The Memoirs of Lilo Goldenberg

Lilo Goldenberg née Lamm (Liselotte Thekla Lamm, born October 16, 1920, Berlin) Liselotte Thekla Lamm was born October 16, 1920, in Berlin and raised in a traditional Jewish home. Her father Leo Lamm headed an international fashion and textile business in Berlin; her mother Margarete (Gretel) Lamm née Falk had studied piano at the Berlin Music Academy. Lilo's sister Anita was born in 1923 (Anita Gans née Lamm, born August 31, 1923 and died January 12, 1991 in Leonia, New Jersey). Lilo’s early schooling in Berlin was complemented by studying French at the Pensionnat de Jeunes Filles in Montreux, Switzerland and English at the Mansfield College in Hove-Brighton, England. After finishing school in Berlin, Lilo attended a secretarial school. She worked for a short time as an interpreter-correspondent for a British Tapestry Company (Global Shipping) whose factory plant was in Berlin before she emigrated to the United States. Lilo received an affidavit of support through cousins of her mother (Herbert and Leo Peek) in New York. She boarded the S.S. Berengaria in Southampton on November 17, 1937 to sail to New York. Her parents and her sister Anita joined her later in 1938. Prior to that her mother had visited her in New York in March of 1938 for a week to explore options and obtain immigration visas for the rest of the family.

Lilo’s first job in New York was at the law company Abraham Pomerantz. Since her mother had made contacts on the Queen Mary with a Mr. Filene whose sister Dorothy Filene was secretary at the international German Jewish newspaper Aufbau, Lilo interviewed with Mrs. Filene and was subsequently hired as a secretary. At Aufbau she met her future husband Dr. Norbert Goldenberg, a physician, who was then the Vice-President of the German-Jewish Club (later called the New World Club). On March 10, 1940 Norbert and Lilo got married and Lilo started working as a medical secretary for her husband.

Norbert and Lilo Goldenberg continued volunteering for the Aufbau and were actively involved in a number of Jewish help organizations and charitable benevolent societies. When early survivors of concentration camps arrived in the USA, Norbert Goldenberg worked for the United Restitution Organization to establish medical and financial restitution claims for victims. Lilo helped Norbert to prepare these medical dossiers and expert opinions. Both Norbert and Lilo Goldenberg worked actively for Israel Bonds and United Jewish Appeal (UJA). Moving to Teaneck, Lilo joined the Women's American ORT and served as the Women's American Ort Representative to UJA and Israel Bonds. The highlight of their many visits to Israel was an invitation for a private interview with president Zalman Shazar in 1972.

Lilo and Norbert Goldenberg have two children: their daughter Eva Lynn Goldenberg-Gans (born February 21, 1941) is married to Leo Gans and their son David Alan Goldenberg (born August 26, 1948) married Janis Nora Waskover. Norbert Goldenberg passed away in 1974.

Lilo married her second husband Hans G. Ollendorff (1907-1996) in 1982. He was chairman of the Board of HG Ollendorff, Inc, an international freight and fine arts transportation company.

In 2000 Lilo Goldenberg married William Thurnauer (October 11, 1913-2006). Years earlier William Thurnauer and his late wife Maria had endowed the Thurnauer School of Music in the JCC (Jewish Community Center) of Tenafly, New Jersey. Lilo Goldenberg continued the involvement with the Thurnauer School.

Lilo Goldenberg has written essays throughout her life, reflecting on the history of her family, Jewish themes, and contemporary political developments. Some of her essays were published in the New Jersey newspapers The Record and The Jewish Standard.

