Irving Berk

Irving was born on October 10, 1924, in Khust, Czechoslovakia (now Ukraine), one of eleven children. As a young boy, Irving worked on the family’s small farm and horse-drawn wagon delivery business.

In March 1939, upon Germany’s invasion of parts of Czechoslovakia, Hungary invaded the region where Irving lived. The Jews of Khust were among the first to suffer under Hungarian rule. Authorities seized much of his family’s belongings and livestock, ending the family’s ability to work and earn a living. Irving’s formal education came to an end.

As Germany and its Nazi supporters expanded their control, Irving was forced to flee Khust. He was eventually captured in Romania by Nazi collaborators and turned over to the German military. He was sent to Auschwitz, where he was selected to work as a slave laborer. Irving toiled in a number of concentration camps before being liberated from Ebensee, a subcamp of Mauthausen, on May 6, 1945, at age 20.

After a period of recuperation from the camps, Irving sought to return to Czechoslovakia in search of family who might have survived the war. Along the way, he was detained by Russian troops for several weeks and prevented from reaching his home.

Irving made his way to Budapest, where he met Julia Komorn, an Auschwitz survivor. Irving and Julia, along with her brother, traveled to Italy and lived in several displaced persons camps. There, Irving and Julia married and had two sons, Sam and Rafael.

Post-World War II Europe was changing dramatically, and Italy was no exception. Work was scarce, particularly for displaced noncitizens, and the few opportunities that existed were limited. Irving and Julia, like most displaced persons, were focused on emigrating. The United States was the first choice of many, but at the time it allowed few European refugees to enter. Fortunately, that changed, and the family came to the United States in 1950 and settled in Houston, Texas.

Before leaving Europe, Irving learned that three of his brothers and one sister were the only family members who had survived the war. One of the surviving brothers later succumbed to injuries suffered in the camps and died in Germany. After coming to the United States, Irving discovered that four of his cousins had also survived the war.

America was a welcome relief for the family, presenting new opportunities, but also new challenges. Irving and Julia were fluent in many languages but knew no English. With limited education, a young family to support, and a new language to learn, the early years in their new country were difficult. Nevertheless, Irving and Julia were grateful for their new life and loved their new country.

Shortly after arriving in Houston, Irving began working for Congregation Beth Israel as the Temple Engineer. He remained with Beth Israel until his retirement in 1993.

Julia passed away in 1990. In 1992, Irving married Lita Silverman, and they soon moved to Chandler, Arizona, where he enjoyed a happy retirement. Lita passed away in 2018. Aside from a brief stay in Houston, Irving lived in Chandler from 1993 until his death.

Despite having endured the Holocaust and the murder of most of his family in the death camps, Irving remained an optimist and saw the best in people. He was a proud Jew and enjoyed attending services and observing holidays. Irving cherished spending time with his family and friends and was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather.

Irving was a good athlete and loved sports. He was a soccer player and later a golfer. He worked out at his local gym up until the pandemic crisis and followed his favorite sports teams avidly.

In Arizona, he attended monthly Holocaust survivor luncheons and was made an honorary member of the Jewish War Veterans, some of whom had liberated concentration camps.

Irving was a person of high energy and a skilled handyman. He volunteered on a regular basis with a nonprofit that performed home repairs for fellow seniors who needed assistance.

Irving is survived by his son Sam Berk of Chandler, Arizona, son Rafael Berk (Dorothy), of Nashville, Tennessee, grandson, David Berk (Christina), of Houston, Texas, and granddaughter, Kathryn Berk, of Brooklyn, New York. Irving was buried in Houston.

A private graveside funeral service was held on Wednesday, February 3, 2021 at Congregation Beth Israel Memorial Garden. The service can be viewed on The Levy Funeral Directors page on Facebook.

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In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a charity of your choice in Irving’s memory.