Morry Rolider

YEARS OLD.

A HOLOCAUST SURVIVOR, HE WAS BORN ‘MIETEK’ ROLIDER, TO PARENTS ADAM AND SARA, IN 1925, IN WARSAW, POLAND. MORRY’S FAMILY SERVED FOOD TO THE MANY HUNGRY JEWS IN THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD, DURING THE NAZI INVASION AND CREATION OF THE WARSAW GHETTO. HIS INCREDIBLE INTERVIEW AND STORY OF HIS FAMILY’S SURVIVAL CAN BE FOUND IN THE ‘HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL MUSEUM’ ARCHIVES (ONLINE), UNDER HIS NAME.

COMING TO AMERICA AFTER THE WAR, HE WORKED HARD AS A SALESMAN AND THEN AS A FARMER. AND DESPITE NEVER HAVING BEEN A FARMER BEFORE, HE WAS A NATURAL. RAISING AND TENDING CHICKENS, AND EVEN BIRTHING BABY CALVES.

WHEN MORRY AND SONIA FIRST MET, THEY TOOK A LIKING TO EACH OTHER IMMEDIATELY, AND SIX MONTHS LATER THEY WERE MARRIED. THEY LIVED HAPPILY EVER AFTER, FOR 68 YEARS. COUSIN ERNIE SAYS: THE BEST THNG THAT HAPPENED TO MORRY WAS MEETING SONIA AND HAVING THE GOOD SENSE TO MARRY HER. AFTER HAVING TWINS, THEY MOVED TO N.Y. AND WORKED TOGETHER TO CREATE A THRIVING, SUCCESSFUL WOMENS RETAIL CLOTHING BUSINESS.

MORRY WAS VERY ARTISTIC. HE BEGAN DRAWING WHILE STILL IN POLAND, AND CONTINUED PAINTING THROUGHOUT MOST OF HIS LIFE. MANY OF US WILL REMEMBER AND CONTINUE TO CHERISH HIS PAINTINGS INCLUDING CLOWNS, RABBIS, AND NATURE IN ALL ITS FACETS.

SONIA DESCRIBES HER HUSBAND AS VERY SPIRITUAL. WITH A WHIMSICAL YET SERIOUS TONE, HE WOULD SAY “I HAVE CONNECTIONS,” REFERRING TO HIS FAITH. WHEN SONIA LIT THE SABBATH CANDLES EVERY FRIDAY NIGHT, AND SAID PERSONAL PRAYERS FOR THE FAMILY, HE ALWAYS EXTENDED IT FOR ALL PEOPLE.

IT WAS IMPORTANT FOR MORRY TO GIVE TO THE COMMUNITY. HE SERVED AS VICE PRESIDENT OF THE MENS CLUB AND THEN PRESIDENT OF TEMPLE TORAH IN QUEENS, AS A BOARD MEMBER OF HUNTINGTON POINT, AND WAS A RESPECTED MEMBER OF THE BRANDEIS #1165 MASONIC LODGE OF BAYSIDE FOR AT LEAST THREE DECADES. MORRY WAS GREATLY APPRECIATED AS A FAIR, UNDERSTANDING AND COMPASSIONATE LEADER AND TEAM PLAYER.

AFTER RETIRING HE VOLUNTEERED IN THE COURTS AND HOSPITAL. HE BROUGHT WARMTH, HUMOR AND COMFORT TO THOSE HE HELPED.

HIS DAUGHTER ANITA WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER HOW HIS BEAUTIFUL SMILE LIT UP THE ROOM. HIS OTHER DAUGHTER ADELE REMEMBERS THE GREAT TIME SHE HAD WITH HIM SINGING AND CREATING SONGS TOGETHER. PHILLIPE, HIS HOME ATTENDANT REMEMBERS HIM AS A DEAR FRIEND. HIS NEPHEW ERNIE AND SO MANY OF US WERE INSPIRED BY MORRY’S POSITIVE OUTLOOK ON LIFE.

IN ADDITION TO HIS WIFE AND COMPANION SONIA, MORRY IS MOURNED BY HIS TWO CHILDREN, ADELE AND ANITA (AND HER HUSBAND HARVEY), HIS THREE GRANDCHILDREN, SUZANNE, REBECCA (AND HER HUSBAND ADAM), MICHAEL (AND HIS WIFE AMBER), HIS NEPHEWS AND NIECES: ERNIE, BARRY, JESSICA, HARVEY AND CARRIE, HIS HOME ATTENDANT, PHILLIPE, AS WELL AS HIS COUSINS AND FRIENDS.

WE WILL ALL MISS MORRY’S TWINKLE IN HIS EYE, HIS JOY FOR LIFE, HIS WARMTH AND HIS BIG HEART.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.starofdavidfuneralchapel.com for the Rolider family.