MACY and the Sinking of Titanic: A Tragic Connection

In 1912 when the Titanic sailed from Southampton to New York, it had a remarkable couple among its many distinguished passengers.

Isidor Straus, who was a Bavarian-born American Jewish businessman, politician, and co-owner of Macy’s, was traveling with his wife Ida Straus.

We all know that the Titanic sank on April 14, 1912, midway through its journey when it hit a huge iceberg. Of the 2,240 passengers, more than 1,500 perished as there were not enough lifeboats, and no ships came to its rescue.

What happened to the Straus couple?

Since there were limitations in the number of people who could be saved, prioritization was made to save the elite first, and among them the women and children. But Ida refused to leave without Isidor.

When Isidor’s friend Colonel Archibald Gracie IV, who survived the Titanic sinking, asked an officer whether Isidor could enter the lifeboat with Ida, Isidor refused to make an exception for himself.

And then Ida said — “I will not be separated from my husband. As we have lived, so we will die, together.”

And she handed over her fur coat to her maid and asked her to get into the boat.

Isidor’s body was retrieved, but Ida’s one was never found. And so ended one great story of love — which truly believed “Till Death Do Us Apart”.

The elderly couple in the movie Atlantic, who retires to the bed to die together, is the reel depiction of this nugget.