Walter “Wally” Mayer, a Holocaust survivor and World War II veteran, is now officially a centenarian. Mayer, one of the Wallys who built Jewish St. Louis, was the center of attention at the Jewish Community Center on March 28 at a party in his honor. Nearly 100 guests celebrated Mayer at the event which was arranged by his wife, Rosalie Rotenberg.
“Wally had a really great time,” said Rotenberg, 90. “He was just thrilled with how many people came.”
Rotenberg said the attendees included friends from the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum, where Mayer has volunteered, and a large contingent from nearby Manor Condominiums, where Mayer and Rotenberg live. Mayer was not the oldest guest at his own party. Mark Talve (father of Rabbi Susan Talve) beat Mayer to the 100-year milestone by one month.
Mayer reflected on the many friends who showed up and said, “I had a wonderful time. People are just wonderful to me. I really didn’t deserve it. How did you get to 100? You walk very slowly, very carefully.”
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