Just over a year ago Hazel lost her husband Leo. At that time she told Esra how, in 1948, he had left her in South Africa with two small children and one on the way to join Machal. (During WWII he served in the South African army.)

The family originally came on aliyah in 1951 but went back to South Africa and returned to Israel later.

Eventually the Camrons came to live in Ramat Hasharon. In the 1980s when Hazel retired as inspector of English in schools for the Ministry of Education (and even prior to that), she became active in Esra. She started bringing English speaking volunteers into the Ramat Hasharon and Herzliya schools to help the English teachers with their weaker pupils. She herself, via Esra, gave training sessions for the volunteer tutors, who were not professional teachers, on how to assist the pupils. The course for auxiliary teachers at Beth Berl College was established at about that time, initiated by Merle Guttmann and with Hazel assisting with the programming.

Hazel helped to set up the Esra Ramat Hasharon Branch and became its first chairperson. She was instrumental in organizing a social club for English speakers and lectures at Beit Malinov which continue to this day. Between 1986 and 1987 she served as vice-chairperson of Esra and in 1992 received an Esra Outstanding Volunteer award.

Audrey Goodman, who took over the chairmanship of the Ramat Hasharon Branch when Hazel moved to a retirement home in Raanana, said: “My introduction to Esra activities was at Beit Malinov in Ramat Hasharon when I attended monthly lectures organized by Hazel. I was very impressed by the informal manner in which Hazel introduced the speakers and conducted the meetings. She was a lovely lady and set the tone for many interesting and enjoyable programs.”

And here is what her friends/English teachers wrote about Hazel:

Babette Kaplan

Hazel was my friend and colleague. When we moved in to Neve Magen, Ramat Hasharon, she was a neighbor, ever caring, thoughtful and supportive.

Later she was the in the Sharon high school in the English department where I worked, always interested. She started the first native speakers class, (I think the first in the country) which I had the pleasure to teach.

Later we worked together at Educational TV and when she became an inspector of English she was popular and welcomed whenever she visited a school.

She was an examiner for the English bagrut which I enjoyed working together with her. She also wrote a series of books to help weaker pupils.

She started the first ever Esra group in Ramat HaSharon and was mentor to many people.

In later years I enjoyed visiting her at the senior citizens home, Ahuzot Bayit in Raanana and later when she moved to Protea Village. It was always a pleasure to talk to her and we shared many good times together.

Stephen Schulman

It was with great sadness that I heard of the passing away of Hazel Camron who, until her retirement, was for many years an English teaching inspector.

Working as an English teacher, I came to know Hazel both professionally and as a private person. As Hazel was in everyday life, so was she as an inspector. Always warm, caring and concerned about the wellbeing of her colleagues, her door was always open for her to listen to and advise both personally and professionally any teacher who needed her.

Hazel was a genuine teachers’ teacher. She combined great knowledge and expertise with a desire to impart it to all of us. Her school visits were always most pleasant and we welcomed her coming. She would sit, chat, listen and then offer help and suggestions.

Hazel was above all – a mensch.

Hazel will be greatly missed by her many friends, colleagues, former students, Esra and by all of us who came into contact with her. Blessed be her memory.