Irving Belfer, Who Shared His Private Holocaust Museum, Dies at 97 [VIDEO]

—who for decades showed people his private Holocaust collection at his house in Burbank—died Friday at the age of 97.

Belfer was moved last year to the Los Angeles Jewish Nursing Home, and looked forward to his 400 items of miniature buildings, handmade memorabilia and personal artifacts to be housed in a building that is being constructed at the Jewish Educational Trade School (JETS) in Granada Hills. The building is not yet complete, but the items are stored safely until it opens.

Belfer was a longtime member of in Valley Village, and executive director Joanne Klein announced his death for the family.

He is survived by his daughter, Terry (Jeff) Ellis and two grandchildren, Rabbi Ari (Hope) Ellis and Shana (Adam) Wasserman and two great-grandchildren, Hodaya and Elishama.

The funeral will be Monday afternoon, (Jan. 23), at 3 p.m. at Eden Memorial Park in Mission Hills.

Belfer was 37 when he came to America from Lodz, Poland, via the forced labor and concentration camps of Nazi-occupied Europe. He lost his beautiful young wife and their 4-year-old son to the death chamber at Treblinka. His father perished, as did four of his five siblings.

See the past story by Also see the videos above.

Shiva minyanim will take place Monday through Thursday evenings at 7 p.m., Saturday evening at 7 p.m. and Sunday morning at 9:30 am. Contact  for specifics.

Click here to read a recent story on the website of the Los Angeles Jewish Home.

EDITOR'S NOTE: I've visited Irving's amazing collection and heard his stories a few times, and it's wonderful to know that his story and memories will be preserved in the upcoming display. Condolensces to his family, and may Irving's memory live on.—m