MAXIMILIAN LERNER

1924 - 2022

LERNER--Maximilian, (born September 4, 1924) passed away on September 10, 2022. His was truly an American story. Born in Vienna, Austria, Max, his parents Isak and Bertha, and sister Susi, fled the Nazis in May 1938, arriving in the United States in 1941. He enlisted in the U.S. Army on his 18th birthday and became an American citizen soon after. He was assigned to Camp Ritchie (part of the Ritchie Boys) for training as a counterintelligence officer. As part of his service he gathered intelligence and arrested war criminals during the first stages of deNazification. Following his military service, he returned home to New York and went into business as an importer. With his late wife Julianna K. (Glass) Lerner, he raised a family of three children, David, Shereen, and Thomas. Following retirement, he authored a memoir (Flight and Return) and two novels and traveled widely, speaking of his experiences as a refugee. He participated in Holocaust education programs at the US military academies and on behalf of the Museum of Jewish Heritage and was highlighted in 60 Minutes and National Geographic. He is survived by his beloved wife of 37 years, Lenore Lerner, children: David (Laurie) Lerner, Shereen Lerner (Robert Miller), Thomas Lerner (Kirsten Erickson), Jill (Kerry) Beraud, Doug (Sue) Kaufman, Jon Kaufman, nephews, cousins, and 11 grandchildren. Donations in his memory may be sent to the Museum of Jewish Heritage or HIAS.