AMHERST – Margit H. Mintz passed away peacefully at home on February 20, 2017, at the age of 91.  Margit was born in Hannover, Germany and enjoyed a wonderful, idyllic childhood until the start of World War II, when her young life was changed forever by the Holocaust.  Both parents perished incidental to the war, and Margit lost years to concentration camp internment.  Her survival was made possible by the wit and will that made her such a memorable person in her lifetime.  After being liberated, Margit briefly returned to her hometown, and then, perhaps to slough off the burden of survival, traveled throughout Europe “with only a suitcase”.  She emigrated to the United States, arriving in New York City on October 2, 1952.  She attended Hunter College where she received a bachelor’s degree, while working as a secretary.  It was on the tennis courts in Central Park where she met her husband, Abraham “Abie” Mintz.  Margit was evasive and reticent, but Abie’s relentless pursuit was rewarded when they married on his birthday in 1956, and they loved and supported one another until Abie’s death in 1999.  Margit was a kindergarten teacher, furniture store manager, and interior designer/fine art curator in her professional lives.  She loved all things artistic and decorative, and her style in both decoration and dress was boldly unique and often admired.  Margit introduced Abie and her children to Provincetown on Cape Cod, one of her favorite places and the site of traditional summer vacations which have continued into the next generation and will continue in her memory.  She was an avid and curious reader of books of all kinds, with a particular fondness for poetry and philosophy.  In addition to her loving husband, Margit was lucky to forge many strong friendships in her lifetime, including her closest friends Dr. Vidor and Nissan Bernstien of Wayne, NJ.  She moved from New Jersey to Amherst in 2004, where she found an engaging and supportive community at Greenleaves Condominiums. 

Margit was also predeceased by her sister, Etta.  In addition to her sister Helga (Rohlfs) and other family in Germany, Margit leaves her two sons, David Mintz, of Northampton, and Daniel Mintz, of Eureka CA.  She will also be missed by David’s wife and her daughter-in-law, Shawn Farley, and her granddaughter, Natasha (Mintz), now living in New Orleans, who was her beloved angel and with whom she was able to celebrate her 91^st birthday in December.

The family would like to extend genuine and heartfelt gratitude to the Center for Extended Care in Amherst, for their attention, affection, and wonderful care they provided to Margit in the final chapter of her life.  In lieu of any formal service, the family plans to hold a celebration of Margit’s life when Spring, the season of rebirth, arrives.  In lieu of flowers, donations in Margit’s memory can be made to The United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, ushmm.org.