Erika F Kupersmit

June 15, 1923 – August 12, 2025

Fanny “Erika” Pankiewicz Kupersmit (Baba), beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, passed away on August 12, 2025, at her home in Miami, Florida, at the age of 102.

Born on June 15, 1923, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Erika was the daughter of Izaac Wolf Pankiewicz (1969) and Esther Hening Pankiewicz (1981). She was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 52 years, Adolfo Kupersmit (1995); her brother, Mauricio Pankiewicz (1987); her sister, Anna “Chiche” Pankiewicz Neer (1982); and sons-in-law Fernando Kohan (2020) and Alejandro Weinsztok (2011).

She is survived by her daughters, Noemi “Pupe” Kohan and Susan Kupersmit, and her son, Carlos (Yvonne) Kupersmit; grandchildren Cynthia Kohan Nadel, Stephan (Ilka) Kohan, Bryan (Alaina) Weinsztok, and Gabrielle Maury; great-grandchildren Alexis (Stephen) Rock, Kyle (Anely) Kohan, Ashley (Natalee) Glincher, Gizela Kohan, Noah Weinsztok, Aiden Weinsztok, and Carlos Jovi Arguello; great-great-grandchildren Elyse, Alexandra, Aaron, and Braxton; numerous nieces and nephews; and son-in-law Ramon Maury. Her love projected deeply to her extended family and friends, all of whom felt her warmth and generosity.

Erika and Adolfo were married in Argentina in 1943 and, in 1965, moved to Miami, FL with their three children. She built a career as a physical therapist in Miami, dedicating herself to helping young children with Cerebral Palsy through the United Cerebral Palsy Institute. Her compassion and dedication earned her professional recognition and accolades for her work with patients suffering from severe physical and mental disabilities, regularly being featured in industry magazines, The Miami Herald and during appearances on national Cerebral Palsy telethons. She considered her work one of her life’s utmost legacies, and she took great pride in sharing old newspaper clippings, photos and stories of her patients and achievements with her grandchildren.

Many would say her true passion, however, was her family. Erika was the matriarch whose wisdom, love, and care shaped multiple generations. Whether through her nurturing presence, her warm home filled with stories, or her delicious food, she left an indelible mark on all who knew her.

A gifted cook, Erika’s gefilte fish was second-to-none, and Jewish holiday meals prepared by her hand, and aided by her daughters, were a cherished family tradition. She had a knack for rolling out hundreds of hand-made gnocchi or filling the kitchen with the scent of freshly baked Mandelbrot cookies. Beyond her culinary artistry, she excelled in calligraphy and ceramics — her beautifully detailed and illuminated “globe” scenes of Israeli cities were displayed at the Greater Miami Jewish Federation’s Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU.

Even at 102, Erika’s memory remained sharp and her storytelling rarely missed a detail. She never turned away a visitor and welcomed everyone into her home and heart, from friends to neighbors, extended family and beyond. Now, she is reunited with the loved ones who have been patiently waiting to greet her.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, August 15, 2025, at 1:00 p.m. at Riverside Gordon Memorial Chapels at Mt. Nebo Kendall, 5900 SW 77th Ave, Miami, FL 33143.

May her memory be a blessing. We will miss you, Baba!