Funeral Details

Esfir Z. Katsnelson, a shining star of light known to her closest friends as “Fira” or “Esther,” came to rest at the age of 92 on April 2, 2026 after a long and varied life of exploration, perseverance, and discovery, having been a nearly 35-year resident of Chicago and Evanston.

Esfir was born on June 28, 1933, near Minsk, Belarus, as the only child to loving parents Dveyra Berman and Zalman Katsnelson. As a bright young woman, she relished every opportunity for learning and education, showing particular aptitude in mathematics and science. Her curiosity would eventually lead to achievement and notoriety in physics.

Her first years were marked by extreme hardship, confronting famine, conflict, and the Holocaust. At a young age, Esfir and her mother were forced to flee Minsk to seek refuge in other parts of the U.S.S.R. and were frequently separated. Many relatives were lost to war and antisemitism, including her dear father, who was tragically killed in 1943, when Esfir was only 10 years old, having been called to fight on the Soviet front.

In the shadow of such early hardship, and against pressures of antisemitism and sexism, Esfir persevered to become a star student, achieving a master’s degree in physics from the Byelorussian State University in 1955, and becoming an Assistant Physicist at the Byelorussian National Academy of Sciences. While there, she continued her studies and attained a Ph.D. in Physics in 1970 under the guidance of noted physicist N.N. Sirota, before being promoted to research physicist. She continued work for the institute until the age of 56 when she emigrated to the United States, together with her mother, in 1989. Once in the United States, Esfir continued research as a Visiting Scholar at Northwestern University for nearly 30 years.

While studying electromagnetism, Esfir discovered a groundbreaking method for magnetizing and demagnetizing ferrite materials using polarized light at room temperature. Her work in this area was awarded with several patents in the former Soviet Union and, once in the United States, she also authored and received two American patents. She took tremendous pride in these recognitions, and believed that these inventions will one day shape how computers store information, and allow entirely new categories of electromagnetic devices.

Outside of physics, Esfir pursued a life that challenged her mental and physical limits. She was well versed in the greats of Russian and American literature, classical music, and the arts, and liked to surround herself with intellectually stimulating conversation on such topics. She was a fiercely competitive chess player, having masterfully won many tournament games during her collegiate years, and continuing to play throughout her life. Esfir also excelled in gymnastics in her youth and, as an adult, channeled athletic energies to badminton as a competitive and social outlet. She enjoyed hiking and the outdoors. In her later twilight years, she was regularly recognized in daily walks along the Evanston lakefront and could even be seen using the isometric exercise equipment in the park.

Esfir maintained meaningful connections with her close friends, cousins, and extended family. For those who survive her, Esfir’s life serves as an inspiration, a testament of triumph against hardship, and an enduring example of the benefits of living simply and naturally.

Friends and family would like to thank those who helped Esfir the most during her final years, including the Council on Jewish Elderly,3003 West Touhy Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60645, cje.net, Chicago Lighthouse, 1850 West Roosevelt Road, Chicago, Illinois 60608, chicagolighthouse.org, the staff of Lieberman Nursing Home, 9700 Gross Point Road, Skokie, Illinois 60076, www.warrenbarrlieberman.com, and Guardian Hospice, 181 Waukegan Road, Unit 301, Northfield, Illinois 60093, www.guardianhospice.org. In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting these organizations. Services will take place Tuesday, April 7, 11AM , at Chicago Jewish Funerals, 8851 Skokie Blvd. (at Niles Center Road), Skokie. Interment Waldheim Jewish Cemetery. Arrangements by Chicago Jewish Funerals - Skokie Chapel, 847.229.8822, www.cjfinfo.com.