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Jewish Community News
Obituaries: October 2006
Obit
Helga Eagle, Los Gatos
Helga Eagle, a longtime resident of Los Gatos, died at the age of 80.
She came to the South Bay in the 1960s, and was actively involved with
the seniors program at the Addison Penzak Jewish Community Center. A gifted
artist, she made pottery, necklaces and served as president of the Let’s
Look at Art Society, which brought art into elementary school classrooms.
Helga was born in Germany in 1926 in a tiny town where her family was
the only Jewish family. When Hitler rose to power, Helga was forced to
sit alone on a bench at the back of her classroom where no one, not even
her teacher, was allowed to speak with her. As life became more dangerous,
nine-year-old Helga was sent to live with her grandparents in Danzig.
In 1937, the family had the amazing fortune to obtain visas and traveled
by boat to Hoboken, New Jersey. The family moved from New Jersey to New
York to Louisville and finally settled in L.A. Helga enrolled in a high
school with a large Jewish community and finally felt like she fit in,
eventually becoming president of her school’s B’nai B’rith
chapter.
She is survived by children Joey Eagle (Jo), Charlie Eagle (Judy Horvath)
and Lori Eagle (Peter Huth), and grandchildren Aaron, Ben, Janelle, Jason,
and Bree. Donations in her memory can be made to the Let’s Look
at Art Society. To donate please contact Rosemarie Mirkin at 267-5155
or mail a check made out to “Let's Look at Art” to 1697 Mulberry
Lane, San Jose, CA 95125
Obituary Submissions
If you have news to include in this column, please contact Cecily Ruttenberg. You can call Cecily at (408) 357-7505.
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