World ORT is deeply saddened by the passing of Norma Gold de Werthein, Honorary President of ORT Argentina, a staunch global supporter of ORT, and mother of former Chair of World ORT’s Board of Trustees, Dario Werthein.

She served as President of ORT Argentina four times and enjoyed long-standing collaborations with World ORT. Mrs de Werthein was a dedicated and passionate community leader and her death at the age of 82 is a huge loss to the education community.

ORT Argentina described her as “an exceptional woman who worked tirelessly in pursuit of education, innovation, and the wellbeing and growth of our educational community”.

In 2019, while serving as Chair of our trustees, Dario told the Jerusalem Post: “My mother… put her stamp on the organization by carrying out innovative activities and putting education in a privileged place in front of the community. Her dedication and effort transmitted to us, her children, the passion and conviction of working for these ethical principles.”

Norma Werthein and her son Dario at the World ORT Board of Representatives meeting in Buenos Aires in 2018

She had been recognized for her contribution to the ORT network in 2011 as the inaugural recipient of an annual award for lay leaders displaying exceptional commitment to the organization.

With her late husband, Leo Werthein, she formed a formidable partnership supporting Jewish causes across Argentina, Latin America and worldwide. We will forever be grateful for their efforts.

Our thoughts are with Dario, his siblings and the wider Werthein family.