Hilde Siegel Obituary

SIEGEL--Hilde. Died September 5th, 2007, at age 87 in New York. She was born in Goppingen, Germany, and immigrated to the United States in 1938 where she was eventually joined by her parents, Kuno and Clara. She trained as a nurse, and served as a 2nd Lieutenant for the US Army in Europe. Her only brother Kurt, was killed in WWII. She worked for the visiting nurse service, becoming Assistant Director of VNS, Westchester County. She obtained her MPH at the University of Michigan, and served on the Boards of both Self Help and VNS New York. Later in life, she became a docent at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Hilde married Dr. Hans Oppenheimer (deceased 1972) and raised their two children in Eastchester, NY. Hilde is survived by her daughter Joan and husband Horton, and grandchildren Emily and Gary; and her son John and wife Leah and grandchildren Clara, Hank, Nathaniel, and Tina and husband Andre with great-grandchild Isabella. Hilde remarried to George Siegel (deceased 1984) and they enjoyed life in Manhattan. She loved to travel, entertain and attend concerts and the theater. She also loved to ski, garden, and do ceramics. Hilde was a special person, who lived her long life with grace and generosity. Contributions can be made to the 92nd St. Y. 60+ program.

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Published by New York Times on Sep. 9, 2007.

Memories and Condolences
for Hilde Siegel

4 Entries

eric steiner

September 11, 2007

Hilde was my cousin. She and I grew up together and have stayed close in spite of living on opposite sides of the continent. We could always find an excuse to justify a visit here or there. She and I even returned from World War II on the same troopship. I wasn’t allowed to talk to her since she was an officer and I an enlisted man. Fraternization was frowned upon, but we’ve made up for it since.

Hilde possessed many splendid qualities. She was considerate, generous and engaged. She could also be obstinate and opinionated. Just like me, which is not too surprising since we’re from the same gene pool. Our relationship was one of deep affection, punctuated by joyous and intense differences of opinion.

Never more so than on our travels. She appointed herself navigator and insisted on knowing where we were at any given time whereas I belong to the “real-men-don’t-ask-directions” school of driving. And she wanted full disclosure of all the ingredients of the menu listings. The merest whiff of onion would disqualify not only the dish but also the restaurant and – at times – the entire country.

Whatever the destination, Hilde was the planner and the brains. She had a network of friends and acquaintances and third cousins everywhere. She knew which cultural and historical places to visit and the most charming pausadas at which to stay. She had energy, a sense of adventure and was total fun to be with.

In New York we spent quiet evenings at her elegant apartment and noisy ones at jazz concerts. Over the years we accumulated birthdays and grandchildren and assorted aches and pains. But our conversations were not about age, they were about the next trip, the next play and the next president.

Hilde always was and will continue to be a vibrant part of my life.

David Steiner

September 10, 2007

Hilde was my cousin and a dear friend to my Grandmother, Martha Steiner, as well as to the rest of my immediate family. I'm flooded with all these really nice childhood memories of being with her and my Grandmother in Tahoe and Hawaii, as well as later on in New York. I'll always remember staying with her and George in NYC during the summer of 1980, when I, a somewhat grungy teenager,went on a cross-country bus trip. They were both so hospitable and welcoming and their apartment was so beautiful and filled with amazing art. It was on another trip to NYC a few years later that Hilde gave me a little keepsakes from the family paper factory back in Germany. It was a small pocket knife with a swan on it – It’s in my top desk drawer and always makes me think of her kindness. She was special and will be missed.

Linda and Betty Harding

September 10, 2007

Our thoughts and prayers are with you in your time of grief. May your memories bring you comfort.
I know Hilde was looking forward to the upcoming cruise on the Queen Mary 2. We will remember her on the trip.

S S Gimbel

September 9, 2007

I was seven years old when Hilde came to live with us in Monmouth County, New Jersey. She was very kind to me and my brother, and was like a much older sister to us. Her Brother Kurt Maxwell was a medic in the U S Army, and was killed (unarmed) in the battle of Guadalcanal. He is buried in the U S War Cemetary in Manila.
Both Hilde and Kurt used to write us "V Mail" letters from the war zones. Hilde was U S Army nurse and served her Country in France.
I shall never forget her and send my sincere sympathy to all members of her immediate family.
Her Mother Clara Steiner was a cousin of my Grandfather, Sam Steiner.

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