Death of Féodor Merowka

March 5, 2024

We are saddened to learn of the death of Féodor Merowka on February 28, 2024, in his 97th year.

Born in Wiesbaden on September 25, 1927, Féodor left Germany in 1933 with his parents for Liechtenstein. He arrived in Nice in 1934 and went to school at Fuon Cauda (the first plaque put up by AMEJDAM).

Before the war, he was a Protestant scout with Pastor Gagnier.

During the Italian occupation, his father was in the Resistance. He was arrested by the Italians, tortured at the Villa Lynwood and sent to the Embrun camp. He escaped when the Germans arrived. Helped by the Resistance network, he hid with his family in the forest of Vence. Féo also joined the Resistance, under the false name of Maurel. He went out for supplies because he spoke French without an accent. He escaped arrest by two German soldiers by pretending not to understand them.

After the war, he took two baccalauréats in one year, began his medical studies and qualified as a doctor. His military service having been deferred, he was then called up to Algeria, where he served as a “pacification” doctor in the Aurès. Wounded in a fellagha attack, he was repatriated to France, where he completed his three years in the army, leaving with three military medals.

He opened a general practice in Saint-Laurent-du-Var and worked as an occupational doctor for EDF.

On retiring, he became involved with Yad Vashem together with his colleague Jacques Eloit, and took part in founding AMEJDAM in July 2003.

Féodor was very involved in searching for the names of deported children, and worked with Maurice Germain, Madeleine’s husband, comparing Serge Klarsfeld’s lists with school registers to draw up lists of the children deported from Nice, Cannes, Antibes, Golfe-Juan, Embrun, etc.

Married to Michèle, Féodor had twin daughters, Frédérique and Manuella, and a son, Alexis, who with his wife Joëlle gave him the joy of being grandfather to Axel, Nathan and Ilana

Goodbye, Féo