Dina Gottliebova Babbitt Jan. 21, 1923 — July 29, 2009

Dina Gottliebova Babbitt
Jan. 21, 1923 — July 29, 2009
A memorial service will be Aug. 22 for Dina Gottliebova Babbitt, 86, who died July 29 after a struggle with cancer.
At the time of her death, Mrs. Babbitt was embroiled in an attempt to get her artwork returned to her from the Auschwitz Museum in Poland.
Born in Brno, Czechoslovakia, Mrs. Babbitt was raised by her single mother and aunt, and grew up having many adventures with her cousin, Litzi. Always sketching kids and dogs, she excelled in school and revealed her artistic bent. Eventually, she was accepted to an exclusive art academy in Prague. But Adolph Hitler, who banished Jewish students from all schools, cut her education short.
She and her mother, Jana Gottlieb, were sent to Terezin, where Mrs. Babbitt met the love of her life, Karl Klinger. They spent 1½ years together but were torn apart when their mothers were assigned to separate internment camps. Mrs. Babbitt’s devotion to her mother superseded her own desires to be with her soul mate, according to her family, and she volunteered to accompany her mother to Auschwitz. She never saw Karl again.
Mrs. Babbitt survived the death camps and saved her mother’s life by painting portraits of Gypsy prisoners under the slave labor command of Dr. Joseph Mengele, who was also known as the “Angel of Death.”
After her liberation on May 5, 1945, Mrs. Babbitt went to Paris and went to work for Art Babbitt, one of the animators of the Disney film “Snow White.” She married him shortly thereafter. They moved to Hollywood and had two children, Michele and Karin. The Babbitts were married for 14 years.
After a divorce, Mrs. Babbitt reunited with longtime friend Les Goldman, and they became a couple. Mr. Goldman had a passion for the Santa Cruz Mountains, so they moved to Bonny Doon in the 1970s.
Mrs. Babbitt lived in Live Oak after Mr. Goldman died, and eventually moved to Zayante, where she gardened and enjoyed spending time with her granddaughters.
Mrs. Babbitt is survived by her daughters, Michele Kane of Las Vegas and Karin Babbitt of Felton; three grandchildren; former son-in-law Don Chilcott of Aptos; writing partner Judy Bouley of Santa Cruz; and her dog, Penelope.
Saturday’s memorial service will begin at 2:15 p.m. at Oakwood Chapel, 3301 Paul Sweet Road, in Santa Cruz.
Mrs. Babbitt was cremated, and the family hopes to scatter her ashes in Brno, Czech Republic. Santa Cruz Memorial, 3301 Paul Sweet Road, is handling arrangements.
Donations in Mrs. Babbitt’s name may be sent to the Santa Cruz Chapter of the SPCA at 2685 Chanticleer Ave., Santa Cruz 95065.
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