ELISA HABER

Siddi Oppenheimer Stoll

My grandmother, Siddi Oppenheimer Stoll, was born in Aub, Germany on July 14th, 1915. She was my Grandmother on my mother’s side who escaped Hitler’s Germany in 1939 with my Grandfather Leo Stoll who worked with the German Jewish underground. He and his 4 brothers managed to save most of my family from Germany where they emigrated to Washington Heights in NYC. What began as an American dream for my Grandmo Siddi was tragically cut short in 1970 where she ended up falling down a flight of marble stairs in her apartment bldg. in New York. She was only 55. What preceded her death was the double life my Grandfather lead of infidelity, monetary control and emotional abuse which culminated in them separating in 1961. Life was never the same for my Grandmother. I have no memories of every being with her, but photos, memorabilia, and stories suggest otherwise. I have been haunted by her death since I have been four years old, The day, my mom picked up the in her bedroom and seeing her on her bed face down wailing has haunted me every since. This project, is not unique, but personal to me, and one I have been wanting to tell through images of her personal belongings and my visual recreations in my mind. I am keeping her name alive because I want to know her story, since I was robbed of ever knowing this vivacious, wonderful Grandmother.