"I would like to express my gratitude to Erwin and I would like his family to know that I greatly appreciated him. He visited my high school classes in Madison, and I got to know him a little bit personally thereafter as well while working with him on some translations/transcriptions when he would come over to my place for "Kaffee und Kuchen". Also, that was a very nice article in the Wisconsin State Journal today on page A3. I believe that the chance conversation that he had lead to his first talk to a high school class here in Madison that they refer to in the article was with me and my student teacher at the time, at the UW-Madison, and the first talk he gave to a high school class that they refer to in the article was my classes at West High School where I began my teaching career teaching German and Social Studies/History some 14 years ago. He was a fascinating persona with an incredible moving story that he so graciously and passionately shared with us. We should all be so lucky to live a complete and full enriching life such as he did."
In loving memory of
Erwin Samuel Deutsch
July 4, 1916 - December 4, 2010
Madison - Erwin Deutsch died on December 4, 2010 at the age of 94. He was born in Breslau, Germany on July 4, 1916. He fled in 1939, having survived Buchenwald Concertration Camp. He traveled with his young wife, Steffi, his parents and his father-in-law to Bolivia where he made a home for his family for eight years before bringing them to the United States in 1946. Erwin and Steffi lived in New Orleans for 29 years, where he was a renowned and respected contractor. In 1961, he built the Al Hirt Club on Bourbon St. in New Orleans, one of many buildings he built that remain ed standing after Katrina. In 1987, he and Steffi moved to Evanston, Illinois, living near their daughters. In 1995, they moved to Jackson, Wyoming and then in 1997, settled in Madison Wisconsin. During his later years, he became a Holocaust Educator speaking eloquently about his experience in schools, synagogues, churches and community settings all over the country. Erwin was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Steffi, and a daughter, Marianne, who died in Bolivia at age four. He is survived by his daughters, Renate Bennett and Claudia MacMillan, their spouses, Michael Spierer and Chris MacMillan, his grandchildren, Eric Braun, Tamara Braun, Joe MacMillan and Andy MacMillan and Lisa, Josh and Gabe Spierer and by his large and loving extended family. Funeral services for Erwin will be held Wed. Dec. 8, 2010 at 11 a.m. at CRESS FUNERAL HOME, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison. A visitation will be held prior to service beginning at 10 a.m. A light luncheon will follow. In lieu of flowers please consider sending a donation to the Shoah Foundation in Erwin's name.