Brigitte Friedmann Altman, a Holocaust survivor who married a highly decorated WWII navigator and bombardier and made Fort Worth her home in 1952, an elegant grandmother who spoke seven languages, and a translator on call for foreign visitors, died Nov. 12 after a brief illness. She was 101.
Following a private burial Nov. 17, a memorial service will be held at 11:30 a.m. at Beth-El Congregation, 4900 Briarhaven Road. Rabbi Brian Zimmerman and Rabbi Emeritus Ralph Mecklenburger will officiate, with Robertson Mueller Harper handling arrangements.
With her remarkable linguistic skills, Mrs. Altman was a veritable diplomat communicating with Russian musicians at the Cliburn Piano Competition and Italian tenors at the opera. From the Fort Worth Symphony to Sister Cities International, her presence kept events running smoothly. If she overheard strangers with European accents in the audience or at a medical office, she introduced herself in their native tongue and became a friend for life…