Obituary for Magdalena Gilbert
Magdalena Elefant Gilbert – A Centenarian in Passing
Perhaps the words appearing on the Maryland Governor’s Citation celebrating her 100th birthday on January 23, 2022 serves as a beginning point when it states “in recognition of your life’s extraordinary journey, love of family and the wisdom, knowledge and success you have achieved along the way…”
That “way” led from a border town named Kosice if you were Czech, Kassa if Hungarian and Kaschau if German. The year of Magdalena’s birth was 1922, two years after her home became part of Czechoslovakia and 16 years before its occupation by Hungarian troops, then allies of Nazi Germany.
Magda spoke Hungarian and understood what the police were shouting when they came to her door in the summer of 1944 but she did not know the meaning of the crowded railroad cattle car’s destination…Auschwitz. She was 22. The deportation of 440,000 Hungarian Jews had begun. Few would survive but Magda was among the survivors, and as the Executive Vice President of the Claims Conference, seeking to honor Magdalena’s 100th birthday called for the flying of an American Flag over the United States Capitol in her honor adding that it “commemorates your extraordinary valor and your tenacity in rebuilding your life.”
That rebuilding would start with her liberation in 1945 and transition from a European Displaced Person’s facility. She would find and make her new home in her beloved Baltimore, Maryland and soon established multiple paths of family, creativity and productivity that would continue through the decades. She became a highly skilled concert pianist and then a piano teacher to many young students who thrived under her nurturing instruction and moreover enjoyed her unique “larger than life” personality, one that was unafraid to speak her mind or phone calling at all hours to “perform” her uniquely accented interpretations of holiday songs or birthday greetings. Often described as the “Belle of the Ball” because of her attractiveness, stylish was another word often applied as she was as colorful in her choice of fashions as she was with her choice of joke telling. And while well-known for her strict dieting regimen she was also quick to enjoy a good hotdog.
While an avid singer, dancer and a disciplined swimmer with daily visits to the community pool, she also honed her mental skills by achieving the rarified level of Life Master bridge player while often competing in regional and national events.
Perhaps her most important “activity” was her family that included two children, Louis, a poet and avid sports fan, daughter Ilona, an automotive advertising executive, grandson and actor Grant Garson; and stepdaughter Lynn Lempel, an author and New York Times crossword puzzle constructor and stepson Mark Gilbert, a VA internist doctor; her two sisters Klara Korda who shared her musical talents becoming the first violinist of the Sydney Symphony and Dr. Edith Eva Eger who became a nationally recognized psychologist dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder and author of several books including “The Choice” sharing the sisters’ experience during the Holocaust.
Magda is survived by her daughter Ilona Shillman of Los Angeles, California and son Louis Shillman of Austin, Texas; Stepdaughter Lynn Lempel, Daytona Beach, Florida and stepson Mark Gilbert of Amherst, Massachusetts and her sister Dr.Edith Eva Eger of La Jolla, California. By her grandson, Grant Nathaniel Garson of Los Angeles and by loving nieces, great- and -great-great nephews.
Magdalena Elefant Gilbert completed her journey peacefully on Saturday, October 15, 2022 with daughter Ilona and grandson Grant at her side.
Services are private. The family will be in mourning at 2410 Lightfoot Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21209, Thursday, October 20, beginning at 1 pm with a service at 7 pm. The family requests that anyone attending shiva to please be COVID tested before coming.
Perhaps the words appearing on the Maryland Governor’s Citation celebrating her 100th birthday on January 23, 2022 serves as a beginning point when it states “in recognition of your life’s extraordinary journey, love of family and the wisdom, knowledge and success you have achieved along the way…”
That “way” led from a border town named Kosice if you were Czech, Kassa if Hungarian and Kaschau if German. The year of Magdalena’s birth was 1922, two years after her home became part of Czechoslovakia and 16 years before its occupation by Hungarian troops, then allies of Nazi Germany.
Magda spoke Hungarian and understood what the police were shouting when they came to her door in the summer of 1944 but she did not know the meaning of the crowded railroad cattle car’s destination…Auschwitz. She was 22. The deportation of 440,000 Hungarian Jews had begun. Few would survive but Magda was among the survivors, and as the Executive Vice President of the Claims Conference, seeking to honor Magdalena’s 100th birthday called for the flying of an American Flag over the United States Capitol in her honor adding that it “commemorates your extraordinary valor and your tenacity in rebuilding your life.”
That rebuilding would start with her liberation in 1945 and transition from a European Displaced Person’s facility. She would find and make her new home in her beloved Baltimore, Maryland and soon established multiple paths of family, creativity and productivity that would continue through the decades. She became a highly skilled concert pianist and then a piano teacher to many young students who thrived under her nurturing instruction and moreover enjoyed her unique “larger than life” personality, one that was unafraid to speak her mind or phone calling at all hours to “perform” her uniquely accented interpretations of holiday songs or birthday greetings. Often described as the “Belle of the Ball” because of her attractiveness, stylish was another word often applied as she was as colorful in her choice of fashions as she was with her choice of joke telling. And while well-known for her strict dieting regimen she was also quick to enjoy a good hotdog.
While an avid singer, dancer and a disciplined swimmer with daily visits to the community pool, she also honed her mental skills by achieving the rarified level of Life Master bridge player while often competing in regional and national events.
Perhaps her most important “activity” was her family that included two children, Louis, a poet and avid sports fan, daughter Ilona, an automotive advertising executive, grandson and actor Grant Garson; and stepdaughter Lynn Lempel, an author and New York Times crossword puzzle constructor and stepson Mark Gilbert, a VA internist doctor; her two sisters Klara Korda who shared her musical talents becoming the first violinist of the Sydney Symphony and Dr. Edith Eva Eger who became a nationally recognized psychologist dealing with post-traumatic stress disorder and author of several books including “The Choice” sharing the sisters’ experience during the Holocaust.
Magda is survived by her daughter Ilona Shillman of Los Angeles, California and son Louis Shillman of Austin, Texas; Stepdaughter Lynn Lempel, Daytona Beach, Florida and stepson Mark Gilbert of Amherst, Massachusetts and her sister Dr.Edith Eva Eger of La Jolla, California. By her grandson, Grant Nathaniel Garson of Los Angeles and by loving nieces, great- and -great-great nephews.
Magdalena Elefant Gilbert completed her journey peacefully on Saturday, October 15, 2022 with daughter Ilona and grandson Grant at her side.
Services are private. The family will be in mourning at 2410 Lightfoot Drive, Baltimore, Maryland 21209, Thursday, October 20, beginning at 1 pm with a service at 7 pm. The family requests that anyone attending shiva to please be COVID tested before coming.