Jacqueline van Maarsen, Anne Frank's Best Friend, Dies at 96

Jacqueline van Maarsen, known as Anne Frank's best friend, passed away on February 13, 2025, at the age of 96.

Their friendship began in 1942, shortly before Frank went into hiding. Despite the war's turmoil, van Maarsen survived, partly due to her mother's efforts to have their family declared non-Jewish. In her later years, van Maarsen dedicated herself to Holocaust education, sharing her personal experiences and the dangers of anti-Semitism and racism.

She authored several books about her friendship with Frank, including "My Name is Anne, She Said, Anne Frank." Her contributions extended to participating in memorial events, such as laying the first stone of a Holocaust monument in Amsterdam in 2020.

Van Maarsen's efforts ensured that the lessons of the Holocaust and her friend's legacy remained prominent in public consciousness.

Read Original Article: JTA

Image credit - Holocaust Names Monument Netherlands