David Dragon

David Dragon, 99, Holocaust survivor, beloved husband of the late Sara nee Wloch; proud father of Dr. Leon Dragon (Carol Hellman); beloved grandfather of Deborah Dragon (Justin Goldstein) and Rebecca Dragon-Freiden (Jonathan Freiden); great-grandfather of Jordana, Alexandra, Jonah, Austin and Danielle; son of Szmuel Henoch Dragon and Hinda nee Kadetsky, who died in the Warsaw Ghetto; brother of Moishe, Yenta, Faiga and Chaim, all of whom died in the Holocaust; dear friend to many. David was 16 when the Jewish population of Czierps, Poland, was forced by the Nazis to resettle in the Warsaw Ghetto. In an effort to sustain his family, he travelled in and out of the ghetto through the sewers, bringing vegetables and any other goods that he could acquire. Once, stopped by Nazi guards as he was sneaking back in, he believed he was going to be killed, but God had other plans for him. Leaving the ghetto, he was captured and taken to Auschwitz where he endured for 2 ½ years. He wears the tattooed number 78363 on his left forearm as a constant reminder of that bondage. He survived the Death March of January 1945 and was liberated near Munich, Germany in April 1945. In 1948, he, his wife and infant son emigrated to the US and settled in Chicago. David became a skilled tailor and worked hard to build a new life with his family. He was fluent in Hebrew, Yiddish, Polish and English, easily moving between languages. He was an avid sports fan, who loved the White Sox, Cubs, and the Bears. David was an astute and passionate observer of politics and world events. He loved tennis and enjoyed travel. In later years, he became a speaker at the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, where he shared his personal story with school groups. He was a devoted member of Northwest Suburban Jewish Congregation, which merged with Congregation Beth Shalom, where he found a comfortable, loving spiritual home. Synagogue service Sunday 1:30 PM at Congregation Beth Shalom, 3433 Walters Avenue, Northbrook. Interment Shalom Memorial Park, 1700 W. Rand Road, Arlington Heights. In lieu of flowers, donations in David's memory may be made to the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center (ilholocaustmuseum.org) or Congregation Beth Shalom (bethshalomnb.org). To leave condolences and for information: www.shalom2.com or 847-255-3520.