Michael Posner, 97, and his wife Ruth, 96, a devoted couple married for nearly 75 years, chose to end their lives together at a Swiss assisted dying clinic. Their decision, mutual and made without outside pressure, stemmed from a profound inability to contemplate living without each other, coupled with the cumulative toll of failing senses and dwindling energy. They communicated their poignant decision to their 'Dear family and friends' via email, explaining that their existence had become one of mere 'existing' rather than 'living,' which no amount of care could improve. In their farewell message, they reflected on a long, interesting, and varied life, marked by joy and the sorrow of losing their son, Jeremy. They expressed their philosophy of living in the present, without regret for the past, and with modest expectations for the future.

Ruth Posner, a remarkable Holocaust survivor and dedicated educator, was an inspirational figure. The Campaign Against Antisemitism and The Holocaust Educational Trust issued statements honoring her legacy. Karen Pollock CBE, Chief Executive of The Holocaust Educational Trust, highlighted Ruth's extraordinary journey, from surviving the Radom Ghetto, slave labor, and life in hiding under a false identity, to being one of only two surviving family members by the war's end. Despite her advanced age, Ruth felt compelled to share her testimony as a response to rising antisemitism in the UK, making it her mission to educate young people about her experiences during the Holocaust, hoping they would learn from history.

Ruth's early life was marked by immense hardship and resilience. At 16, she fled the Warsaw ghetto using false papers, posing as a Catholic schoolgirl for three years while her entire family perished at the Treblinka extermination camp. Upon reaching Britain, unable to speak English, she embarked on a distinguished career in dance and theatre. She joined the London Contemporary Dance Theatre and, following her theatre arts studies at Hunter College in New York, secured a position with the Royal Shakespeare Company. Her talent shone in productions such as 'Leon The Pig Farmer' and 'Love Hurts,' and she also appeared in television series like 'Casualty' and 'The Ruth Rendell Mysteries.'

In 1950, Ruth married Michael, a British national whose profession as a chemist led them on numerous worldwide adventures. Their shared life was a testament to their deep bond, culminating in their joint decision to depart, unable to envision a future where one lived without the other. Their story underscores a profound, unwavering love that endured through a century of life's challenges and triumphs.