Ruth Heinemann's Obituary
Ruth (Simon) Heinemann was surrounded by love when she passed on Saturday, June 20th, 2026. She had lived a full and rich life at 101. Born in Cloppenburg, Germany, in February of 1925, she was the second oldest of four daughters born to Karl and Selma Simon. Ruth is predeceased by her loving sisters, Edith Babich, Hilde Gernsheimer, and her youngest sister, Ilse Simon.
Ruth and her sister Hilde were sent to Dover Court, England on the first Kindertransport in December of 1938. There they were fortunate enough to meet a group of Jewish philanthropists from Harrogate, England, that were willing to foster religious, Jewish girls and provide them a good education. The girls remained in England for six years. Ruth was trained as a milliner and a seamstress in an exclusive shop. When Ruth and her sister, Hilde, finally received their documents for America, they arrived in Brooklyn, NY, and were greeted by their older sister, Edith in January, 1945.
Edith and Ilse had been with the girls’ parents on a ship called the MS St Louis bound for Cuba in 1939 to try to escape the Holocaust, but they were denied entry to Cuba, the United States and Canada by all three countries. They were forced back to Europe and found themselves in Holland in June of 1939. Edith was able to find a sponsor to provide her papers for Coventry, England, before the Nazis invaded The Netherlands in May of 1940. Karl, Selma and Ilse were sent to Sobibor Concentration Camp eventually and murdered in May, 1943.
Ruth met the love of her life, Manfred Heinemann, a Holocaust survivor from Germany, in a congregation in Brooklyn, NY. They were married in 1947 and had three children—Susan Berman (Steven) of Kennesaw, GA; Julie Powsner (Richard) of Cary, NC; and Gary Phillip Heinemann, who passed in 2010.
Ruth enjoyed homemaking and worked part-time in sales as well as being an active member of Hadassah, Sisterhood, and the former President of the Jewish War Veterans Auxilliary of Post 157 of Framingham, MA. She was a good wife and loving mother, grandmother, and great grandmother, and an inspirational friend to many. She loved to read, crochet, play games, and kept her mind active and alert. She had a warm personality that endeared her to people of different ages and backgrounds. She gave generously to charities and worked diligently to share her family’s story of the Holocaust in the hopes of fighting prejudice and Anti-semitism. More details of her storied life can be found in a biography written by her daughter, Susan, in a book called Challenging Faith.
Ruth had a sincere love of Judaism and practiced faithfully throughout her life. She was challenged by many adversities including her son’s severe Downs’ Syndrome diagnosis at birth, her mental health fluctuations, and Fred’s many illnesses, and several moves throughout their 54 years of marriage.
She was proud of her grandchildren, David Berman (Atlanta, Ga); Daniel Berman; Betsy Steed, and her precious great grandchild, Finn Berman, of Sunnyside, NY.
In lieu of flowers, please consider sending a contribution to the Jewish Family and Career Services of Atlanta (Holocaust Fund) 4549 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, GA 30338. OR The Lexington Foundation at https://givebutter.com/memorial_garden . If anyone prefers to make a donation by check, please make check payable to The Lexington Foundation and note “Legacy of Love Memorial Garden Project” in the memo line. Checks can be mailed to:
The Lexington Foundation
127 East State Street
Gloversville, NY 12078
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