Annaliese Witschak built a life of quiet strength—from surviving WWII as an orphan in Germany to becoming George Soros’ first wife and raising three accomplished children. She passed away on September 5, 2025, at age 91, leaving behind a legacy rooted in family, music, and resilience. Her story reveals how someone can shape influential lives without seeking the spotlight.
Early Life and World War II Survival
Born January 3, 1934, in Verden an der Aller in northern Germany, Annaliese faced hardship from the start. Her father, Walter Witshchak, died in 1937, and her mother, Elisabeth, moved the family to Neuenkirchen bei Soltau. Elisabeth worked odd jobs, handled bookkeeping, and wrote articles for local newspapers to support them.
Life became harder when Elisabeth’s heart condition required recurring hospitalization. Annaliese stayed with unkind relatives during those periods. Then tragedy struck—she was orphaned at 16 when her mother and only brother, Hans, died within six months of each other.
Despite the loss, Annaliese found joy in education and music. Her music teacher took the class to see opera in Hanover when she was 15. She later wrote that it “felt like a whole other world opened up.” Though grief made her stop playing piano after her mother’s death, music remained central to her life.
Immigration to America
Her aunt and uncle refused to pay for university, insisting she attend secretarial school instead. Annaliese moved to Hamburg and began building independence. She rented a room with a friend from the Salvation Army, living frugally and sometimes sharing a single bread roll for breakfast.
She found work as a secretary—first in publishing, then at Shell Oil. When she had spare money, she bought standing-room concert tickets. After several years, she moved to New York in 1955, spending the entire five-day crossing seasick in bed. Her first glimpse of the Statue of Liberty through the ship’s porthole marked a new beginning.
She initially worked as an au pair on Long Island but felt lonely and homesick. Moving to Manhattan, she found work at an insurance company as a secretary and keypunch operator—the 1950s equivalent of data entry.
Meeting George Soros
In 1957, Annaliese met George Soros, who had immigrated just a year earlier. He was unlike anyone she’d met before, and she fell deeply in love. They married on September 17, 1960, starting their life together in Greenwich Village before moving to Central Park West.
Though Annaliese wasn’t Jewish, Soros’ parents welcomed her warmly—she had also experienced the privation and displacement of World War II. This shared understanding of hardship created a foundation of mutual respect.
Family Life and Children
The couple had three children over seven years:
- Robert Daniel Soros (born 1963) became an investor and founded the Central European University in Budapest. He served as deputy chairman of Soros Fund Management until 2017 and now runs Soros Capital Management.
- Andrea Soros Colombel (born June 11, 1965) founded the Trace Foundation in 1993 to support Tibetan communities in China. She also co-founded the Acumen Fund to combat global poverty. She’s married to Eric Colombel.
- Jonathan Tivadar Soros (born September 10, 1970) is a hedge fund manager who founded JS Capital Management LLC. In 2012, he co-founded Friends of Democracy, a super PAC working to reduce money’s influence in politics. He married Jennifer Ann Allan in 1997.
Annaliese taught herself to cook to impress her husband and guests, becoming an expert chef. Their home is filled with philosophers, academics, writers, and anti-apartheid activists rather than business colleagues. She created an environment where intellectual curiosity thrived.
Divorce and Life After Separation
George and Annaliese split in 1977, though they remained on good terms. They officially divorced in 1983 after 23 years of marriage. The reasons remained private—neither spoke publicly about their separation.
After the split, Annaliese rediscovered her independence and her own passions. She returned to her first love: music. She became a major benefactor of Young Concert Artists, serving on their board for more than 40 years. The organization supports emerging classical musicians, and the Annaliese Soros Educational Residency Program was endowed in her name in 2004.
She helped launch the Southampton Performing Arts festival in 1981, bringing classical concerts to Southampton, where she maintained a summer home for six decades. In the early 1990s, she joined the board of Pianofest in the Hamptons, a master class residency program.
Annaliese became a fixture at Carnegie Hall and the Metropolitan Opera. She frequently welcomed artists to stay in her apartment, where they could practice before New York appearances. She developed lasting friendships with musicians, taking interest in both their professional and personal lives.
Legacy and Final Years
Later in life, Annaliese returned regularly to Germany, where despite her difficult childhood, she still felt a strong cultural connection. She remained dedicated to her family—attending her son Jonathan’s wedding and George’s 70th birthday celebration despite their divorce.
She is mourned by three children, their spouses Jamie, Eric, and Jennifer, and nine grandchildren aged 5 months to 31 years. Her life came full circle from being an orphan and sole surviving child to becoming the matriarch of a large, accomplished family.
Her influence extended beyond her immediate family. Each of her children pursued meaningful careers in finance, philanthropy, and activism—values she instilled through her quiet example. Robert’s work in Eastern Europe, Andrea’s support for Tibetan communities, and Jonathan’s efforts to reduce money in politics all reflect the humanitarian principles Annaliese valued.
Why Her Story Matters
Annaliese Witschak never sought fame or recognition. She made conscious choices to maintain privacy, even when married to one of the world’s most recognized financiers. Yet her impact is undeniable—she provided stability during George Soros’ formative years in finance, raised three children who became successful philanthropists and business leaders, and spent decades supporting young musicians.
Her life demonstrates how strength manifests differently. While George Soros became known for breaking the Bank of England in 1992 and donating over $32 billion to charitable causes, Annaliese’s strength showed in her resilience after childhood trauma, her ability to adapt to new countries and cultures, and her decades of quiet philanthropy through music education.
She represents countless immigrants who rebuilt lives after WWII—people who experienced unimaginable loss but chose to create joy and meaning from hardship. Her devotion to music, which began with opera at age 15, became her lifelong companion and the focus of her giving.
The woman who once shared a bread roll for breakfast in Hamburg became a renowned host in New York. The orphaned teenager who lost her entire family created a new family that now spans four generations. That’s the real story of Annaliese Witschak—not just as George Soros’ first wife, but as someone who transformed personal tragedy into a life centered on family, friendship, and supporting the arts.