Sonja Rosenwald

Sonja Rosenwald (née Zyskind) passed away peacefully on March 13, 2026, surrounded by the love of her family.

Born in Piotrków Trybunalski, Poland, on October 11, 1927, Sonja’s childhood was shattered in 1939 with the Nazi invasion of Poland at the outbreak of World War II. Miraculously, she survived the horrors of the Holocaust and later met her beloved husband, Israel Rosenwald, of blessed memory. Together they emigrated to the United States and rebuilt their lives from the ashes in Los Angeles, California.

Sonja was active in the leadership of The 1939 Club, a community of Holocaust survivors, since its founding in 1952. Through its work sharing the lessons and memory of the Holocaust, The 1939 Club honors the legacy of those who were lost and stands as a testament to the endurance of the human spirit.

Sonja was known for her warmth, generosity, and gracious spirit, and was deeply loved by all who had the privilege of knowing her.

Sonja is survived by her loving daughter, Jeanie Finkelstein and her husband, David; her daughter-in-law, Gita Rosenwald; her grandchildren, Lisa Solny and her husband, Jeff, Eric Finkelstein and his husband, Jeffrey Stevens, Daniel Rosenwald, and Samantha Rosenwald; and her great-grandson, Brett Solny. She was predeceased by her beloved husband, Israel Rosenwald, by her adoring son, Sam Rosenwald, and by her precious great-granddaughter, Jordyn Solny.

The family wishes to express special gratitude to Sonja’s devoted and loving caregivers, Therese Lamb and Debbie Flowers, who cared for her with the tenderness and dedication they would show their own mothers.