BIOGRAPHY

Samuelson was born in Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa, on 1 October 1914. She was the eldest of seven children and the last surviving one. She spent her early childhood in Rosettenville, Johannesburg, before moving to Cape Town, where she lived for most of her life until 1979. She left school early to help support her family financially. Determined to acquire practical skills, she attended college, where she learned shorthand, typing, and office administration. She worked in these fields until her retirement. In 1945, she married Skea (Yehezkel) Samuelson at the Rosettenville Shul, after meeting him during a hike at a Zionist youth camp. The couple went on to have two daughters: Ilana Gorfil and Gail Drutman.

Before getting married, the couple had hoped to move to Israel in 1943, when the region was still Mandatory Palestine, but faced challenges obtaining permits. Samuelson managed to secure a permit initially, so she traveled ahead, planning for her husband to follow once his permit was granted. Accompanied by three young women from Durban, she embarked on a Polish ship, the SS Kościuszko, which was also transporting Italian prisoners of war. The journey, which included substandard conditions, took them via Egypt. After disembarking at Port Said, they continued to Haifa by boat and train. She spent the following year on Kibbutz Kfar Blum, which was still in the early stages of its establishment. Her husband was unable to join her initially because his mother fell ill, prompting her to return to South Africa.

In 1979, the couple followed their two daughters, who had moved to Israel. In Israel, she worked as the English secretary to the president of Tel Aviv University for 18 years, serving under three different presidents. She also managed all English-language tasks for the university’s legal department. She returned to South Africa as often as possible to visit her family. Her final visit was a special occasion: she traveled in her mid-90s to celebrate what would have been her late sister’s 98th birthday.

RECOGNITION

Her age has not been validated.

ATTRIBUTION

* “Centenarian celebrates 110 years with large, loving family” – South African Jewish Report, 14 November 2024

GALLERY