Ed and David Miliband have honored their mother following her passing at the age of 91. The siblings announced the death of Marion Kozak, a Holocaust survivor and advocate for left-wing causes, on Saturday. They described her as a “source of life and love” and a cherished figure in their lives.
In a statement, Ed and David Miliband praised their mother for her exceptional life marked by kindness, warmth, and generosity. They highlighted her journey from surviving the Holocaust in Poland during her childhood to finding safety and happiness in the UK. Marion Kozak went on to become a teacher, activist, and a strong voice for justice. The siblings expressed their deep sorrow at her loss but vowed to carry on her legacy and principles.
Born Dobra Jenta Kozak in Poland in 1934, Marion escaped from the Czestochowa Ghetto in 1942 along with her mother and sister during the Nazi occupation. She found refuge with nuns and later with a relative in Warsaw, ultimately surviving the war due to the kindness of strangers, as recounted by her son Ed at the 2012 Labour Party conference.
During an official trip to Poland in 2009 as Foreign Secretary, David Miliband recognized the individuals who had protected his mother, emphasizing that her life was saved by those who risked their own safety to shelter her from Nazi persecution.
After the war, Marion Kozak settled in the UK, where she married Ralph Miliband, a leftist academic, and became actively involved in human rights advocacy and the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament.
In a speech at the 2012 Labour conference, Ed Miliband humorously remarked that his mother probably didn’t always agree with his views but was too kind to say so. He also drew a parallel between her wartime experience and his own political beliefs, emphasizing the importance of standing up against injustice and uniting as a community to overcome challenges.
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