Community stalwart dies at 101

HELEN SHAPIRO

Lisa was born in Frankfurt in Germany on December 7, 1915 and her family later moved to Berlin. In 1935, Lisa, Fritz and her brother Helmut Hirsch, left for South Africa, thus escaping the Nazi horrors. They initially shared a small apartment in Hillbrow in Johannesburg.

Fritz and Lisa had two daughters, Ann Horowitz – now living in England – and Dorit.

In South Africa Lisa and Fritz will be remembered for their tremendous work and dedication to IUA and WIZO respectively. Fritz was honoured with the Israel Goldstein Prize, awarded to only one person in the Diaspora annually.  A library at Beyachad is dedicated to him.

Lisa was for many years chairman of the Oaklands branch of WIZO and a most successful fundraiser. She led many missions to Israel and through that, encouraged many young people to get involved in community projects. In Sydney Lisa continued to fundraise for WIZO.

She is fondly remembered as a remarkable, elegant and gracious woman, with great charm and wisdom. She was always the optimist, with a lot of concern for others and an open home for anyone and everyone.

She was a formidable bridge player, still playing competitively the week before she died. She leaves behind her two daughters, six grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and many friends around the world.