Oscar Mann was born in Paris, France, on October 13, 1934. His parents, Aaron and Hinda Mankowski, were Jewish refugees from Poland in search of a better life. Oscar and his younger brother, John, spent their early years in Paris, where their father successfully established open-air clothing markets.
The Nazi takeover of France in 1940 upended their comfortable life.
In 1941, Aaron was arrested by the French police in a roundup of Jews. Handed over to the Germans, he was soon deported to the Auschwitz Concentration Camp and murdered. Oscar, his mother, and brother fled to a small town in the South of France where they were sheltered by the righteous citizens there until the end of the war.
Returning to Paris, the family continued the market which their father had started, but nothing was the same as before. One family trip to Washington, D.C. (to visit cousins there) convinced Oscar that he had to immigrate to America to become a citizen.
In 1953, after these cousins had gladly agreed to sponsor him, Oscar came to the United States. He learned that he could become a citizen in 90 days, rather than the customary five years, if he enlisted in the military. Oscar spent two happy years in the Army during which time he was promoted from Private to Staff Sergeant. His cherished Citizenship allowed him to sponsor his brother, then his mother.
Oscar began his pre-med courses at George Washington University where he earned an Associate of
Arts Degree with Distinction. In 1958, he was accepted at Georgetown University Medical School; he graduated Cum Laude in 1962. Four years of postgraduate medical training, also at Georgetown, would
Shape his life and his career.
In 1966, Oscar joined a private practice of internal medicine which eventually became Foxhall Internists.
He practiced successfully for 33 years until 1999, when he had a stroke. “Nature retired me,” he often said.
Oscar, however, did not retire from life. He learned to drive a car again, and did so for ten years thereafter. He kept a rigorous schedule of exercise. He learned and mastered a desk computer which allowed him to communicate with his many friends and colleagues. He wrote an autobiography, A
Journey of Hope, which was published in 2005. He was a founding member of the Georgetown Romeo
Club, an informal group of retired, Georgetown-connected physicians.
He was loved and respected by all who knew him.
Oscar’s wonderful mother passed away in 1999. He leaves his beloved wife of 56 years, Amy, his adoring daughters, Adriana Mann (Russell Negin), and Karen Sitrin (Elliot), and three beautiful granddaughters, Ella Sitrin, Isabella Negin, and Elyse Negin. His brother, John J. Mann, M.D., John’s daughters, Gilda Zimmet (Brian), and Stacie Kronthal (Eric), also survive, along with their families. John has been Oscar’s lifelong best friend and closest confidante.
The family wishes to thank Oscar’s many loyal, caring, and supportive friends. Many thanks are also due to the entire staff at Brighton Gardens, Tuckerman Lane, and to the nurses and caregivers at JSSA
Hospice, who provided comfort during his last days.
Due to Covid restrictions, a family-only graveside service is planned. A celebration of Oscar’s life will be announced later in the year.
Please do not send flowers. In lieu of flowers, contributions would be welcome to Georgetown University Medical School, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, or a charity of your choice.
SHARE OBITUARY
v.1.8.18