Leo Mayers, 86
GREAT BARRINGTON, Mass. — Leo Mayers, 86, of Great Barrington died Wednesday, June 24, 2009, at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield.
He was born Lejbus Majerowicz on July 26, 1922, one of nine children of Hendla Laja Helfgot and Herszel Majerowicz. He was taken in 1942 from his family in the Lodz ghetto in Poland and interned in a forced-labor camp in Czestochowa, Poland, where he labored until his liberation in 1945. He then was trained by the Organization for Rehabilitation through Training in a displaced-persons camp in Germany.
Mr. Mayer worked in the architectural metal trade after emigrating to the United States in 1950, later opening his own business in New York City and Peekskill, N.Y. He moved to the Berkshires in 1985.
He was a longtime member of Congregation Ahavath Sholom and part of an active Yiddish speaking group for many years. He enjoyed his family and his life in the Berkshires and often said living in the Berkshires was the happiest time of his life.
He and his wife, the former Claire Tickner, were married on July 17, 1970.
Besides his wife, he leaves three daughters, Lillian Mayers and her husband, Donald Tine, Evelyn Breit and her husband, Joseph, and Marilyn Mayers; his sister, Mary Lichtenstein; five grandchildren, Dr. Aaron Spicer, Leifa Mayers, Jacob Mayers, Adam Breit and Daniel Breit, and his stepchildren Allison Ketler and her husband, Peter Countryman, and Robert and Laysa Ketler, and his stepgrandchildren Halle and Albert Countryman.
FUNERAL NOTICE — Memorial services for Mr. Mayer will be announced.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to Congregation Ahavath Sholom or to the Joint Distribution Committee, which helped him and still helps refugees coming to the United States. Contributions may be sent to Finnerty & Stevens Funeral Home, 426 Main St., Great Barrington, MA 01230. Remembrances, memories and reflections may be sent to the family through www.finnertyandstevens.com.