Obituary: Dory Profis

Dory Profis passed away on Sept. 5, 2018. This remarkable woman was born in Romania in 1925 and lived many diverse chapters in her 93 years. She was born to a successful business couple who were leaders of the Constanta Romania Jewish Community. She attended a private German language school during her elementary and high school years. Her life changed drastically when she was 12 years old upon the death of her father. Soon the Germans would take over Romania and Dory, her mother, and sister would be placed in work camps. For the next three years, she lived in a stable.

After their liberation, she met another displaced person, Gerald Profis, who became the love of her life. After they married, the couple lived in Israel for a few years where their son, Victor, was born. From Israel, they moved to Cuba where they owned a women’s clothing store and where their daughter, Loli, was born. She had a wonderful, happy life until Fidel Castro came into power and the family fled to Jamaica and then to Dothan, Ala. They moved to Milwaukee and finally to Atlanta, where they were in the grocery store business.

They had many close friends and family and Atlanta became their true home. Tragedy struck once again when her son, Victor, passed away in 2009, followed a few months later by her beloved husband, Gerald. That was not the end of her difficulties. Her granddaughter, Emily Moore, was taken from her at the young age of 35. This was the most tragic situation of her life – one she never recovered from.

Dory was a real Ashet Chayel – a woman of valour. She could relate to people of any age and was a great listener. She had the ability to give advice for all problems and people readily shared with her. To know her was to love her. Throughout her illness there was a steady stream of people of all ages who came to her side. While they came to comfort Dory, she always wound up both comforting them and giving them sage advice.

She is survived by her daughter, Loli Gross (Joel); grandsons: David Roffwarg (Polly), Jacob Gross (Lauren), Kurt Moore; granddaughters: Michelle Profis (Ben Collins), Lauren Profis, and Rachel Gross Villena (Daniel); and great-grandchildren, Hallie and Jordan Moore and Emmitt Roffwarg.

Family asked that donations to be made to Jewish Family & Career Services or Weinstein Hospice. A graveside service was held Sept. 7 at Crest Lawn Memorial Park with Rabbi Mark Zimmerman officiating. Arrangements by Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care.