Norbert Goldenberg (March 7, 1909, Oberfelda/Kestrich, Hessia–September 25, 1974, Teaneck, New Jersey) Norbert Goldenberg was born on March 7, 1909 in Kestrich, Hessia, into an Orthodox-Jewish family. His father Julius Goldenberg (July 6, 1881–April 7, 1968) worked as a cattle dealer. As a young boy his parents entered him in a public school in the nearest town, Alsfeld. He had to live in a boarding pension until his parents moved to Alsfeld as well. He passed his Abitur in 1927. From 1927 to 1932 he studied medicine and chemistry mainly at the University of Giessen. For his studies he also spent one semester at the university in Munich in 1930, one semester at the university in Cologne in 1931, and one semester at the university in Frankfurt am Main. He passed his medical state examination as well as his doctorate in Giessen in 1932. The topic of his thesis was "Ueber den Einfluss des Arsens auf die Neutralschwefelausscheidungen" (degree: 1932, issued 1935).

Norbert Goldenberg was a member of the Jewish fraternity organization Kartell-Convent der Verbindungen deutscher Studenten jüdischen Glaubens as well as of the Centralverein deutscher Staatsbürger jüdischen Glaubens. After passing his doctorate he served a one year internship at the Jewish hospital in Hanover. After this time he was appointed as assistant at the University Clinic for Internal Medicine of Frankfurt. The official post was to begin on January 1, 1934. This position and approbation as a physician was, however, rescinded by a Nazi decree from September 1933, which caused him to decide to emigrate.

On April 19, 1934 Norbert Goldenberg arrived in the United States, having sailed on the S.S. Manhattan from Hamburg to New York. His uncle George H. Goldenberg, who had a textile business in New York, had provided the necessary affidavit. Norbert Goldenberg could start residencies and internships at Montefiore Hospital immediately. He passed his American medical examination in 1936 and served as a resident physician in the Country Sanatorium of Montefiore Hospital from April 1934 to January 1937, specializing in the diseases of the chest. In 1937 he established his office and private practice in Washington Heights. As a naturalized citizen he applied for a medical commission in the United States Armed Services but was not accepted due to having the eye condition nystagmus.

In 1968 he received an honorary appointment as lecturer in Public Health and Administrative Medicine at Columbia University. He was a Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians, a member of the American Trudeau Society, and attending physician in pulmonary diseases and medicine at Montefiore Hospital where he received the Tiffany Award in "Appreciation of 40 years of Service."

In his extra-curricular activities Norbert Goldenberg served as a publisher and president of the German-Jewish newspaper Aufbau. In 1934 he was appointed as vice president, and in 1968 as president and publisher. He met his future wife Lilo in 1937 when she started working as a secretary for the Aufbau.

Norbert Goldenberg's father was Julius Goldenberg (July 6, 1881–April 7, 1968), a cattle dealer. His mother was Rosa Goldenberg, whose father was Heinemann Goldenberg, and grandfather was Seligmann Goldenberg. His grandparents were Doebel and Lina (née Baer) Goldenberg and Heinemann and Jeannette (née Katzenstein) Goldenberg.

Hans Gerhard Ollendorff (June 3, 1907, Leipzig–March 13, 1996, San Diego, California) Hans Gerhard Ollendorff was born in Leipzig, and grew up in Glogau (today Glogów, Poland). He worked for a transportation company in Berlin (Schaefer & Co.), and in 1935 went to Palestine on behalf of his company in order to research establishing a branch there. In 1936 he married Ilse Davidson in Berlin, emigrated to the United States in 1938, and started to build his own company H.G. Ollendorff, Inc., later Ollendorff Fine Arts, which specialized in art transportation and operated internationally for museums, banks, consulates, and embassies. He married Lilo Goldenberg on November 2, 1982. He died on March 13, 1996.

Manfred Gans (April 27, 1922, Borken–September 11, 2010, Fort Lee, New Jersey) Manfred Gans was the son of Moritz and Else Gans, and was sent to England at the age of 16. He joined the British Army and fought in World War II, found his parents alive in Theresienstadt in 1945, and married Anita Lamm in New York in 1948. He became a chemical engineer (after studying at the University of Manchester and Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Manfred Gans worked for the company Scientific Design, and in 1976 started consulting for the United Nations. His biography, Life Gave Me a Chance, was published in 2010. He had a son, Daniel Gans, and an older daughter, Aviva Rosenberg. His wife Anita died in 1991.

