Zoltan Winczer escaped Nazis in Prague

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Zoltan Winczer of Riverdale died peacefully on April 25 at the home of his daughter Vivien Chalé, of Glastonbury, Connecticut. He was 98, sharp and alert.

He was born in Spisca Nova Ves, Czechoslovakia in 1916. He was attending medical school at Charles University in Prague in 1938 when the Germans marched in, but escaped to England. There, he joined the British Army, became a medic and served on an Army hospital ship in the Mediterranean. 

In the U.S., he became an importer of fine foods. He supplied hard-to-find items to Zabars, Balduccis, and many other gormet food shops. 

Zoltan attended services at the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, then at Congregation Kol Haverim in Glastonbury, Conn.

In 1947, he married Gerda Jaschkowitz, who had escaped from Germany to England. They came to America in 1952. At first they lived in Washington Heights, then moved to Riverdale in 1974. 

Holocaust

Zoltan lost his parents Margit (Gutman) and Markus Winczer, as well a sister, Alice, and brother, Imre, during the Holocaust. His brother, Alfred, survived, emigrated to the U.S., became a well-known chef and died in 1999.

Zoltan is survived by his loving daughters Vivien Chalé of Glastonbury, Connecticut and Dr.  Jeanette Winczer of Buffalo, New York., Vivien’s husband Edward, Jeanette’s husband Matthew, a granddaughter, Evette Chalé and grandsons Marc Chalé and Gregory, Jacob and Michael Dubin.

He is also survived by his niece, Dr. Denise (Elbert) Kopecky of Sunyvale, California,  his great nephew, Ilan Kopecky, Ilan’s wife Lindsay and Zoli’s great-great nephew, all of San Francisco. Also surviving are his nieces, Charlotte Winczer, Alice Winczer and Lillian (Winczer) Radomsky and Lillian’s husband Mike and their children, Max and  Ilana.

Family first

Zoltan doted on his family, which was his top priority. He was a devoted, loving husband, father and grandfather. He offered kind and caring advice and was always there for support. He was a strong, wise and nurturing man who will be missed dearly.

Zoltan Winczer, Holocaust, Prague, Hebrew Institute of Riverdale