Varian Mackey Fry (1907 - 1967)

Born 15 Oct 1907 in New York City, New York, United States

Husband of Annette Troth (Riley) Fry — married about 23 Oct 1950 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Died 13 Sep 1967 at age 59 in Redding, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States

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Biography

Varian Fry is Notable.

Varian Fry saved the lives of numerous Jews.

Assisted 2,000 to 4,000 anti-Nazi and Jewish refugees to escape Nazi persecution and the Holocaust and recognized as a Righteous Among the Nations awardee

Varian Mackey Fry was born on 15 Oct 1907. He was the son of Arthur Varian Fry and Lilian R. (Mackey) Fry. ^[1]

He was an American journalist. He operated a rescue network in Vichy France that assisted approximately 2,000 to 4,000 anti-Nazi and Jewish refugees to escape Nazi persecution and the Holocaust. Among those who benefited from the mission were: Hannah Arendt, Marcel Duchamp, Marc Chagall, Max Ernst, André Breton, Heinrich Mann, Nelly Mann, Golo Mann, Franz Werfel, and Alma Mahler-Werfel (a more extensive list can be found on Wikipedia). ^[2]

Fry married Annette T Riley on 23 Oct 1950 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. ^[3]

Shortly before Fry’s death, the French government awarded him the Croix de Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur. It was the only official recognition he received during his lifetime. ^[4]

He died on 13 Sep 1967. He is buried with his parents at Green-Wood Cemetery in Brooklyn, NY. ^[5]

Selected Honors and Awards

• Médaille de la Résistance. ^[6]
• 1967 - Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur (National Order of the Legion of Honor, France) - Chavelier
• 1991 - The United States Holocaust Memorial Council's Eisenhower Liberation Medal.
• 1994 - Righteous Among the Nations. ^[7]
• 2002 - A square in front of the U.S. Consulate in Marseille renamed Place Varian Fry.
• 2005 - A street in the Berlin borough of Mitte at Potsdamer Platz was named Varian-Fry-Straße in recognition of his work.
• 2005 - A street in his hometown of Ridgewood, New Jersey, was renamed Varian Fry Way. ^[8]

Residences

• Residence 1915: Ridgewood, Bergen, New Jersey. ^[9]
• Residence 1930: Ridgewood, Bergen, New Jersey. ^[10]

Sources

1. ↑ "New York, New York City Births, 1846-1909," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WC4-Z66 : 11 February 2018), Varian Mackey Fry, 19 Oct 1907; citing Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, reference cn 55449 New York Municipal Archives, New York; FHL microfilm 1,991,806.
2. ↑ Wikipedia: Varian Fry
3. ↑ "Pennsylvania, County Marriages, 1885-1950," database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q28G-B6GF : 22 July 2021), Varian M Fry and Annette T Riley, 23 Oct 1950; citing Marriage, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, multiple County Clerks, Pennsylvania.
4. ↑ United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. “Varian Fry,” Holocaust Encyclopedia.
5. ↑ U.S., Find a Grave Index, 1600s-Current Ancestry.com Publication: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 2012 Lehi, UT, USA Record Collection 60525, Find A Grave: Memorial #32391797.
6. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Resistance_Medal
7. ↑ Yad Vashem: Righteous Among the Nations
8. ↑ "Varian Fry, Holocaust Hero (1907-1967)," Ridgewood Public Library.
9. ↑ "New Jersey State Census, 1915", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV93-HQY9 : Sun Jan 29 14:26:12 UTC 2023), Entry for Arthur B Fry and Lillian Fry, 1915.
10. ↑ 1930 Census: "1930 United States Federal Census"
    Year: 1930; Census Place: Ridgewood, Bergen, New Jersey; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 0206; FHL microfilm: 2341051
    Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 6224 #23125911 (accessed 21 September 2022)
    Varian M Fry (22), single son, in household of Arthur V Fry (58) at 25 Richmond Avenue, Ridgewood, Bergen, New Jersey, USA. Born in New York.

See also:

• Wikidata: Item Q201161, en:Wikipedia