Erwin and Riva Baker Fund at Coville

The Irwin and Riva Baker fund provides emergency medical supplies to residents with special needs in the Coville Assisted Living Apartments.

As a young married couple, Riva and Erwin Baker survived the Holocaust narrowly escaping death at the hands of the Germans in the western Ukraine. Riva, born Rivka Leah Burko, came from the shtetl (village) of Miedzyrec (the Polish name) or Mezeritsh (the Yiddish name). She was one of eight children. Erwin, born Izak Bebczuk, was born in the neighboring town of Ludwipol (Polish) or Selitsch (Yiddish) to Leib and Gisia Bebczuk and was the oldest of four children. Rivka and Izak were the sole survivors of their immediate families.

The Bakers did not become bitter people. They maintained their devotion to Yiddish culture and Orthodox Judaism. Although the Bakers had no children, Steven Gershman (whose father came from the same town as Riva) took care of Riva for 25 years. It was to him that she recounted her stories of what she and her husband had endured.

Donations can be made to this Endowment either by check or with a credit card through the PayPal donation link below. Please specify the Endowment in the item box of the Paypal check out window.