Liselotte Thekla Lamm was born October 16, 1920, in Berlin and raised in a traditional Jewish home. Her father Leo Lamm headed an international fashion and textile business in Berlin; her mother Margarete (Gretel) Lamm née Falk had studied piano at the Berlin Music Academy. Lilo's sister Anita was born in 1923 (Anita Gans née Lamm, born August 31, 1923 and died January 12, 1991 in Leonia, New Jersey). Lilo’s early schooling in Berlin was complemented by studying French at the Pensionnat de Jeunes Filles in Montreux, Switzerland and English at the Mansfield College in Hove-Brighton, England. After finishing school in Berlin, Lilo attended a secretarial school. She worked for a short time as an interpreter-correspondent for a British Tapestry Company (Global Shipping) whose factory plant was in Berlin before she emigrated to the United States. Lilo received an affidavit of support through cousins of her mother (Herbert and Leo Peek) in New York. She boarded the S.S. Berengaria in Southampton on November 17, 1937 to sail to New York. Her parents and her sister Anita joined her later in 1938. Prior to that her mother had visited her in New York in March of 1938 for a week to explore options and obtain immigration visas for the rest of the family.

Lilo’s first job in New York was at the law company Abraham Pomerantz. Since her mother had made contacts on the Queen Mary with a Mr. Filene whose sister Dorothy Filene was secretary at the international German Jewish newspaper Aufbau, Lilo interviewed with Mrs. Filene and was subsequently hired as a secretary. At Aufbau she met her future husband Dr. Norbert Goldenberg, a physician, who was then the Vice-President of the German-Jewish Club (later called the New World Club). On March 10, 1940 Norbert and Lilo got married and Lilo started working as a medical secretary for her husband.

Norbert and Lilo Goldenberg continued volunteering for the Aufbau and were actively involved in a number of Jewish help organizations and charitable benevolent societies. When early survivors of concentration camps arrived in the USA, Norbert Goldenberg worked for the United Restitution Organization to establish medical and financial restitution claims for victims. Lilo helped Norbert to prepare these medical dossiers and expert opinions. Both Norbert and Lilo Goldenberg worked actively for Israel Bonds and United Jewish Appeal (UJA). Moving to Teaneck, Lilo joined the Women's American ORT and served as the Women's American Ort Representative to UJA and Israel Bonds. The highlight of their many visits to Israel was an invitation for a private interview with president Zalman Shazar in 1972.

Lilo and Norbert Goldenberg have two children: their daughter Eva Lynn Goldenberg-Gans (born February 21, 1941) is married to Leo Gans and their son David Alan Goldenberg (born August 26, 1948) married Janis Nora Waskover. Norbert Goldenberg passed away in 1974.

Lilo married her second husband Hans G. Ollendorff (1907-1996) in 1982. He was chairman of the Board of HG Ollendorff, Inc, an international freight and fine arts transportation company.

In 2000 Lilo Goldenberg married William Thurnauer (October 11, 1913-2006). Years earlier William Thurnauer and his late wife Maria had endowed the Thurnauer School of Music in the JCC (Jewish Community Center) of Tenafly, New Jersey. Lilo Goldenberg continued the involvement with the Thurnauer School.

Lilo Goldenberg has written essays throughout her life, reflecting on the history of her family, Jewish themes, and contemporary political developments. Some of her essays were published in the New Jersey newspapers The Record and The Jewish Standard.

