Renee Wehrmann

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Renee Wehrmann, who left this world on July 28, 2026, at the age of 97. Renee, a woman of strong will and unyielding spirit, was born in Berlin, Germany, on March 9, 1929, to Alexandre Fainas and Luba Spiegelglass Fainas. The family resided in Lithuania, and Germany, and Renee spoke German and Russian fluently as a child.

In 1935 the Nazi government removed her father, Alexander Fainas, from his position as a trade representative with the German government. Realizing that there was no future in Germany, the family moved to Paris, France. Renee lived through the Holocaust in France, with her parents and two brothers.

When Germany invaded France the Fainas family moved to evade the Nazi's, first to Lyon, and then to a small town on the Italian border, Menton. In Menton, Renee was kept in school, even though the area was under control of the Germans. Renee was told to never ride the bus, but one day she was very tired and took the bus. Nazis boarded the bus and demanded identification from all of the passengers. Renee's fake ID passed, but after that the decision was made to put Renee in a Catholic convent for the balance of the war. No one at the convent knew that Renee was Jewish.

After WW2 Renee moved to Israel for a year in 1949, and worked on a kibbutz, Neve Ilan.

Back in Paris Renee met her future husband, an American, Herman Erlichson, on a ski trip. She arrived in America on Feb 6, 1953, and was married in 1954.

In 1961 the marriage failed, and Renee moved to Flushing, New York in Queens with her son Peter. Renee worked as the chief bacteriologist at Flushing Hospital.

In 1965 Renee married the love of her life, Bernard Wehrmann. A second son, Michael was born in 1966. With the encouragement of her husband Renee went back to school, first to finish college, then a Masters Degree, and finally a PHD in French literature.

In 1978 Renee became a widow at the young age of 49 when her husband Bernard died of cancer. She never remarried.

Renee was a beacon of knowledge and wisdom, whose passion for French literature led her to a distinguished career as a professor at Pace University in New York City. She was an erudite scholar, often quoted saying, "Language is the road map of a culture. It tells you where its people come from and where they are going." Through her profound lectures and engaging discussions, she instilled in her students a deep appreciation for the beauty of the French language and its literature. She retired in 2003 after a remarkable career, leaving an indelible mark on the hearts and minds of countless students.

Renee was a loving and devoted mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She is survived by her sons Peter Erlichson and Michael Wehrmann; grandsons Joel and Ben Erlichson; and great-grandson Julien Erlichson. Each of them carries forward Renee's legacy of resilience, wisdom, and passion for learning. She was preceded in death by her parents, Alexandre Fainas and Luba Spiegelglass.

Renee's life was a testament to the power of education and the transformative potential of literature. Her memory will forever inspire us to explore new horizons, appreciate the beauty of words, and cherish the magic of storytelling. As we mourn her passing, we also celebrate her extraordinary journey and the countless lives she touched along the way.

We encourage those who knew Renee to reflect on their favorite memories of her and to share them on her memorial page. Photos, reminiscences, and expressions of sympathy can also be uploaded there. Let us come together to honor and remember Renee Wehrmann, a truly remarkable woman whose spirit will forever be a part of our lives.