Sofya Fishman

Sofya Fishman (née Roytenberg) passed away peacefully at home on December 14, 2025, surrounded by her family.

She was born to Sarah and Israel Roytenberg on January 1, 1940, in Kiev, USSR. When she was a child, Sofya and her family fled the Nazi invasion of Kiev.

She grew up to graduate university with the highest honors and was known for her mathematical genius. Sofya met the love of her life, Genrikh Fishman, through mutual friends. They were married in the winter of 1967 and later had two beautiful children together. Their marriage spanned over fifty years.

Sofya always dreamed of leaving the oppression and antisemitism of the USSR behind. In 1979, she made the decision to move her family across the world to the United States, where she knew they would have access to the liberties and opportunities she had always imagined for them.

Sofya and her family put down roots in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where she continued her education in a rigorous computer programming course from which she graduated with honors, all while devoting her evenings to English as a Second Language classes. Sofya’s work at Bethlehem Steel and Mellon Bank eventually led her to the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, where she was hired as the Lead Systems Analyst for her team. Sofya was extremely passionate about her career; she dedicated over 27 years of her life to the Federal Reserve and retired at the age of 75.

Sofya will be remembered for her radiant optimism and wholehearted zest for life. With her dazzling smile and magnetic energy, she brightened every room she entered. Sofya was a passionate woman with a deep appreciation for art and culture. She cherished time spent at the theatre, on the ski slopes, reading, brewing kompot for her grandchildren, and traveling around the world. Most of all, Sofya treasured her large family. Anyone who knew her knew how grateful she was to be surrounded by so many people who loved her, and her legacy will live on through her family and friends, whose lives she changed for the better.

Loving wife of the late Genrikh Fishman; Beloved mother of Alla Fishman (Misha) and Slavik Fishman (Jennifer); Dearest first cousin to Rita Shektman, Eva Shepelsky, the late Dodik Mezheritsky, and the late Nellie Raytsis; Adoring grandmother, “Bubbie,” to Ryan Fishman, Alexandra Fishman, and Jaden Korsky; Finally, a dear relative to her extended family, which included many wonderful friends.

Relatives and friends are invited to Funeral Services Wednesday, December 17, 11:30 AM at Goldsteins’ Rosenberg’s Suburban North, 310 2nd Street Pike, Southampton PA 18966. Interment Shalom Memorial Park. Contributions in her memory may be made to the Dementia Society of America, PO Box 600, Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18901 www.dementiasociety.org or to the American Heart Association PO Box 840692 Dallas, Texas 75284-0692 www.heart.org