Alice Tenenbaum

Alice Tenenbaum was born on April 22,1930 in what was then Czechoslovakia. Her large, close-knit family enjoyed wealth and privilege, but that was torn away from her at age 14, when she and her family were shipped to Auschwitz. Of the twenty close family members who went with her to the concentration camp, only she and her mother survived Auschwitz and the death march to Bergen Belsen.

After World War II, Alice lived briefly in Sweden and then she and her mother traveled to America penniless to start life anew. At age 20, she married Sol Tenenbaum and they remained happily married until his death in 1997.

Although Alice never finished middle school, she managed to convince Hofstra University to admit her. While raising her family, Alice earned both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Hofstra University. She then taught art at Northport High School on Long Island for more than 20 years. She was also an accomplished artist and sculptor.

Alice was fluent in 8 languages and enjoyed fashion and design. She traveled the world, visiting six continents, and enjoyed playing tennis and skiing. She was also the reigning ping-pong champion among her friends and family.

After Sol’s death, Alice met Hy Flugman who was her constant companion for almost 20 years, until his death in 2017. During her active retirement, Alice was a docent at the Museum of Jewish Heritage and gave lectures about the Holocaust at conferences and for school groups. She was the inspiration for a book and was featured in two documentaries. She was also an avid and accomplished bridge player.

Alice loved New York City and all it had to offer and loved spending time with her family. Her persistence and strength served as an inspiration for her family and her zest for life will be truly missed. May she be remembered for all the lives she touched, including her friends, students, many admirers, and especially her family.

Alice is survived by her three daughters, Evelyn, Judy, and Nancy Tenenbaum, her three sons in law, Howard Zwickel, Jay Damashek, and Jeff Levine, and her four grandchildren, Joanna and Karen Zwickel and Max and Jordan Damashek.

We ask that you consider a donation on her behalf to the Museum of Jewish Heritage in New York City.