Sophie Rapaport

Devoted mother of Joanne Amsterdamska Robbins and her husband Jeff of Lexington. Cherished grandmother of Naomi Moore of Austin, Texas, Hannah Moore of Amsterdam, the Netherlands, Alex Robbins of Brooklyn, New York and Tali Robbins of Boston. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Olga Amsterdamska Moore.

Sophie endured, persevered through and overcame enormous challenges, thereby providing profound inspiration to her family and friends. Born in Poland, she survived the Holocaust, but lost much of her family in it. She went on to earn a Master’s Degree in electrical engineering at a distinguished institution in Poland, and in 1969, in the face of an anti-Semitic pogrom in Poland, decided to emigrate with her two daughters. After living in limbo with her children for several months in Italy, she and they arrived in the United States on July 20, 1969, with no resources, no job and no ability to speak English.

Devoting herself to her children, she quickly got a job, went on to earn several more degrees, and sent her daughters on to distinguished universities and graduate schools. She hiked the Himalayas, ran a half marathon, became an expert gardener, cared deeply for her family and demonstrated to her grandchildren what strength, independence and fortitude were all about. Until the end of her life, she remained grateful to the United States for providing a haven for her and her children, and for so many others like them.

Funeral services will take place on January 2, 2024, at 10:30 AM, at Stanetsky Memorial Chapel, 1668 Beacon St., BROOKLINE. Interment immediately following at Sharon Memorial Park, 40 Dedham St., SHARON.

Memorial observance will be held on Tuesday, January 2, from 1:30 – 3:30 PM and from 5:30 – 8:00 PM at the home of Joanne and Jeffrey Robbins.

In lieu of flowers, donations in Sophie’s memory may be made to Rosie’s Place (www.rosiesplace.org) or to National Organization for Rare Disorders (www.rarediseases.org).

Arrangements in the care of Stanetsky Memorial Chapels. www.stanetskybrookline.com