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Kurt Messerschmidt Obituary
Cantor Kurt Messerschmidt, 102
PORTLAND - Cantor Kurt Messerschmidt, 102 ½, an iconic and beloved figure in Portland's Jewish community, died peacefully at Mercy Hospital on Sept. 12, 2017.
Kurt was born during World War I near Berlin, Germany. Despite being a prize student-athlete in high school, Kurt's admission to Berlin University was forfeited because he was Jewish. Before emigration from Germany was closed to Jews by the Nazis, Kurt had a chance to go to China, but felt it was important for him to remain in Germany to teach Jewish children. He graduated from a teacher's seminary and later taught at a Jewish school in Berlin where he met Sonja, his future wife.
Kurt and Sonja were deported to Terezin concentration camp in Czechoslovakia and were married there in the spring of 1944. Separated by the Nazis shortly after, each was sent to a succession of concentration camps, including Auschwitz-Birkenau.
Kurt miraculously escaped from a death march in the spring of 1945 by walking away in snow-covered terrain. Months later, in the chaos of post-war Germany, Kurt found a handwritten note Sonja had left weeks earlier on a bulletin board at a refugee center in Munich, a city neither had ever visited prior to the war. With the assistance of the American military, he secured transportation to find her and reunite.
Kurt was an accomplished musician and singer. He had a successful career performing opera, lieder and religious pieces with a professional choir on Radio Munich. However, in 1950 he decided to emigrate with his family to the United States to escape the Nazi influence still prevalent in Germany.
After living in the Bronx and working as a cantor in Lyndhurst, N.J., for a year, Kurt accepted a position as Cantor of Temple Beth El in Portland, where for the next 34 years he was a beloved teacher, mentor and spiritual leader. He led the congregation in prayer with his beautiful tenor voice, and trained decades of bar and bat mitzvah students.
He developed award-winning choirs, staged musical cantatas, provided pastoral support and engaged in interfaith services in the community. Such was his profound effect on people that former students from as long as 80 years ago and from around the globe have actively sought to maintain contact with him, and such contact was happily reciprocated.
Kurt received numerous honors, including an honorary doctorate from the Jewish Theological Seminary, a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Maine Jewish Museum, and a Key to the City of Portland.
He was fortunate to be married for 66 years to Sonja, the love of his life. A book about their love story and their journey together, entitled "Death and Love in the Holocaust," was published by The Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine.
Kurt was predeceased by Sonja in 2010 and by his brother, Henry Oertelt, in 2011.
He is survived by his son, Michael (Doreen Athans); daughter, Eva Polisner (Duane); grandchildren, David Polisner (Jennifer), Sarah Weber (Thomas), Isaac Messerschmidt and Noah Messerschmidt; and great-grand-children, Daniel Polisner, Leah Weber, Joshua Polisner and Robert Weber.
The family would like to express their profound gratitude to the staff at The Cedars and Mercy Hospital, who provided love and care to Kurt over the past several months.
Funeral services will be held Friday, Sept. 15, at Temple Beth El, 400 Deering Ave., Portland, at 11 a.m., followed immediately by interment at Temple Beth El Memorial Park. All are welcome to join the family for a reception from 1-4 p.m. at the Atrium at The Cedars, 640 Ocean Ave., Portland. Shiva will be observed Saturday from 7:30-8:30 p.m., and Sunday from 4-5 p.m., at the Atrium. Arrangements are by the Portland Jewish Funeral Home.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution to
The Cedars,
Temple Beth El, or
The Holocaust and Human Rights Center of Maine.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Kurt Messerschmidt
Helene and Bruce Levinsky
September 8, 2021
Cantor was an enormously gifted person because he represented all the qualities of a superiorly kind, and admirable gentle man...
We admired and knew he stood above the fray of prejudice...having been personally a witness to the devaluing of life by his captures...G-d blessed his congregation because he made each of us a better person...a kinder being...
Sadly missed and revered...
Helene and Bruce Levinsky
September 8, 2019
The Cantor, as he was known to us....was a superhero, because he wore an invisible shield that offered always some tenderness, patience and enormous spiritual wisdom...whenever you were by his side....
