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Beyond a lifetime

Find out how Ilse's gift supports research papers and publications written by the Centre of German Jewish Studies.

Illustration of Ilse Eton

Finding out that the University is the recipient of a gift left to us in a will is always a special moment. Carrying out wishes that not only have a huge impact on our community, but continue the legacy and lifelong values of our supporters and alumni is a privilege to all of us at Sussex

This year we have had the privilege to continue one supporter’s mission for research and education. Born in Dusseldorf in 1922, Ilse Eton and her family came to the UK as Jewish refugees before World War II. This devastating time meant that any dreams a normal teenager would have for their future soon disappeared for Ilse. She found the opportunity to study in England, and was later employed at the BBC and as a secretary for the Society for the Protection of Science and Learning. However, she knew that her tragic displacement had impacted the education and life she could have had. When German restitution laws came into existence, Ilse went to the great effort of filing a claim for this loss of education and subsequent professional opportunities. 

Ilse sought out publications that reflected her experience as a Jewish refugee, reading, learning and supporting research through the Centre for German-Jewish Studies at Sussex. For many years she received regular papers and newsletters from us, sharing her wise observations in return and becoming a friend to the University through this correspondence. 

During her lifetime, Ilse also donated a collection of papers to the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ. Ranging from restitution claims, work on holocaust remembrance and correspondence of hers and others’ experiences as refugees, her papers form a special collection, a valuable resource for studying the German-Jewish experience.

After Ilse’s passing, at 100 years of age, she generously left a gift in her will to the University of Sussex for the Centre for German-Jewish Studies. Her gift will be used to support the research papers and other publications of the Centre that she so highly valued and contributed to in her lifetime, both furthering the Centre’s aim to re-evaluate how the history of Jews in German-speaking lands is studied and continuing her mission to contribute to education.

We are so grateful to Ilse – and for all the support the University has received through gifts left in wills. These gifts have the power to be genuinely transformative to our research and our students, alongside the wider impact the University is able to make around the world.

We would also like to recognise the commitment and foresight of all who have chosen to pledge a gift in their will to the University, forming the membership of The Helena Normanton Society.

Your vision

If you are interested in supporting the future of higher education at Sussex through your will, thank you. Find out more about leaving a legacy at Sussex.