Molly Blatt

Of Brookline, formerly of Brooklyn, NY, on March 1, 2017. A Jewish refugee from Heidelberg, Germany, Molly arrived in Brooklyn, NY, in 1938 where she lived until she moved to Brookline ten years ago to be near her son Marty and his family in Cambridge.  Molly could have become a pediatrician in Germany had she not been forced to flee.  She studied public health nursing and worked as a visiting nurse and in her husband Bernie’s family fur business in Park Slope, a neighborhood she loved.  Later, she worked for Planned Parenthood.

Molly left Germany alone at age 18.  Her father died in Gurs prison camp.  The Nazis murdered many of her relatives.Her mother and brother Henry fled in 1940, but Henry was drafted into the army and died in combat on Christmas, 1944; his father died four years earlier on Christmas.  Her granddaughter Emma was born on Christmas.  Until her final days, Molly, a consummate storyteller, recounted  vivid details of the rise of the Nazis.  The Jewish Heritage Museum in New York includes interviews with her.  Her son interviewed her as part of a Northeastern seminar he taught –  https://vimeo.com/155122400.  Molly spoke about the Holocaust to classes of her granddaughters, Emma and Rosa, and at the Devotion School in Brookline.  She traveled with her son to Heidelberg in 2001 for a reunion of former Jewish citizens and her son participated in the 2011 program with Rosa.

Immigration restrictions by the United States led directly to the murder of many Jews by the Nazis.  No one could enter the country without an affidavit from an American citizen.  Adolph Keller provided affidavits for her mother and brother and he arranged for Molly to work as nurse for his daughter Bernice’s baby, Robert.  Molly and Robert’s widow Sally and her sons have been as close as family.

Molly had a wonderful sense of humor and never became embittered.   She was a devoted daughter, mother, and grandmother.  After retirement, she engaged in painting and writing.  As a nurse, she loved the circle of nurses centered around her daughter-in-law, Betty Munson.

Molly had a great capacity for caregiving.  She helped raise Dajin, her daughter’s son.   She managed the care for her husband and mother, who both died at home.  She provided strong support as her daughter succumbed to cancer.

Molly is survived by her son Martin, his wife Betty, their daughters Emma and Rosa, her grandson Dajin Flores, and many friends and relatives in Boston, New York and elsewhere who cherish her memory.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Molly’s name to the Blue Card which provides direct financial assistance to needy Holocaust survivors.www.bluecardfund.org

Service on Sunday, March 5, 2017 at 2:00 pm, at Congregation Eitz Chayim, 136 Magazine Street, Cambridge, MA.