Obituary for Miriam Greenman
Miriam Greenman (née Jonish), 92 - mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend - passed away peacefully in her home surrounded by family on January 24, 2021. She is predeceased by her husband, George Greenman, and her great-granddaughter, Eliana Greenman. She is survived by her children, Allan and Stacey Greenman, and Elanit Greenman, her 6 grandchildren, Lirone and Steve Turner, Mark and Lauren Shinar, Nina and Ryan Orr, Scott and Caitlin Greenman, Allyson and Ryan Stewart, and Michael Greenman, by her 13 great-grandchildren whom she adored and loved, and her companion and friend DeDe.
Miriam lived an extraordinary life. Born in Poland in 1928, Miriam was the only child to parents, Nina and Solomon Jonish. A Bielski survivor, she escaped the Lida Ghetto liquidation of May 8 1942, when she fled Nazi persecution by hiding in the Noliboki Forest with her mother. After the war, she met George Greenman, also a survivor, in a displaced persons camp. There, in the midst of heartache and tragedy, they found love and married. With her mother and stepfather, Solomon Taub, they immigrated to the United States where they owned a chicken farm in Egg Harbor Township. With hard work and determination to succeed, they eventually moved to Margate where they owned and operated hotels in Atlantic City, most notably, the famed kosher establishment, The International Hotel.
A lover of musical Broadway and entertainment, Miriam was known for her witty sense of humor, glamour, and impeccable style: hair, make-up and nails always perfect. Fluent in five languages, she connected to everyone she met, offering invaluable wisdom, staying positive and being the brightest light in the room. She enjoyed weekly card games with her friends, spending time with her adorable dog, Raya, and was last seen reading War and Peace in the original Russian.
Her family will miss gathering with her at her house, celebrating holidays and birthdays in her dining room or pool, and enjoying the beautiful bay view with her from her backyard deck. A hostess by nature, Miriam surrounded herself by her family, sharing stories and showing pictures of the “Old Atlantic City” days.
Although she rarely spoke about her life during the war, preferring instead to talk about more pleasant things, in 2012, Miriam published her and George’s Holocaust memoirs, Lives Interrupted, chronicling their miraculous journeys from pre-war Europe to Margate, NJ. As a result of that courageous act, her story will live on for generations to come as her family continues to honor her legacy.
Private funeral services will be held in her memory. In lieu of gifts or flowers, please make donations to the George and Miriam Greenman Memorial Endowed Scholarship for Holocaust Studies at Stockton University.
Miriam lived an extraordinary life. Born in Poland in 1928, Miriam was the only child to parents, Nina and Solomon Jonish. A Bielski survivor, she escaped the Lida Ghetto liquidation of May 8 1942, when she fled Nazi persecution by hiding in the Noliboki Forest with her mother. After the war, she met George Greenman, also a survivor, in a displaced persons camp. There, in the midst of heartache and tragedy, they found love and married. With her mother and stepfather, Solomon Taub, they immigrated to the United States where they owned a chicken farm in Egg Harbor Township. With hard work and determination to succeed, they eventually moved to Margate where they owned and operated hotels in Atlantic City, most notably, the famed kosher establishment, The International Hotel.
A lover of musical Broadway and entertainment, Miriam was known for her witty sense of humor, glamour, and impeccable style: hair, make-up and nails always perfect. Fluent in five languages, she connected to everyone she met, offering invaluable wisdom, staying positive and being the brightest light in the room. She enjoyed weekly card games with her friends, spending time with her adorable dog, Raya, and was last seen reading War and Peace in the original Russian.
Her family will miss gathering with her at her house, celebrating holidays and birthdays in her dining room or pool, and enjoying the beautiful bay view with her from her backyard deck. A hostess by nature, Miriam surrounded herself by her family, sharing stories and showing pictures of the “Old Atlantic City” days.
Although she rarely spoke about her life during the war, preferring instead to talk about more pleasant things, in 2012, Miriam published her and George’s Holocaust memoirs, Lives Interrupted, chronicling their miraculous journeys from pre-war Europe to Margate, NJ. As a result of that courageous act, her story will live on for generations to come as her family continues to honor her legacy.
Private funeral services will be held in her memory. In lieu of gifts or flowers, please make donations to the George and Miriam Greenman Memorial Endowed Scholarship for Holocaust Studies at Stockton University.