Obituary of Max Fiks

ALBANY, NEW YORK Max Fiks, 88, of Albany died on February 17, 2009, at St. Peter's Hospital, after a short bout of pneumonia and a 27-year battle with myasthenia gravis. Devoted husband of the late Julie, beloved father of Bettina (Howie) Stoller and Eliot Fiks of Binghamton, and loving grandfather of Aaron and Jeremy Stoller. Also survived by a brother, Alfred Fiks, of Costa Rica. Born in 1921 in Berlin, Germany, Max emigrated to Brooklyn in 1937 to escape the Nazis and help bring his family to this country. After a stint in the army (Aleutian Islands) during W.W. II, Max married Julie in 1946, moving from Brooklyn to Maryland to Queens to Staten Island, before making their final home in Albany to be near their daughter and her young children. With a Master's degree in Public Administration, Max worked as a personnel manager for agencies varying from Mobilization for Youth to the U.S. Postal Service to City College of N.Y. He often had to travel long distances to his job, but supporting his family was very important to him. He also wrote for work-related publications. Max loved classical music, opera, and political discussions; he was a devoted Zionist and a lover of words. He and Julie gave countless dollars to a variety of charities, and he cared lovingly for his parents until their deaths. Special thanks go to Dr. Roberta Miller for her excellent care, and long-time caregiver, Pam. Pam's daughers, Kiyana and Lameda, were also of great help. Funeral on February 20, at 1 p.m. at B'nai Sholom Reform Congregation; burial immediately following at Independent Benevolent Society. The family will be sitting shiva (mourning for the family member) at the Stoller home on Saturday from 7-9, with a minyan (Jewish prayer service) on Sat. at 7:30. In lieu of flowers, the family would appreciate your planting a tree in Israel in memory of Max: Jewish National Fund - http://www.jnf.org/