Sonja Echt

1926 - 2016

Sonja Echt

Sonja Echt, 90, died December 19, 2016 in Glenview, Illinois. Born Sofie Speyer, August 20, 1926 in Guxhagen, Hesse, Germany. She was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

Preceded in death by her first husband, Irving Echt and second husband, Theodore Lerner. Survived by her children, Bettina (Alan) Birkner of Des Plaines, Ill., Elliott (Mitzi) Echt of Wilmington, Del., Sarah Echt (Bradford Eastman) of Torrance, Calif. and Alan Echt (Lisa Cope) of Mason, Ohio; nine grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

Her parents sent her to the U.S. alone in 1938 to escape Germany. She was fostered by a family in Columbus, Ohio. Her parents and brother perished. Predeceased by her sister, Rita, who survived and immigrated to New York City after the war. She was a long-time resident of Columbus and Akron, Ohio, San Diego, Calif., and Sunny Isles Beach, Fla. and graduated from The Ohio State University in 1948. She was a devoted volunteer to Jewish organizations, Books for the Blind, and San Carlos Friends of the Library, worked in the Continuity Department of WAKR radio in Akron, for the San Diego City Schools, as a realtor, and for Jewish Community Services of South Florida. She was a Life member of Hadassah, Mizrachi, and The Ohio State University Alumni Association. She enjoyed her family, cooking, knitting, crocheting, reading, and visiting family. She led an amazing life.

Services were held on December 21 in San Diego. Rabbi Leonard Rosenthal officiated. Memorial contributions to Hadassah, http://www.hadassah.org/.