Obituary: Sophie Zwecker
An active learner and volunteer all her life, she helped German Jewish immigrants settle in Atlanta.
Sophie Goldenberg Zwecker passed away peacefully Friday, Aug. 25, 2017, at the age of 91.
Sophie, the daughter of Rebecca and Philip Goldenberg, was born in Pensacola, Fla. A woman of many colleges, she attended Sophie Newcomb College in New Orleans and graduated from the University of Miami with a degree in social work. She later studied at Simmons College in Boston and received a master’s degree from the College of William & Mary in Williamsburg. Sophie then moved to Atlanta to be one of only three employees at the Atlanta Jewish Welfare Fund (later to become the Jewish Federation). Her very important job was to help German immigrants resettle into American life. Many of our friends remark on how much Sophie helped their parents. It has been said that helping another person become self-sufficient is the highest form of charity.
An active volunteer all her life, she was one of the original organizers of the City of Hope, was very active in Hadassah, B’nai B’rith Women, Na’amat and Brandeis University Women, and was a Girl Scout leader. After studying gerontology at Georgia State, she became a certified patient advocate at Wesley Woods and served as an intermediary between hospital and patient. In addition, she became certified as a docent at the High Museum. Sophie instilled the love of learning to all her children and grandchildren. She was a perennial student and attended adult learning classes all her life. Her favorite hobby was playing tennis.
Sophie and Jack were married 67 years. They met the first week she was in Atlanta at the Saturday night social at the Progressive Club. They dated only four short months before becoming engaged. It was described as a “mixed marriage” between a Southern belle and a Yankee. She is survived by her husband, Jack; a daughter, Elisa (Bobby) Ezor; and a son, Mark (Lori) Zwecker. She was so proud of her five grandchildren, Zachary, Danielle, Haley, Lindsey and Mitchell. She was predeceased by her parents and brothers.
Sign the online guestbook at www.edressler.com. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made payable to the Ahava Early Learning Center, 600 Peachtree Battle Ave., Atlanta, GA 30327. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 28, at Arlington Memorial Cemetery with Rabbi Neil Sandler officiating. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.
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