Dr. Hans M. Wolff

WORCESTER – Dr. Hans M. Wolff, 102, passed away peacefully, on Thursday, February 20, 2014, after a short illness. Dr.Wolff was born in Neustadt in Oberschlesien, Germany in 1911. He was the beloved husband of Rita Hamburger who died in 1976 and then of Rhoda Mittledorf who died in 1990. Dr. Wolff completed the pre-clinical program in medicine at the German Universities of Freiburg and Wurzburg in the mid-1930s, but was unable to start his clinical studies before the Nazis closed the universities to Jewish students. Dr. Wolff left Germany with his fiancé and her parents in 1939, first arriving in Cuba, where he married Rita. After about a year, they obtained visas to immigrate to the United States, and settled in Boston. In 1943, Dr. Wolff was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served in the 69th Infantry Division Intelligence Unit and rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant. When asked by one of his grandchildren if it was hard to go back to Europe to fight in the war, Hans replied, “No, this was my war. I wanted to go.” Dr. Wolff was discharged in 1946 and lived in Brookline, MA with his wife and family. Using the GI Bill, Mr. Wolff attended the Massachusetts College of Optometry. Upon graduation, he opened a practice in Millbury, MA and moved his family to Worcester. He practiced optometry for many years until he retired at age 71. Dr. Wolff enjoyed traveling, reading, listening to music, and keeping in touch with friends and family. Dr. Wolff is survived by his children, Barbara Kupfer of Worcester, wife of the late David Kupfer, and Kenneth Wolff and his wife Jacqueline of Newton; his grandchildren, Johanna Chesley and her husband Nathan of Andover, Zachary Wolff of Newton, Sharon Roberts and her husband Russell of Potomac, MD, Dahlia Kupfer and her husband Stuart Hirschfeld of Seattle, WA, Tamara Kupfer and her husband Andrew Sirulnik of Northampton, and his great-grandchildren Analise, Yael, Ezra, Aryeh, Zev, Eli, Anya, Caleb, Benjamin, Eve, and Dov. He was predeceased by his granddaughter, Tira Wolff. In an article written by Laura Porter for the Telegram and Gazette on September 29, 2011 titled “Lifetime of Memories Nears 100”, Dr. Wolff said: “It’s amazing, I did have an interesting life. I always felt that I helped make history and I made a nice family.” FUNERAL SERVICES WILL BE HELD AT 3:00 PM ON SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 23RD AT TEMPLE EMANUEL SINAI, 280 MAY ST., WORCESTER UNDER THE DIRECTION OF RICHARD PERLMAN OF BREZNIAK RODMAN CHAPELS OF NEWTON. Burial will be in Holy Society Cemetery in Leicester.Memorial observance will be announced at the time of the funeral service. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Eisenberg Assisted Living, 631 Salisbury St., Worcester, MA 01609, Tatnuck Park, 340 May St., Worcester, MA 01602 or to Knollwood Nursing Home, 87 Briarwood Circle, Worcester, MA 01606 Portions of Ms. Porter’s article were used in writing this obituary.