Norbert Goldenberg was born on March 7, 1909 in Kestrich, Hessia, into an Orthodox-Jewish family. His father Julius Goldenberg (July 6, 1881–April 7, 1968) worked as a cattle dealer. As a young boy his parents entered him in a public school in the nearest town, Alsfeld. He had to live in a boarding pension until his parents moved to Alsfeld as well. He passed his Abitur in 1927. From 1927 to 1932 he studied medicine and chemistry mainly at the University of Giessen. For his studies he also spent one semester at the university in Munich in 1930, one semester at the university in Cologne in 1931, and one semester at the university in Frankfurt am Main. He passed his medical state examination as well as his doctorate in Giessen in 1932. The topic of his thesis was "Ueber den Einfluss des Arsens auf die Neutralschwefelausscheidungen" (degree: 1932, issued 1935).

Norbert Goldenberg was a member of the Jewish fraternity organization Kartell-Convent der Verbindungen deutscher Studenten jüdischen Glaubens as well as of the Centralverein deutscher Staatsbürger jüdischen Glaubens. After passing his doctorate he served a one year internship at the Jewish hospital in Hanover. After this time he was appointed as assistant at the University Clinic for Internal Medicine of Frankfurt. The official post was to begin on January 1, 1934. This position and approbation as a physician was, however, rescinded by a Nazi decree from September 1933, which caused him to decide to emigrate.

On April 19, 1934 Norbert Goldenberg arrived in the United States, having sailed on the S.S. Manhattan from Hamburg to New York. His uncle George H. Goldenberg, who had a textile business in New York, had provided the necessary affidavit. Norbert Goldenberg could start residencies and internships at Montefiore Hospital immediately. He passed his American medical examination in 1936 and served as a resident physician in the Country Sanatorium of Montefiore Hospital from April 1934 to January 1937, specializing in the diseases of the chest. In 1937 he established his office and private practice in Washington Heights. As a naturalized citizen he applied for a medical commission in the United States Armed Services but was not accepted due to having the eye condition nystagmus.

In 1968 he received an honorary appointment as lecturer in Public Health and Administrative Medicine at Columbia University. He was a Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians, a member of the American Trudeau Society, and attending physician in pulmonary diseases and medicine at Montefiore Hospital where he received the Tiffany Award in "Appreciation of 40 years of Service."

In his extra-curricular activities Norbert Goldenberg served as a publisher and president of the German-Jewish newspaper Aufbau. In 1934 he was appointed as vice president, and in 1968 as president and publisher. He met his future wife Lilo in 1937 when she started working as a secretary for the Aufbau.

Norbert Goldenberg's father was Julius Goldenberg (July 6, 1881–April 7, 1968), a cattle dealer. His mother was Rosa Goldenberg, whose father was Heinemann Goldenberg, and grandfather was Seligmann Goldenberg. His grandparents were Doebel and Lina (née Baer) Goldenberg and Heinemann and Jeannette (née Katzenstein) Goldenberg.

Hans Gerhard Ollendorff was born in Leipzig, and grew up in Glogau (today Glogów, Poland). He worked for a transportation company in Berlin (Schaefer & Co.), and in 1935 went to Palestine on behalf of his company in order to research establishing a branch there. In 1936 he married Ilse Davidson in Berlin, emigrated to the United States in 1938, and started to build his own company H.G. Ollendorff, Inc., later Ollendorff Fine Arts, which specialized in art transportation and operated internationally for museums, banks, consulates, and embassies. He married Lilo Goldenberg on November 2, 1982. He died on March 13, 1996.

Manfred Gans was the son of Moritz and Else Gans, and was sent to England at the age of 16. He joined the British Army and fought in World War II, found his parents alive in Theresienstadt in 1945, and married Anita Lamm in New York in 1948. He became a chemical engineer (after studying at the University of Manchester and Massachusetts Institute of Technology). Manfred Gans worked for the company Scientific Design, and in 1976 started consulting for the United Nations. His biography, Life Gave Me a Chance, was published in 2010. He had a son, Daniel Gans, and an older daughter, Aviva Rosenberg. His wife Anita died in 1991.