Miriam B. Merzbacher passed away at the age of 97 on May 12, 2024 in Orleans, MA.
Born in Berlin, Germany, she and her family fled the Nazi regime and settled in the Netherlands. From there, she was sent to the Theresienstadt Concentration Camp in 1944 where she survived along with her mother and grandmother. Her father and brother perished at the Auschwitz and Mauthausen Concentration Camps, respectively. At the end of World War II, Miriam was liberated and emigrated to New York City where she met her husband, Peter, a fellow German emigrant who had spent the war years in Brazil. They raised two children, Monica Way and Thomas Merzbacher, in Queens, NY after which they moved to the suburbs of Larchmont, NY and Summit, NJ. Miriam obtained college degrees from Hunter College and Bank St. College after which she became a preschool special education teacher in Leonia, NJ for many years. She retired to Greenwich, CT where she and Peter enjoyed going for walks, reading and making annual trips to Europe.
Miriam loved being an “Oma” (grandmother) and her children and grandchildren treasured visits to her Connecticut apartment. They enjoyed her meals with a European flair, her mid century modern design aesthetic and her love for colorful Marimekko clothing. She loved to laugh and an occasional glass of wine along with a “L’Chaim” (To life!) toast would have her giggling and saying her favorite “Ooh la la” expression in no time. Miriam was a Holocaust survivor who inspired family and friends in the US, Netherlands and Germany with her love of life despite having endured wartime losses and hardships.