Egon Petschek, 80: Active in Orthodox Jewish community

[rug]

2:35 p.m. Saturday, November 19, 2011
By J.E. Geshwiler
For the AJC

In the Orthodox Jewish community of Atlanta in which Egon Petschek circulated, he was everybody's favorite unofficial grandfather.

That's despite the fact he tried hard not to call attention to himself. After all, he was a relative newcomer to this city, resettling here in 1978 after spending 40 years of his life in South America.

"Our children referred to him as Zayde Petschek," said Rabbi Menachem Deutsch of Atlanta, "and there are many other families who felt exactly the same."

Last March 27, the Torah Day School of Atlanta gave Mr. Petschek the official title of "Grandparent of the Year" at a gala Fox Theatre event in recognition of his generosity to the school and the personal attention he gave its pupils. It was an honor that Mr. Petschek, whom friends described as a very private person, had to be coaxed to accept.

http://www.ajc.com/news/egon-petschek-80-active-1233425.html?cxtype=rss_news

It's worthwhile to read the whole obituary. I find in reading these obituaries lately what astounding times these otherwise ordinary people lived through in the twentieth century.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

1. He sounds like a very good man. nt