—is actively helping two local brothers rebuild their lives. 

On December 23, Shaun and Alex Jensen suddenly lost their mother, Jennifer, in a tragic traffic accident. Meanwhile, Varon had been through a tragedy of his own two years earlier: his 21-year-old son Matthew died suddenly during a trip home from Arizona State University, where he had been a dean’s list student.

"When I saw it on the news, it just hit home," Varon told The Centurion. (He's pictured here posing with designer Rhonda Faber Green at the grand re-opening of his Rolling Hills Estates store.)

While the brothers both are young men, not children, they clearly needed help. Shaun Jensen, 23, is a full-time college student. In addition to his studies, he also takes care of 25-year-old Alex, who is mentally disabled. The two have no other relatives.

The Jensen family had been struggling even before Jennifer Jensen was killed. A former army medic, she worked as a nurse for 20 years before an accident six years ago put her on permanent disability. The family got by on $600 a month—Jennifer’s $400 disability pension and another $200 from the state for Alex. Their only car was no longer functional, so Jennifer Jensen used her motorcycle to get around until a 17-year-old making an illegal U-turn ended her life. The family had little to eat and owned very few clothes. Shaun Jensen, meanwhile, never gave up his dream of earning a business degree, and even though it takes two hours by bus each way to attend classes at Santa Monica Community College—along with his duties at home—he maintains a 3.8 grade point average and hopes to someday earn a four-year degree from the prestigious University of California at Berkeley.

"I asked Shaun if he'd always been a student, and he said when their mother was first injured, he wanted to make something of himself to take care of the family," says Varon admiringly.

Almost from the moment the newscast ended, Varon stepped in. For a start, he bought food, clothes, and paid for the lease and insurance on a 2012 Volkswagen Passat so Shaun can drive to classes. Since then, he's also stepped in to assist with legal matters and has offered to renovate and refurnish the Jensens' apartment. Varon helped Shaun Jensen get his drivers' license reinstated when it lapsed after his old car expired, and Varon's attorneys, together with a social worker, are trying to sort through the paperwork to both identify Alex's disability (Vardon thinks he may be classified as high-functioning autistic) and determine what, if any, further aid is available for him.

He also provides moral support. Jennifer Jensen was a single mother; the boys never had a father or the opportunity to do father-and-son things like sports or even take a trip. “I want to show [Shaun] what life is about and allow him to experience new things,” Varon told The Daily Breeze, a local paper. Even in this short time, Jensen has become very important to Varon and they're in frequent contact.

"I said to him, 'Excuse me if I text a lot, but I miss my son and I want to be able to help you,'" he said.

Manhattan Beach police sergeant Steve Kitsios, one of the first responders to the crash, also stepped in to help. With no life insurance and no income, the brothers’ situation is dire, and Kitsios put a call out to the community for assistance, said the article.

Response has been overwhelming, in the form of everything from donated meals to money to an offer to pay Shaun’s college tuition. But, says Kitsios, as wonderful as it is, it’s an immediate response to a long-term situation. The brothers may have grounds for a lawsuit but any funds they might gain are years away and in the meantime the rent needs to be paid every month. Despite Varon's offer of new furniture--or to move into a spare bedroom in his own house--Shaun still worries about being evicted.

Varon had established a memorial education fund in Matthew’s name after his death, and it already has helped pay $30,000 for law-school tuition for one of Matthew's friends. Varon says this year he wants it to go to Shaun, and a fundraiser has been set for February 7. Varon is working with local hotels and caterers to get services donated.

“He has a big heart. When we met we hit it off pretty well. His help has been incredibly important,” Jensen told the Breeze.