Ann Dorzback

Ann Dorzback, 103, born in her beloved Ulm, Germany on June 21, 1921, died on March 30, 2025 in Louisville, KY. Born Anneliese Wallersteiner, the daughter of Leopold and Elsa Wallersteiner (née Bergmann), she was pre-deceased by her loving husband, Richard Dorzback, her parents, her sister, Charlotte Elsas (Gerald), and her two brothers, Hans and Hermann, who died in their childhood.

Ann grew up a happy child of two worlds: Jewish and non-Jewish. She spoke fondly of being raised by a village of family, friends, and extended family who advocated tikkun olam (repairing the world) and tzedakah (justice/philanthropy), embracing diversity and combating prejudice. She committed herself to these tenets, as well as the spirit of “welcoming the stranger”, her entire life.

Ann, her sister, and parents were fortunate to escape Nazi persecution in 1939, emigrating first to London, and then to New York City. Upon their arrival, Ann started a sewing and alterations business with her sister, and later opened a textile factory with her father. In 1949, Ann married her soulmate, Richard, and together they raised four children, Irene, Robert, Margaret and Elizabeth. In 1966, the family moved to Louisville, KY, and Ann became a realtor with Taylor Hay Realty, selling homes to clients of all races, colors, creeds, and sexual orientations. Later, as Rental Coordinator at All Peoples Unitarian Universalist Congregation, she offered LGBTQ couples one of the first locations in Louisville to be joined in holy union. In recognition of Ann’s dedication, All Peoples Unitarian Universalist Congregation renamed the parsonage “The Dorzback Chapel”, an honor in which she took immense pride.

Ann’s volunteerism began as a child in Germany supporting many charitable organizations. During World War II, she and her girlfriends formed “Our Boys Club”, writing letters and shipping care packages to Jewish immigrant soldiers without families, who enlisted in the military to defeat Nazism. Many of these soldiers became Ritchie Boys (a special unit consisting primarily of Jewish immigrant soldiers which specialized in intelligence). While raising her family, Ann volunteered as a scout leader, temple choir member, arts and crafts teacher, German translator, seamstress for various school activities, advisor for Sing-Out Louisville, and as the famous pussy willow vendor at the “Art in the Arbor” art fair.

Ann loved public speaking, engaging with church, synagogue, library, and high school groups about her emigration experience. In 2021, she was awarded the Medallion of the City of Ulm (her childhood home) and the Key to the City of Louisville in recognition of her presentations and talks emphasizing reconciliation and understanding. Just prior to her passing, Ann completed her manuscript about her emigration experience: “The 22 Miracles of Emigration”, to be published in the near future.

Left to cherish Ann’s memory are her four children: Irene Dorzback, Robert Dorzback, Margaret Doehnert (Robert), and Elizabeth Zlotowitz (Morris), five grandchildren: Jennifer West, Deborah Nicholson (Christopher), Daniel Doehnert, Rebecca Daley (Christopher), Rai Dorzback, and five great-grandchildren. Additionally, she will be remembered by family and extended family in Louisville, across the United States and Europe.

All are welcome to attend visitation at Arch L. Heady & Son Funeral Home, 7410 Westport Road, Louisville, KY on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, from 1-3pm and funeral at 3pm. The service will be shown via live-stream at https://zoom.us/j/92646499870. Burial will take place on April 24 at Cedar Park Cemetery (Beth El) in Paramus, New Jersey at 1:30 pm. A celebration of Ann’s life will be held at a later date at All Peoples Unitarian Universalist Congregation. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Ann’s honor to one of the following organizations she supported: the Dorzback-Wallersteiner-Bergmann Scholarship Fund for Humanitarian Service at the University of Louisville (http://give.louisville.edu/Dorzback), HIAS (https://hias.org/how/ways-give/), or ACLU of Kentucky (www.aclu-ky.org).