Ilse Rothblat Family Collection

Ilse Edith Rothblat was born Ilse Paschkusz on July 22 1921 in Vienna, Austria. She lived with her parents Elsa and Hermann Paschkusz in Laimgrubengasse in the 6th district of Vienna. There, she also attended high school BG VI - Rahlgasse 1060 Vienna. After the 'Anschluss' her parents felt it was necessary for their daughter to leave as soon as possible, even though they had no emigration papers at the time. They got an au-pair visa for Ilse with which it was possible to leave Vienna in order to stay with the Benzies in Stepps, a township near Glasgow, Scotland. Ms. Rothblat's parents were able to obtain affidavits and visas to the USA and once being established there they were able to send papers for her to come to the USA as well. After one and a half years of working for and staying with the Benzies Ilse reunited with her parents. Her family on the father's side all emigrated to Israel. On the mother's side, however, her grandmother and her two aunts perished in the Holocaust, although her mother, Elsa Paschkusz (in the USA: Paskus), tried desperately to save her mother and siblings. This sad story can be followed closely in the detailed correspondence between the family members in the collection.

After coming to the USA, Ilse Rothblat worked various jobs - in a millinery store, a dress shop, a knitting glove factory - until she joined her mother as a co-owner of a factory for lady accessories.

She is married to Mr. John Rothblat, a furrier from Berlin, and is the mother of two - Lillian and Daniel Rothblat. Since 1978 and up to date she lives together with her husband in Cliffside Park, NJ.