World War II veteran Rudolph Loewenstein, who escaped Nazi Germany as a teen, dies at 98

Screenshot 2020 04 21 at 10.39.34 1

Rudolph J. Loewenstein, who served in the U.S. Army in World War II, died Monday as a result of complications from COVID-19. He was 98.

Born in Berlin, Germany, he escaped the Nazis in 1937 when he was just 15, boarding a ship bound for New York City.

Mr. Loewenstein was a resident of Ewing for 71 years and owned a fruit and vegetable company before becoming a meat inspector for the State of New Jersey. He worked for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for twenty-one years before retiring.

He was the former president of Adath Israel Congregation and chairman of the ritual committee. He was honored twice as man of the year by the congregation for all his work for the community.

He also served as chairman of Meals on Wheels at Greenwood House and was honored there with the May Medoff award. He volunteered for the organization for about 23 years, first delivering meals, then taking over scheduling duties and training volunteers.

Husband of the late Clara Weis Loewenstein, father of the late Judith Halpern, and father-in-law of the late Janee Loewenstein, he is survived by a son, Alan Loewenstein, and son-in law, Howard Halpern. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Justin, Jodi, Evan, Mark and Jamie, and a great-grandchild, Jack.

Private funeral services and burial will be held Wednesday, April 22 at Fountain Lawn Memorial Park. The service is only for immediate family members and fewer than 10 people will be allowed to gather. Members of Adath Israel plan to pay their respects by driving past the cemetery but remaining in their vehicles.

The family requests memorial contributions to Adath Israel Congregation or to Greenwood House.

Avatar of Krystal Knapp

Krystal Knapp is the founding editor of Planet Princeton. Follow her on Twitter @krystalknapp. She can be reached via email at editor AT planetprinceton.com. Send all letters to the editor and press releases to that email address.