From Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory
Kurt L. Wallach, 95, Miami
August 26, 1926 – September 14, 2021
Kurt L. Wallach passed away on September 14, 2021 when his kidneys failed after a bout with viral pneumonia.
He was born in Magdeburg, Germany on August 26, 1926 to Mark and Lena (Lopater) Wallach.
He was a Holocaust survivor. His family fled Nazi Germany in 1933 and started life again in Scheveningen, Holland, a suburb of the Hague. When it looked like war was inevitable, his family came to America and settled in Cleveland, Ohio.
He enlisted in the U.S. Navy at 18 years of age and trained in Ft. Pierce, Florida as a member of the Underwater Demolition Teams (forerunners of the Navy Seals) November 1944 to February 1945. He was stationed in the Pacific until August 1946.
He graduated from Western Reserve University with a Degree in Hearing and Speech Pathology in 1949 and then started an Aluminum Storm Window and Door Company which was very successful, but he didn’t like the winters in Cleveland and chose to relocate his small family to Miami, Florida.
He was quite an Entrepreneur having many successful businesses including building subdivisions and Florida’s first condominium. There was a Land Sales Company, a Beauty Supply business and a brief career as a Tennis Professional during which time he built the Miami Racquet Club. Thereafter, he focused on Real Estate Investments including; Shopping Centers, Manufactured Housing Communities, Apartment Complexes and Medical Centers all in various states.
Because he lost over 200 family members in the Holocaust, he became passionate about lecturing and speaking to schools and other groups about the atrocities of The Holocaust. He and his wife Marilyn became Founders of the United State Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, DC in an effort to see that we Never Forget.
In his later years he became an author with 7 published books. Two books related to his love of tennis, a biography of his father Mark, an autobiography of his life and most importantly 3 text books detailing the Holocaust. He was given an Honorary Doctorate, Doctor of Humane Letters from Florida Atlantic University last year. He and his wife Marilyn have made a major donation to Florida Atlantic University, where there will be a building in their name for Holocaust and Jewish Studies which, will further the teaching of The Holocaust and hopefully help to educate people to prevent hate and anti-Semitism.
Kurt and his wife, Marilyn have been soulmates for 42 years. They have one son, Mark. Kurt has 2 daughters by a previous marriage, Laurie Billowitz (Dr. Aaron) and Penny Spark, who predeceased him in 2019. He was blessed with 5 grandchildren; Shira McVean (Patrick), Daniel Spark, James Wallach, Vincent Wallach and Destiny Wallach. He has 2 great grandchildren; Millie McVean and Miles McVean. Loving nieces; Judith Harris Ornstein (Norman) and Dr. Pamela Harris and one great nephew, Danny Ornstein. His was a life well lived!!
There will be a private ceremony on Friday. Donations in his name can be made to The Holocaust Memorial Museum, FAU Foundation re: our Holocaust and Jewish Studies building and Temple Beth Shalom, Vero Beach.
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From Cox-Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home & Crematory
Stephen J. Fisk, 77, Vero Beach
April 24, 1944 – September 13, 2021
Stephen J Fisk, 77 of Vero Beach, Florida passed away on September 13, 2021 at VNA Hospice House.
Please check back for a more detailed obituary shortly.
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From Cox-Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home & Crematory
Rosa Lucia Gomez Macias, 48, Vero Beach
July 25, 1973 – September 14, 2021
Rosa Lucia Gomez Macias, 48, of Vero Beach, passed away September 14, 2021.
Visitation: 12:30 – 1:30 PM at Cox-Gifford Seawinds Funeral Home, Vero Beach.
Mass of Christian Burial: 2:00 PM at St. Helen Catholic Church, Vero Beach
To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Rosa Lucia Gomez Macias, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.