IN MEMORIAM

Alfred Himmelrich, Jr.

Alfred Himmelrich, Jr., who passed away February 14, was the founding Chairman of the Red Cross Holocaust and War Victims Tracing Center. In 1990, Mr. Himmelrich advocated for and donated personal funds to establish a service that has since then traced the histories of more than 10,000 people who died during WWII, and reunited 1,200 survivors with family members and loved ones. He was a board member of both the Red Cross Central Maryland Chapter and the Greater Chesapeake and Potomac Blood Region, and served as president of several other local boards.

"In addition to providing peace to survivors, Alfred was an inspiration to all the volunteers and staff who have dedicated themselves for close to 15 years to this noble mission," said Center Director Linda Klein.

Rededication of the Holocaust Tracing Center
to Alfred Himmelrich, Jr.

With a vision of reuniting family members separated during World War II, Alfred Himmelrich, Jr., had laid the groundwork for establishing the Red Cross' Holocaust Tracing Service. In honor of this tremendous achievement, the Red Cross rededicated the Tracing Center to him. The Center has been directly or indirectly responsible for over 700 reunions and has provided peaceful closure to nearly 6,000 other cases.

Mr. Himmelrich recognized a great opportunity in 1990 when the fall of the Soviet Union enabled the release of thousands of World War II documents. This newly discovered information has made it possible for the Red Cross to help Holocaust survivors throughout the world learn the fates of missing loved ones.

Inspirational Holocaust Tracing Center stories.

More information on the Holocaust and War Victims Tracing Center.