His presence felt as if he had a secret power or deepest comprehension of how and when and where to state something, or answer a question....
He provided to others such a profound depth of human kindness...even though, he had not been given this in return during the madness of Nazi rule. One might venture to state, he had seen what horrors were experienced by helpless victims of ruthless, and unchecked powers of the Nazis and had made a monumental plan to react in the complete opposite manner towards his fellow mankind....
How great is a person, that is able to transform traumatic personal experiences into a legacy of genuine love, and gentleness.
He represents all the goodness and potential in its human form and he emulated what he continued to believe ....that G-d still exists despite the existence of horrible men....
He knew that G- d exists!
It existed in him!
Harriet Caplan
September 22, 2017
Hundreds of hours of beautiful music and kind directions and corrections ... shhhh quietly from the bimah to the choir loft ... many of my friends over the years and around the world have heard his beautiful voice off "crumbling" tape recordings and his and Sonja's miraculous stories. May they rest in peace.
Richard Cohen
September 17, 2017
I recall so many memories of Cantor Messerschmidt in my growing up years at Temple Beth El in Portland, Maine. There were the music classes in Hebrew school: Cantor Messerschmidt would always find us new Shabbat or holiday melodies to sing, often in two and three part harmony. He directed us in ambitious Hebrew school musical plays and inspired us to practice to perfection, much to the delight of our parents and friends. I remember the bumper crop of Bar Mitzvahs my year and his dedicated effort to bring out the best in all of us, with so many group and individual trop lessons and scheduled practice sessions with that bulky tape recorder in the little back room behind the bimah. There was his powerful presence in the Sanctuary On Shabbat and Holidays: his beautiful and expressive singing voice, his tuning fork in hand, and that bimah button he pressed to evoke the strains of the organ and the adult or children's choir. Remembering the summer I agreed to read Torah for the High Holidays, I could not have asked for a more demanding, perfectionist, or encouraging teacher. He introduced so many of us young people of the 1950's and 1960's to our Jewish musical heritage with friendliness, grace, menschiness., and dedication. I am so glad I had the privilege of spending my Jewish younger years under his guidance,
September 17, 2017
The tributes on TV to his remarkable life was inspiring.
This stuck with me: "Do not take anything for granted and measure your success not by what you have but by what you give."
Life lesson learned.
RIP...
Samuel and Harriet Slivka Hillson
September 16, 2017
We were fortunate enough to know Kurt for many years. He was the best of friends with our father and mother of blessed memory Jerry and Rochelle Slivka- Also known for constantly whipping me at ping pong in the basement ping pong table- also his awesome ha motzi at our wedding- the kindest and most generous man we ever knew- wrote us a beautiful letter when our sister Miriam passed away last year- condolences to his family who he loved deeply- it was an honor to have known him.
September 15, 2017
Mike: Haven't seen you for a long time now that SGWT's is no longer. Let me offer heartfelt condolences to you and your family on the loss of your dad. What an amazing life story and what an amazing person. No doubt he'll be missed. Best to you and family
Frank & Gail Adshead
Meredith Jordan
September 15, 2017
Although I never knew Cantor Messerschmidt personally, his daughter Evie was a great friend in my high school and in the early years of mothering our children, so I felt like I "knew of" him through his precious children. And there were very few in our very large high school who didn't know something of his courageous story. We were very fortunate to grow up in a city that honored its Jewish community and taught children of all faiths to do the same. He was a great part of that experience. To Evie and Duane and family, Michael and his family, what a beautiful tribute to a man whose exemplary life is a lesson for us all. Sending love to the Messerschmidt family!
Marla Sax
September 15, 2017
I was fortunate to share many dinners with Kurt and Sonya around the table at Robert and Elizabeth Sax's home. Kurt drew you in with his eyes and smile with an intensity I will never forget. To all of his family Yivarechacha.
Karl Halpert
September 15, 2017
My connection to beloved Cantor Messerschmidt precedes my own life. My grandfather Harold Karl Halpert co-founded Temple Beth El in 1947 and a few years later they hired Cantor, a gift to Portland beyond anything they could have imagined. Cantor often spoke to me of performing Jewish music with my grandfather, a pianist. When I became a musician myself, I would cite my influences as Bach, Beatles, and Cantor Messerschmidt. Cantor was my mentor and an immense presence in my life, whose presence and influence grows in me to this day. My condolences to Michael and Eva and their families and may his memory be a blessing.
