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Man struck and killed by driver in Hillsboro was Holocaust survivor

Alter Wiener often shared his life story at area schools, libraries, churches and other venues

HILLSBORO, Ore. — A man who died Tuesday night after he was hit by a driver while crossing a street in Hillsboro was a 92-year-old Holocaust survivor.

Alter Wiener was taken to a hospital after the crash and pronounced dead, according to Hillsboro police.

The crash happened shortly before 5 p.m. on Northeast Century Boulevard, north of Northeast Brighton Street.

The driver stayed at the scene and will not face any charges or citations, Hillsboro police said.

Wiener is the author of "From a Name to a Number: A Holocaust Survivor's Autobiography". He moved to Oregon in 2000 and often shared his life story at area schools, libraries, churches and other venues, according to his website.

In a tweet Wednesday morning, U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden said he was devastated to learn of Wiener's death. He called Wiener "a true Oregonian and total mensch who transformed his Holocaust survival into a lesson that taught all of us about the need to fight prejudice always and everywhere". 

Wiener's son, Ron, released a statement on Facebook.

"I'm so very sorry to inform all of Al's many friends and followers here that he was taken from us very suddenly last night. Dad was struck by a car at high velocity and was killed instantly; the medical examiner assured us he felt no pain. He was heading to the grocery store, was dressed in dark clothes on a dark, rainy night, and crossed in the middle of the street. The driver simply did not see him.

At 92 and with so many ailments we did not expect dad to be immortal but are still reeling from the shock of the way that he did leave this earth. His reputation in the community preceded him; the officers who called me from the Hillsboro PD were very compassionate and one even commented "it's hard to believe he survived the concentration camps only to die in this way."

Clearly his longevity can be mostly credited to his fervent vegan lifestyle, which began some 70 years ago in Israel. He well outlived his own, or any doctors' expectations, and he accomplished the most meaningful things in his life in the last dozen years as one of the last living holocaust survivors living in Oregon.

My family (in Seattle and New York) and I are so very thankful for all the love and assistance we received from his many friends in Portland, and especially Paula Shaffer who is helping us today with preparing for the funeral and winding up his final affairs.

I will post the time and place of his memorial service here as soon as I have it. In the Jewish tradition we are compelled to have the funeral as soon as practicable. Our east coast family is making travel arrangements presently."

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