Anna Fulop Sorotzkin

1932 – 2025

Anna Fulop Sorotzkin, a 30-year resident of Pacific Palisades, passed away on January 24 at age 92 with her beloved family by her side.

Anna (Panni) was born in Budapest, Hungary, on June 13, 1932. She narrowly survived the horrors of the Holocaust in Europe during World War II with her parents, Paul and Ilona, and her brother, Egon. She and her mother were saved by the Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg, who miraculously pulled them from a line destined for extermination camps by vouching for them as Swedish citizens. They were able to survive until the end of the war in the ghetto in Budapest.

Anna and her family were forced to live under communism until the student-led Hungarian Revolution in 1956, when she heroically escaped across the border and ultimately to America to begin a new life. Through the utmost perseverance and hard work, Anna forged a path from Miami, to Detroit, and then to Penn State, where she completed a degree in horticulture. She eventually fulfilled her life-long dream to come to California, having secured a job at Burpee Seed Company in Santa Paula.

Anna met her husband, Joshua Sorotzkin, a new immigrant from Israel, who was working as a chemical engineer for Shell Chemical in Ventura. Josh volunteered with the Jewish Agency with a desire to help Jewish refugees and met Anna. The young immigrants were soon engaged. They married on the 8th of May to commemorate Victory Day in Europe, a symbol of the end of World War II.

Anna decided to pursue a teaching certificate, and she entered the field of education as a middle school teacher. As a civics lesson, Anna invited her students to attend her citizenship ceremony at the courthouse in Ventura. With a deep appreciation for their new homeland, Anna and Josh created a beautiful life in Ventura, rich with family and good friends.

After moving into their first new home, Anna and Josh soon welcomed their first daughter, followed by twin girls a year later. With Josh’s expertise needed at other Shell locations, the couple briefly relocated to Northern California, followed by a transfer to Houston for the next 15 years.

While raising their young family, Anna was a deeply involved mother, enjoying all of her children’s activities and interests. She also pursued her own advanced learning with a Master’s in Education, returning to teaching. She continued to be an active member in the synagogue, establishing and teaching various Jewish educational programs.

Following Josh’s retirement from Shell, the couple returned to their beloved California and resettled in Ventura to be close to Anna’s parents. They eventually moved to Pacific Palisades to be close to their daughters and grandchildren.

Anna taught science in the early years at Village School and actually started the school’s first science fair. She cultivated many deep friendships in the community, including the Chabad of Pacific Palisades, where she was honored with the Woman of Valor award.

After decades of not wanting to talk about her experiences during the Holocaust and her life under communism, Anna published her autobiography, “Panni’s Quest for Freedom,” as a family legacy and a tribute to the lives lost. She also hoped that her book would serve as a cautionary lesson of how crimes against humanity can unfold.

A private family burial was held in Ventura, California. Her family cherishes her memory, with her husband, Josh Sorotzkin (z”l) preceding her in death; daughters Ruth (Bert) Sorotzkin Mandelbaum, Aliza (Ira) Astrachan and Dalia Sorotzkin; her grandchildren, Rachel (Landon), Jordan and Ava Mandelbaum, Talia and Arielle Attia; and her great-grandchildren, Aaron and Miles Polakof.

Anna’s legacy is one of a heroic and indomitable spirit, a pride in her Jewish heritage, a deep gratitude for America, and a charming wit. She will be remembered as a gardener extraordinaire, an avid reader, a connoisseur of classical music and operas, a wondrous baker of delectable pastries, and above all, a profound love for her family.

The names and pictures of Anna’s relatives who perished in the Holocaust are listed at Yad Vashem, Jerusalem, Israel, and at the Holocaust Memorial Museum, Washington, D.C. Anna’s testimonial can be accessed through the Shoah Foundation’s website.