Obituaries

Lotte was born in Nuremberg, Germany and raised in St. Gallen, Switzerland before coming to the United States, by way of Cuba, in 1942.

After high school in Forest Hills, NY, Lotte attended Queens College and then Teachers College of Columbia University in New York City, obtaining a Master’s degree in Educational Psychology. Lotte was a devoted and innovative educator, first for preschoolers and then for many years in the public schools of Teaneck, NJ, teaching children grades 1-3. She was one of the first to bring team teaching and open classroom education to the Teaneck elementary schools. Lotte’s passion for education led her to be active in the Teachers Union in Teaneck, and throughout her adult life, in National Council of Jewish Women, tutoring children and serving on the Board of the LA Chapter in recent years.

After retiring from teaching and spending years travelling and visiting with family, Lotte moved with her husband to Los Angeles in 2008, shortly before his passing. Lotte was devoted to her family, both immediate and extended, and enjoyed keeping in touch regularly with many, be it in person, via telephone, or email. The outdoors was an important part of Lotte’s life, going back to hiking in her youth in Switzerland.

Lotte will be fondly remembered for her deep concern and interest in our lives and pursuits, her love of musicals and for her frequently corny birthday poems.

Lotte was the wife of the late Robert Hans Sohn. She is survived by her sister Lisl Geggel, children Peter Sohn (Carol) and Ruth Sohn (Reuven), and her grandchildren Jennifer and Rebecca Sohn and Rachel (Berenike), Noam, and Amir Firestone.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Los Angeles Chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women, https://www.ncjwla.org/ , 5350 Wilshire Blvd, #36849, Los Angeles CA 90036.