Sears Family Papers

Edwin Sieradz (later Sears) (b. 1903-d.1964) was born in Poland and received a law degree from the University of Berlin in 1930, where he also served as personal secretary to Albert Einstein. In 1933, Edwin, and many other academics, lost their positions at the University of Berlin due to their Jewish heritage. Edwin married Vera Else Schulze (b. 1912-d. 2008) in 1934, having met her as a part of a performing group, where he played music and Vera danced. Vera and Edwin married somewhat hastily, in advance of the 1935 Nuremberg Laws’ prohibition against ‘mixed race’ and ‘mixed faith’ marriages between non-Jewish and Jewish Germans. Edwin went into hiding and emigrated to the United States in 1936, with Vera emigrating in 1939. The Sears family settled in Denver in 1940, changing their name from ‘Sieradz’ to ‘Sears’ upon realizing that many Americans struggled to pronounce their last name.

In May 1942, Edwin received his law degree from DU and began a position as a law professor. In 1946, Edwin served as an American lawyer in the Nuremberg Trials. Vera studied under German modern dancer founder, Mary Wigman and with German-American modern dance educator and choreographer (and student of Wigman) Hanya Holm. In 1947, Vera was offered a teaching position at the University of Denver in the Dance Department of the Lamont School of Music. Vera directed the Children's Dance Theater and Dance and performed in a dance group run by fellow DU dance educator and DU professor Martha Wilcox. Vera would keep in contact with Mary Wigman, Hanya Holm, and other international dance contacts throughout her life. Edwin died in 1964, and Vera died in 2008. They are buried in Congregation Emanuel Cemetery.