Obituary of Morris Indyg

Holocaust Survivor, Hotelier, Honorary Cantor Morris "Moishe" Indyg, 93 Morris Indyg, long time resident of Vineland, passed away April 1, 2012. Born in Amshinov, Poland, to a large family, Morris at a very young age became both a skilled bread baker and the prodigal Hebrew School student of the famous Amshinover Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Kalish. When World War II broke out in 1939, Morris and his family were marshaled into the Warsaw Ghetto where his family operated a bread bakery. There he met German Gestapo Officer "Schmidtke" with whose assistance, Morris escaped from the Ghetto in 1942. For the remainder of the war he was in hiding along with his brother, sister, a brother-in-law and his future wife in the loft of a barn of a non-jewish Polish family, Wladislaw and Wladislawa Guzik who risked the lives of themselves and their children to save him from certain death. Until his passing, Moishe remained in contact with one of their daughters, Urshula Garbalinska and her family, who live in Poland today. After the war, he immigrated to Kansas City, MO. There he and his wife operated a bakery/delicatessen and helped organize the Holocaust Survivor community by forming the New American's Club of the Jewish Community Center of Kansas City, MO. He became its first President in 1959. In 1963, the Club erected one of the first monuments in America to the Six Million Martyrs who died in the Holocaust. The Memorial was dedicated by Morris as President of the Club and by President Harry S. Truman and is located upon the grounds of the Jewish Community Center of Kansas City, MO. In 1975, Moishe and his wife started a hotel business on Kentucky Avenue in Atlantic City where he worked with his family for many years. Much of the family's hotel business was sold in 2008 to a casino developer, but the business continues today as the Best Western Plus in Pleasantville. In 2008, Moishe was honored with a Gala Dinner at Beth Israel Congregation as "Man of the Year." That same year, he was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Red Cross for his years of service in housing fire victims at his hotels in Atlantic City. He loved his Jewish religious tradition and sang often in Beth Israel Synagogue and synagogues in different parts of the world. His "signature" participation as Honorary Cantor at Memorial "Yiskor" Services throughout the year, as well as Jewish funerals and countless commemorative occasions, left an indelible impression on all those who heard him and will always be remembered. Moishe remained close with many in the Holocaust Survivor Community and enjoyed his weekly poker game with many of them for nearly 35 years. He is predeceased by his parents, Menachem and Sylvia Indyk; his brothers and sisters, David, Jacob and Meyer Indyk, Pauline Muller, Chaya Indyk and Reisela Indyk; and his son Hershel Indyg. He is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Sylvia Indyg, his son Charles Indyg and his family, Barbarajean Reuben and Shayna Indyg; his daughter Rachel Ludwig and her family, David Ludwig, Joshua Ludwig, Jacob Ludwig and Seena Ludwig; and his son Hershel's children, Matthew Indyg and Marielle Indyg. The family requests in lieu of flowers, that donations can be made to Beth Israel Synagogue, 1015 East Park Avenue, Vineland, NJ 08360. The family will be receiving those paying respects at 11:00AM on Tuesday, April 3, 2012 at Beth Israel Synagogue, 1015 East Park Avenue, Vineland, NJ 08360. Funeral services will begin at Noon with interment to follow in the Holocaust Survivors Section of Alliance Cemetery, 970 Gershall Avenue, Norma, NJ 08347.