Erwin Farkas

It is somewhat fitting that Erwin left us on New Year's Day, as he loved celebrations of all kinds. He was born of Hungarian descent on August 28, 1929, in the town of Ombod, Romania where his family owned a general store and maintained a small farm.

In the spring of 1944, after losing his half-brother, who was sent to fight on the Eastern front, and his half-sister emigrated to Argentina, the remaining family was deported, first to the ghetto and then to Auschwitz-Birkenau, where the lives of his parents, grandfather, and three sisters were taken. Erwin and his brother Zoltan were the only survivors, imprisoned until their liberation in April 1945.

After the war, the two brothers stayed in Kloster Indersdorf, Germany at a DP camp for youth before emigrating to America where they lived with relatives in New York City. After college and a stint in the army during the Korean War, Erwin moved to Minnesota for graduate school in psychology where he received a master's and PhD at the University of Minnesota.

While in Minnesota, Erwin embraced his love of folk dancing and remained active for most of his life. He loved music and sometimes during a conversation he would just break into a song in Hungarian, Yiddish, or Hebrew. Erwin was incredibly compassionate and empathetic, supporting many causes to protect animals and wildlife, provide access to food and shelter for those in need, and defending human rights and social equity.

In 2008, Erwin returned to Germany for the first of many reunions organized by Anna Andlauer for the individuals who stayed at Kloster Indersdorf after the war while commemorating their liberation. At these reunions Erwin made several new and dear friends while reconnecting with friends from decades past.

Erwin is preceded in death by his parents Eugene and Frida, brothers Sholem and Zoltan, sisters Martha, Judith, Eva, and Rita and his lifelong friend, Leslie Kleinman.

He will be sorely missed by his dear friends and neighbors who became his family during the last years of his life.

He was kind, compassionate, sweet and playful and blessed with a subtle sense of humor that made everyone smile. 

Erwin will be laid to rest near his brother at Hills of Eternity Memorial Park in Colma, CA.

There will be a local commemoration ceremony on Sunday, January 28 at Mt. Zion Temple, 1300 Summit Avenue, St. Paul, MN. Services begin at 3:00 PM and there will be a social gathering to follow. 

Memorials preferred to Audubon Minnesota or an animal charity of donor's choice.