Hilda Tradelius Singer
1911-2014 Hilda Tradelius Singer was born on May 27, 1911 in Berlin, Germany to Alice and Siegfried Tradelius. During her 102 years on this earth, Hilda fought for justice, fairness and peace for all. At age 21 Hilda served a year in a Nazi prison for publishing, with her husband, the first anti-Nazi underground newspaper in Germany. After her release from prison, she escaped through the Underground to Sweden. She suffered the tragedy of losing the vast majority of her family including her mother to the Holocaust. In Sweden, she and Kurt continued to work in the Underground to assist Jewish people in their exile from Germany. During this period, she wrote a book entitled, I Was Hitler's Prisoner. Being wanted by the Nazi government, they decided to immigrate to the United States, landing on Ellis Island on July 4th 1940 with her 5 month old daughter Marian Alice Birgit. In 1945, Hilda gave birth to a son, Kenneth Walt Singer. She lived the remainder of her life in New York City having worked as a Radiology Supervisor for the Amalgamated Clothing Workers. Her great love for music found her at numerous chamber music events and as a permanent member of the New York Chamber Music Society as a pianist. She was fluent in five languages, developed numerous friendships and was deeply interested in politics, literature and social reform. She was a long-term volunteer for Amnesty International. Hilda's greatest joys in life were her family and friends including her children Marian, who predeceased her in 2003, married to James Fozard and Kenneth, married to Christine. Her grandchildren include Kala Micillo, married to Robert; Joshua Singer, married to Twinchit Salcedo-Singer and Brian and Timothy Harrison. Her great grandchildren include Carlo, Marcella, Malina, Emma, Elliana and Alexander. Residing in Sweden, she leaves her sister Ellen Dahlberg, niece Anita Dahlberg and her husband Esbjorn Kleist, nephew Bjorn Dahlberg and his wife Anne, and their children. She is also survived by many long and special friends including Dr. Debra Brand, Tachy Wakiji and Sonata Zutkute. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Berkshire County Arc, 395 South Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201, bcarc.org or the Stolpersteine (stumbling blocks), a European artist project to commemorate victims of the Holocaust. stolpersteine.eu A celebration of her life will be held on Sunday, February 23rd at 3pm at the Plaza Jewish Community Chapel at 630 Amsterdam Avenue at 91st Street in New York City. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.
Plaza Jewish Community Chapel
630 Amsterdam Avenue New York, NY 10024
(212) 769-4400
Published in The Berkshire Eagle on Feb. 21, 2014
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