Emmanuel Orel

Mano Orel (né Emmanuel Ostrow), aged 99, of Framingham, formerly of New York, passed away on Wednesday, August 14, 2024. He was the cherished husband of the late Elinor Stecker-Orel, who predeceased him in 2020.

Born on April 24, 1925, in Athens, Greece, Mano was the beloved son of the late Aron Ostrow and Liza (Machoro) Orel. In a peaceful neighborhood, he shared his childhood with his younger brother, Rudy (born Rafael). His father died unexpectedly before WWII began.

Mano attended synagogue for high holiday services, celebrated his Bar Mitzvah, and initially enrolled in a German school. However, due to increasing harassment from the Nazi regime, he transferred to a Jewish school. Recognizing the looming threats, his mother sold the family’s successful hat factory before the Nazis invaded Greece.

To escape persecution, Mano and his family went into hiding with a non-Jewish family, obtaining false identity papers under the name Yanis Tranoris.

During the war, Mano joined the resistance in Thebes, Greece, where he became well-acquainted with the black market. His resourcefulness led him to serve as an interpreter for the German military police, which allowed him to procure food supplies for his mother and brother in Athens. Tragically, they were later deported to Auschwitz, where they lost their lives.

Determined to fight back, Mano joined the guerrilla fighters in the nearby mountains, collaborating with Italian and German defectors until the end of the war.

 After the war, Mano immigrated to Israel, where he served as an Air Force radar technician and worked for the Israeli government and studied photography in New York City. He built a new life, marrying and becoming a U.S. citizen. Mano made his mark as a successful and respected photographer and videographer in New York. He married, but had no children.

 Several years after the death of his first wife, Carol, he met Elinor Stecker, at the Westchester Photographic Society where both were members. They were married in 1993 and perfectly complemented each other. They were a remarkable creative duo that had many exhibitions together. 

 In addition to his professional achievements, he authored a detailed book, Under The Enemy’s Nose, chronicling his harrowing wartime experiences, ensuring his story would be remembered.

Mano is survived by his stepson, Lee S. Perrin, of Southborough, stepdaughter, Jan Perrin, of Janesville, WI, and stepgrandchildren, Jennifer Bergstrom, of Thornton, CO, and Andrew Perrin, of Boston, MA.

Graveside services for Mano Orel will be held on Monday, August 19, 2024, at 2:00 p.m. at Sharon Garden Cemetery, Valhalla, NY. The family will sit a “virtual shiva” on Tuesday, August 20, 2024 on Zoom. Please contact the funeral home for the Zoom invitation.

Donations in his memory may be made to:
Holocaust Memorial Museum
100 Raoul Wallenburg Pl SW
Washington, DC 20024
www.ushmm.org