Albert L Lichtmann

Dr. Albert Lazlo Lichtmann, 95, died peacefully on August 22, 2023. Born in Budapest, Hungary on February 11, 1928, he was the pride and joy of his parents, Ida and Lajos Lichtmann. Albert was a world traveler, avid skier, prolific photographer, classical music lover, and iconic storyteller. His strength and love of family were an inspiration to all who knew him.

Albert is a Holocaust survivor, and his family honors him by ensuring his legacy is never forgotten. Growing up, he attended the Budapest Jewish High School until Jewish children were no longer permitted to attend school and other laws made their mere existence extremely difficult. After the Germans occupied Hungary, he and his parents were forced to move from their home to a designated yellow star building. Soon after that, at age 16, he and his father were marched away and taken to dig trenches around Budapest. He became separated from his father soon after and was herded away on a death march to the Austrian border. He and others were shoved into cattle cars after nine days on foot and then incarcerated in a forced-labor camp at Harka and Lichtenwork where he was terrorized. After six months of unimaginable conditions during a brutal winter, he was liberated by advancing Russian forces. He was eventually and miraculously reunited with both his parents. In the years that followed, Albert earned his medical degree and practiced obstetrics and gynecology until 1956, when, during the Hungarian Revolution, he made the treacherous escape from Hungary by foot, crossing into Austria and making his way to the United States.

Once in the U.S., Albert earned his medical license to practice anesthesiology and brought his parents out of Hungary to join him in Virginia. In 1962, he met and married the love of his life and wife of 59 years, Judith, and together they raised two daughters, Kitty and Vivian.

Albert joined the anesthesia group of the newly built Fairfax Hospital in 1961, before taking on the role as the Chief of Anesthesiology for over 30 years at Northern Virginia Doctors’ Hospital in Arlington, Virginia. He retired from medical practice in 1996, after which he traveled extensively with Judith and loved his new role as Pupup to his five grandchildren.

His travels with Judith took them to many places throughout the United States, like their beloved ski slopes in Vail, Colorado and in the last 15 years, the beaches of Naples, Florida, as well as throughout Europe, Asia, Central and South America, and the Caribbean. He loved keeping in touch with his friends scattered across the globe.

His family will forever be grateful to him for his dedication to them and for lovingly and beautifully documenting on film the many years spent together.

Albert is survived by his adoring daughters, Katherine “Kitty” Dockser (Evan) and Vivian Keller (Eric), and his grandchildren, Samantha, Drew, Julia, Benjamin, and Joshua who gave him such pride and joy.

A private burial will take place for immediate family only. Friends are invited to join the family for a memorial service honoring Albert’s life on Sunday, August 27, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. at Temple Rodef Shalom, 2100 Westmoreland St., Falls Church, VA 22043.

The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The United States Holocaust Museum. Funeral arrangements may be found at sagelbloomfield.com.