Born on September 17, 1936, in Leningrad (now St. Petersburg), Marie Vishon came of age in the shadow of World War II. When her father was drafted into the Soviet army, he told his family, “I am Jewish, and I have to fight.” He never returned. Left fatherless at five, Marie grew up in poverty alongside her devoted mother and grandparents, learning resilience in a world marked by loss and hardship.

In postwar Ukraine, Marie’s family quietly hid their Jewish identity to survive. Despite antisemitism and limited opportunities, she pursued a career in healthcare, becoming a midwife. She married Lev in 1958, and together they raised their son, Anatole, building a life grounded in perseverance and love.

In 1974, the family immigrated to Cleveland, Ohio, where Marie continued her calling as a nurse. She worked at Montefiore and later at the Cleveland Clinic’s surgical ICU, earning deep respect from colleagues and patients alike. She retired at 75, proud of a lifetime spent caring for others.

Marie’s life is defined not only by survival, but by kindness, dignity, and unwavering Jewish pride. Her message to future generations is simple and strong: never hide who you are—always carry hope and pride in your Jewish identity.