
Semyon Rimer
1960 – 2006
Director, Finance Department, JDC Odessa
Semyon Rimer joined JDC Odessa in 2000. He served as the Head of the Welfare Department, Chief Auditor, and Head of the Finance Department. An engineer by profession, he was well known for his brilliant, analytical mind. He lost his life in 2006 in an automobile accident while on official JDC business.
Extended Profile
Semyon Rimer, born in 1960, was an engineer by profession. He joined JDC Odessa in 2000. Rimer headed the JDC Odessa Welfare Department for four years, spent a year as the Chief Auditor, and was then appointed the Director of the Finance Department. According to his co-workers, he prided himself on living modestly. Semyon was totally dedicated to his work. He was well known for his brilliant, analytical mind. His memos were a masterpiece of brevity and succinctness, and his mathematical skills were legendary. While he had prepared himself for a career during the period of communism, he adapted quickly to the new reality of the post-communist society and economy. Although Semyon had no formal Jewish education, he was very aware of his Jewishness, and he made a conscious career choice to work for a Jewish organization.
Semyon Rimer lost his life in an automobile accident while on official JDC business. He is survived by his wife, who holds a PhD and lectures in music at the Odessa Conservatory, a son who recently qualified as an attorney, and an elderly mother.
Sources
Irina Zborovskaya, Odessa Office, JDC.
Testimonies gathered by the New York office of JDC.