Herman Shine

1922 - 2018

Herman (Menne) Shine

October 4, 1922 to June 23, 2018

The amazing life of Herman Shine has come to an end. He was born in Berlin and raised by his mother Theresa along with six siblings. Only Herman, his brother Bernard, sisters Erna and Rosa would survive WWII.

Herman was arrested in 1939 and then taken to Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp for the crime of being Jewish. Feeling and seeing the violence reigned down by the SS, he survived using his guile and savvy wit by claiming to be a roofer in order to make it more difficult for the guards to beat him. As the years passed, he survived one threat after another as he learned to be a roofer on the fly. In 1942, he was taken to Auschwitz where his skill as a roofer continued to keep him alive. While working at an Auschwitz satellite camp in the town of Gleiwitz, he attempted to pass the time singing as he toiled on the rooftop. Little did he know that his voice would inspire a great love story that would last 74 years. He noticed a young Jewish girl named Marianne and her sister listening to him. They were in the camp to take out food scraps but were allowed to go home at night. He decided he had to meet her. When he could, he stole moments to talk to her or pass her notes.

In September 1944, Herman was approached by his good friend, Max Drimmer, with plans of a daring escape. With the help of a Polish partisan named Joseph Wrona, they executed the plan to perfection, despite harrowing threats at every turn. Joseph hid them on his farm for three months until events dictated they move on. Herman and Max did not know anyone else in the area and they knew their lives were hanging by a thread. In desperation, Herman suggested they go to the home of the girl he had met in Gleiwitz. Marianne's family took them in and her father found them a place to hide. When the Soviets liberated the area, they brought new challenges, but Herman persevered and eventually brought Marianne and her sister Ilse to Berlin. There, he wed Marianne as Max wed his fiancée, Herta, in a double wedding ceremony.

They eventually immigrated to the United States. They settled in San Francisco, where in 1956, Herman founded Standard Roofing Company on 9th Avenue. He was an extremely successful business man until he retired in 1979. He enjoyed his family and friends and a good game of bridge right to the end.

Menne is survived by his wife Marianne and his daughter Sonja. In addition, Menne is survived by Yoram and Aviva, Gary and Marceli, Marta, Sylvia, John and Brenda, Kathleen and Eric, Dennis, Miriam, Roxanne and Elliot, Casey and Ben, Tess and Tommy, Rina and Aharon, Ora and Benny, Anthony, Jeslyn, and Jan. In addition, Menne left many, many great nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at Skylawn Memorial Park (Hwy 92 at Skyline Blvd) in San Mateo, on Monday, July 9th at 10 am.