William Kugelman's Obituary
William “Bill” Kugelman, 98, was born May 5, 1924 in Bedzin, Poland.
A few years after Bill’s birth, his family that included his father Joel (Sophie) Kugelman, brothers Monyick Kugelman and Joseph (Ava) Kugelman, and sister Regina (Paul) Ptasnick, moved to Sosnowiec, Poland where they had family living. There, they prospered, opening their own footwear manufacturing facility and retail shoe store.
In 1935, when Bill was just 11 years old, his father passed, and in 1941, the family was taken into the concentration camps. Over the next 4 years, Bill would be sent to 4 different concentration camps before his liberation on May 8, 1945.
In 1951, Bill immigrated to the United States, where he soon met the love of his life, Ruth. They were married on November 24, 1957 until her passing on December 13, 2003. Their 46-year marriage produced a thriving business, a daughter, 3 grandchildren, and 3 great grandchildren.
After relocating his family to Tucson, Arizona in 1967, Bill and Ruth operated Zev’s Famous Brands, a chain of local shoes stores, from 1968-1985.
Bill was a strong member of his family and the community. He was firm and unwavering in his personal convictions, dedication to his family, and support of his community.
In his long retirement, he regularly traveled to schools and organizations throughout Southern Arizona and spoke about his Holocaust experiences; he encouraged future generations to remember the horrific prejudice and bigotry that he witnessed firsthand. Bill gave regularly of his time and finances to support many charitable organizations that worked to advocate for these, and other, causes that he made a focus of his life.
Bill was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth. Bill is survived by his daughter Annette (Alan) Miklofsky, by his grandchildren Michael (Ariel), David, and Karen “Tova,” and by his great grandchildren Emelia, Callie, and Mayley.
The funeral service will be held on Sunday, March 26, 2023 at 1:00 pm at Evergreen Mortuary and Cemetery (3015 North Oracle Road, Tucson, Arizona 85705), Rabbi Robert Eisen will be officiating, a longtime friend of Bill’s. Interment to follow.
In lieu of flowers, charitable contributions are encouraged to the Tucson Holocaust Museum or Congregation Anshei Israel.
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