Brown Deer resident Victor Haim Cocos died Sept. 24 of pneumonia. He was 88.
Cocos was born in Alexandria, Egypt, where he was in the Zionist underground movement to help Jews escape to Israel. He was imprisoned twice for his religion, according to his wife Allegra (nee Israel), who grew up with him in Egypt.
In 1948, he was put in a concentration camp in Ismailia. In 1956, Cocos was sent to Cairo and imprisoned, while his wife and children were taken separately and eventually allowed to remain under house arrest.
The family was reunited at the ship that deported them to Italy, with her husband “in shackles,” according to his wife. They remained in Italy for two years. They came to America and settled in Wisconsin in 1959, and Cocos began working for American Motors.
He was a member of Temple Menorah.
According to his wife, he was a “genuine man” who wanted to give his children a better life. He helped his youngest son in his business. He was also an avid reader; and he knitted, a skill he picked up in the Ismailia camp.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by three sons, Maurice, Fred (Elizabeth) and David (Diane), all of Milwaukee; and 10 grandchildren.
Funeral services were held Sept. 26 at Temple Menorah. Rabbi Isaac N. Lerer officiated. Burial was in Mound Zion Cemetery.
The family would appreciate memorial contributions to the Milwaukee Jewish Day School.
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