Charles Middleberg

Charles Louis Middleberg passed away peacefully on December 22, 2023 surrounded by family who loved him dearly. Born in Warsaw, Poland in 1929, he spent his formative years in Paris, France before emigrating to the United States in 1950. Mr. Middleberg was a hidden Jewish child in France during World War II after his parents were taken and sent to concentration camp. His father, Robert, survived Auschwitz, but his mother, Bertha, did not.

Following the war Mr. Middleberg attended the ORT, a school established for Jewish children who survived the war. There, at the age of 17, he met Mathilde Talvy, age 15, who would become the love of his life. Mr. Middleberg went on to be educated in France as an electronics engineer.

In 1950, Mr. Middleberg emigrated to the United States with his father and younger brother, Victor. Mathilde later followed Charles to the United States. They were married in 1952 and established their home in Philadelphia, later moving to Cherry Hill, NJ.
Following work on the early satellites, such as Telstar, Mr. Middleberg had a long and successful career in the textile industry, where he was highly respected for his acumen, integrity and collegial approach to business dealings.

Mr. Middleberg is widely known as a prominent Holocaust educator. He focused on educating children and young adults, sharing his personal experience and the importance of acting vigorously against antisemitism. He campaigned incessantly against bigotry and discrimination in all its forms. He was a passionate and persuasive speaker who was regularly invited to public schools, college campuses, civic organizations, military bases and ceremonial events. His story is immortalized in books, film and video.

Mathilde died in 2009 at the age of 79 after 57 years of marriage. Charles mourned the loss of his beloved wife the rest of his life.

Charles passed away the beloved patriarch of a large, tightly knit family, inspired by the love and example of Charles and Mathilde. He is survived by four children, Maurice (Frances), Brenda (Alan), Lynne (Diego) and David (Sandra) and niece Maryse. There are twelve grandchildren - Joshua (Lauren), Amanda (Saif), Matthew (Lauren), Alex (Dani), Jake (Nicole), Nate (Jacob), Naomi, Nadav, Jessica, Rachel, Jonathan, Clarissa - and seven great-grandchildren - Matilda, Beatrix, Angelina, Ellie, Madeline, Ruki, Avi - as well as the many other nephews, nieces and cousins that Charles and Mathilde brought into their loving embrace and were part of family gatherings.

His memory is a blessing.

Relatives and friends are invited Wednesday, December 27th, beginning 11:15 am to PLATT MEMORIAL CHAPELS, Inc., 2001 Haddonfield-Berlin Road, Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 where funeral services will begin promptly at 12:00 noon. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Esther Raab Holocaust Museum and Goodwin Education Center (www.jcrcsnj.org)