KOWENSKI, JOEL, 89

Kowenski, Joel, 89, of Atlantic City, passed away on June 29 surrounded by his beloved family. Born on May 1, 1920, in Poland, he was a Holocaust survivor who lost most of his family during the war. After the liberation, he spent three years in a displaced persons camp in Italy.

He immigrated to the U.S. in 1948 and initially stayed with his surviving family in Albuquerque, N.M. He later moved to New York where he met and married his beloved wife, Cyla, also a Holocaust survivor. In 1953, they moved to Rt. 50 in Laureldale, N.J., where they started a poultry farm.

He was a quiet, loving, and gentle man, who was an avid reader of historical books and daily newspapers. He kept up with current events and politics, was a Zionist, and had a deep love for the state of Israel. He cared about the people around him, as well as the injustices in the world.

He is survived by his loving wife of 59 years, Cyla; beloved children, Tobey (Eric) Sopher of Egg Harbor Twp., NJ and Hal (Karen Finkel) Kowenski, of Silver Spring, MD; his beloved grandchildren, Martin (Meredith), Jenny, Jacob, and Daniel; and his great-grandson, Aiden.

Graveside services were held Wednesday, July 1, at the Rodef Sholom Cemetery, Egg Harbor Twp. The family asks that contributions in Joel's memory can be made to either the Holocaust Resource Center of Stockton College, P.O. Box 195, Pomona, NJ 08240, or to Jewish Family Services of Atlantic and Cape May Counties, 607 N. Jerome Ave, Margate, NJ 08402. Arrangements were by ROTHGOLDSTEINS' MEMORIAL CHAPEL, Atlantic City. www.rothgoldsteins.com.