Carol Marceau
September 14, 2017
I was blessed to have had the honor to meet with this dear man a year ago. He honored me by inviting me to be his guest for a visit. We met and had lunch and then spent the next couple of hours with him giving of himself, openly telling me of his life which had many chapters. He delighted in telling me of his students and showing me pictures and lovingly telling me of his Sonja and of their life journey. He showed me postcards she wrote and told me of her great sense of humor and yes her love of "her Maine" He then said he would like to share with me a musical piece he had written and explained the words I would be hearing and its true meaning. It was one of the most heart warming pieces I have ever heard. I told him I could feel the love. I admit that I was so hoping that I would be able to have regular visits with him and I think he knew because he told me he knew we would meet again, but that it may be awhile, but we would meet again. As our visit came to an end he took my hand in his and warmly said I would like to give you words of advice and as he held my hand he looked deep into my eyes and said "don't work, too, hard...enjoy life every day." When I left that day I knew I had been in the presence of a very God loving man and I will never forget that visit. I wish to express my condolences to his family. He will be missed but I pray as he said to me that day that I will see you again. Thank you for the blessing of that day. Warmly, your friend Carol Marceau
Janet Lewis
September 14, 2017
Cantor Messershmidt was such a light in my young life, and remained this way for almost 60 years.
Every time I visited Portland, I visited him.
This included my visit, in mid August, with Debbie Kanter. We shared a magical couple of hours.
When I went back, he said " you just love your old Cantor!"
I really loved this man, who graced the life of so many of my peers.
We were the luckiest city, in the entire country, to have him as our Cantor.
May his memory be a blessing to all
Jean Kerrigan
September 14, 2017
Mike I knew you many moons ago via "Portland Players". Your father's obit. read like a short novella. What a special life. RIP. Best, Jeannie Kerrigan
Bruce and Helene Levinsky
September 14, 2017
Our deepest sympathies to the Cantor's family and to his community of friendships...
He is and was the greatest human being we have ever met or have had the privilege of meeting and knowing , as part of the Jewish community....
His wife and himself, both, were the epitome of kindness, gentleness, hopefulness, and dedication to creating a better world than the one in which they had experienced during the Nazi's occupation.
We are indebted to his conscientious daily devotion to the true meaning of being the best example of the best behavior and belief in G- d , on Earth...
Sincerely we are saddened by his leaving this world without his daily love of everyone,
Helene and Bruce Levinsky
Married at Temple Beth El in January 1977 by Cantor and Rabbi Sky
We now live in New Smyrna Beach Florida but we have often spoken of "The Cantor " to friends....
Bruce also stated that during his Bat Mitzvah lessons,,,,The Cantor was patient, kind, and an example of a Holy Man....to him...!
He will never be forgotten by our children too....
Denise, Nik and Brendan Levinsky-Coughlin live inDeland Fl.
Dr. Isaac and Kristin Spacht- Levinsky live in Rockledge, Fl.
Ari Sky
September 14, 2017
Cantor Messerschmidt was a powerful force in the Portland Jewish community and a formative presence throughout my childhood. Passing at 102, his life experiences far exceeded those of most people - musician, teacher, Holocaust survivor and religious leader. I will miss Cantor Messerschmidt deeply, but am comforted by knowing that over his long life he made the world a better place.
Lauren Kempton
September 14, 2017
I have used Kurt"s video from "Echoes" in my Shoah teaching for years, probably 100 times. His account of Crystal Night stays with the teachers in their neshama. Though I have never met your father, I feel that I I know him and to his family I send my deepest condolences. His story will always be part of my Shoah teaching. Kurt is an upstander and this fragile world needs to continually be reminded of his courage and the power of a single story. May his memory be of a blessing.
Debbie Kanter
September 14, 2017
Cantor Messerschmidt influenced me as a child, adult and teacher and leaves such a legacy for generations. So glad I got to visit him a few weeks ago.
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