Death camp survivor is laid to rest

Mar 9 2007 By Anna Jeys, Birmingham Mail

MOURNERS have said their final farewells to respected Holocaust survivor Paul Oppenheimer who lost a hard fought battle against cancer.

The former mechanical engineer, from Solihull, dedicated his life to raising awareness about the genocide and tackling racism.

He died on Thursday at the age of 78 after losing a long battle against prostate cancer, and was laid to rest yesterday at Witton Cemetery.

His widow, Corinne Oppenheimer, 70, today paid tribute to her beloved husband, saying he had touched the lives of many through his community work.

The grandfather, who was a member of Birmingham Progressive Synagogue, experienced the horrors of the Belsen concentration camp as a child and regularly gave talks in city schools.

But he was so dedicated that he still battled on to talk to hundreds at this year's National Holocaust Day commemorations in Birmingham in January and only gave up lecturing a week ago.

He even earned an MBE for Services to Industry for his work as an expert in braking systems as an engineer.

He also co-founded Beth-Shalom, a organisation aimed at raising awareness of the holocaust in schools.

Corinne, who was married to Paul for 42 years, said: "He will be missed by so many people, particularly the children who he used to give talks to.

"When he gave up work 17 years ago, giving talks became a second career for him and it was very important to him.

"Even though he lectured, he was really a quiet man, a man of few words.

"His grandchildren were his pride and joy. Even when he was ill with cancer he told me that he had had a good life.

Rabbi Margaret Jacobi, of Birmingham Progressive Synagogue, said: "Paul was very active in the community and very much loved.

"Many were so fond of him, he had a great sense of humour and he inspired so many people and touched the lives of so many children with his work in the education system.

"He did an awful lot of work in raising awareness, which was enormously important."

He also leaves behind three children and seven grandchildren.