Eva Maria Sampson

foto da https://www.jweekly.com/2016/07/07/deaths0708/ , https://www.facebook.com/cathryn.hilliard, https://www.facebook.com/fhilliard

testo da https://www.jweekly.com/2016/07/07/deaths0708/:

Eva Maria Sampson (nee Jessner) left this world to begin a new adventure somewhere out of our reach. She was a unique lady, someone whose keen sense of reality, and ability to distance herself from sentimentality, helped her to survive the Holocaust. Her stunning looks and flirtatious, unpredictable personality drew people to her. Eva’s understanding of what motivates people was a source of fascination to many. Dramatic — she was all at once a sweet, apologetic, kind and loving person and suddenly a fierce tigress in defense of her children. Although very independent, she was always there for her family in an emergency.

Born in Konigsberg (now Kaliningrad) in 1917, she moved with her family to Berlin where her father, Fritz Jessner, and uncle Leopold Jessner were directors of the Berlin Theater. As a teenager at the onset of World War II, Eva and her sister Anne were sent to England to learn a profession in preparation for their possible need to leave Germany. Eva learned secretarial skills, which served her well later in her life when she came to America. She was an executive secretary (and language coach) for Alfred Hitchcock, she worked with the CEO of Thompson, Ramo, Woodridge (a space technology firm) and IHOP, among others.

At age 16, Eva was already out of her home and country. She was sent back to Germany because there was no longer enough money to support her studies and buy food. Eva had a very good voice and she wanted to study opera. She left Germany and went to Rome to study with a voice coach. During her time in Rome, danger grew in Italy.

With her stepmother Dr. Lucy Jessner’s help, Eva fled Italy to come to America. She often talked about how wonderful it was to finally see the Statue of Liberty after a rough passage at sea. Her first job was as a maid and then as a governess for a family in New York City. Eva wanted to go to Los Angeles where she could stay with her mother’s friend and start a new life.

It was there that she joined a club for German-Jewish refugees. On one of her visits to watch the tennis players, she met her future husband, Curtis Sampson. She thought he was very handsome and fell in love with his unusual serve. They were soon married in Beverly Hills. Over the years she gave birth to Cathryn (Hilliard), Jeffrey and Thomas. She and Curt parted 28 years later so Eva could follow her passion, work, travel and move her home every couple of years. She and Curt remained friends. Eva’s life was filled with challenges and lots of adventure.

She was touched by the warmth and presence of her large family. She said about her very interesting life, “I had fun.” In the end, Eva told her family how much she loved us all and that she just wanted to be remembered by her three children as “being our mother.”