A family in Virginia is honoring a cherished father, grandfather, community member, master hairstylist, and Holocaust survivor who they believe died due to a listeria outbreak associated with Boar’s Head deli meats.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) first alerted the public about this outbreak on July 19, which has led to at least 43 reported illnesses and hospitalizations, including three fatalities, across 13 states as of August 8.

The listeria infections have been traced back to sliced deli meats produced by Boar’s Head, which initially recalled 207,528 pounds of its liverwurst on July 26. The recall was later expanded on July 30 to cover all sliced deli meats, totaling about 7.2 million pounds.

U.S. health agencies, including the CDC and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), are collaborating with Boar’s Head and other authorities to investigate the outbreak’s origin and extent.

On August 8, the CDC confirmed a new death as part of their ongoing investigation. This case, recognized as the third death connected to the outbreak, involved Günter “Garshon” Morgenstein, an 88-year-old native of Germany and an active member of his Newport News community. His family is speaking out to highlight his story.

Childhood beneath the Nazi regime

Morgenstein was born on June 29, 1936, in Cottbus, Germany. As a Jewish individual, he had to escape his homeland as Nazi influence increased.

“His parents concealed him under the floorboards,” his son, Garshon “Shon” Morgenstein, shared with YSL News.

A Holocaust survivor, Morgenstein fled East Berlin in 1954, leaving with only the clothes on his back. Not all of his family members were as fortunate, according to his son’s recollection.

Afterward, he journeyed to Canada to reunite with his brother, who had immigrated there previously. At the time, he knew no English, as he later recounted in a 1999 article with the Oyster Point, a local newspaper in his adopted city of Newport News, Virginia.

“My brother suggested that the best way for me to learn English was to avoid hanging around Germans and instead watch English-language movies of films I had already seen back in Germany, all while walking the streets trying to read the signs,” he recalled. This approach evidently worked well for him.

A talented stylist and community leader

Morgenstein established a remarkable career spanning over 70 years in cosmetology, achieving the title of Master Hair Designer and collaborating with many renowned brands, including Paul Mitchell and S&L. While in Canada, he traveled across the country to teach at salons and present at hair shows, promoting his philosophy of “The cut, the chemistry, and the design.”

His artistic journey began well before his work with stars like Tom Jones, Johnny Mathis, Engelbert Humperdinck, Sly and the Family Stone, and Muhammad Ali. He reportedly started his first job in a barber shop at the young age of 13, claiming he was older than he was to land the role sweeping floors.

<p”He was a naturally creative person,” his son recalled. “When styling someone’s hair, he considered what style would be most flattering for them and brought that vision to life.”

Eventually, he moved to Virginia, became a U.S. citizen, and continued his hairstyling career for nearly 50 years, with a particular focus on women’s hairstyling due to his appreciation for its artistry.

<p”Having been a stylist in the same city for around 50 years, he had a connection with almost everyone,” Garshon commented.

He met his wife, Peggy, in a salon during the 1960s. He told the Oyster Point in 1999 that “Peggy was the reigning queen of her class” in 1962, while he was recognized as the most eligible bachelor in Newport News.

The couple married in 1972, and Peggy joined him as his assistant in 1973, bringing along two daughters from a previous marriage. The couple later welcomed their son Garshon. Morgenstein remained dedicated to his craft right until he fell ill.

“My dad was a real extrovert,” Garshon recalled. “He enjoyed visiting places like 7-Eleven. I would sometimes challenge him from the car, saying ‘See that guy outside? I’ll bet you $5 you won’t talk to him.’ And he would respond, ‘Of course, I will!’ then he’d jump out and chat with the guy for a few minutes,” he reminisced. “It was just a small thing, but it amazed me how he could strike up a conversation with anyone. That was who he was.”

Garshon noted additional lovable traits his father had, such as collecting random items he found on the roadside, enjoying scratch-off lottery tickets, and being dedicated to driving his wife wherever she needed to go.

“He adored talking to people and cherished his grandkids,” he shared. “He was truly a people person. Even on quick trips to the grocery store, my mom would get frustrated because he could spend an hour and a half inside, chatting away with everyone because he knew so many people.”

‘I never really got to say goodbye’

On July 8, while Garshon was working in another city, his mother called him to say his father was having breathing difficulties and they were on the way to the emergency room. He was admitted to the hospital, where Garshon managed to speak with him a few times over the phone.

“I told him, ‘You need to get home quickly! I just started this new job, and you’re not dying today,’ or ‘You’re not going to die in that hospital,'” Garshon recounted.

By July 10, doctors were considering sending Morgenstein home, but his wife Peggy expressed concern about it. They ultimately decided he should stay in the hospital. Unfortunately, Garshon reported, his condition worsened rapidly, leading to his transfer to the ICU.

“They couldn’t determine what was wrong, so they attempted various tests and eventually began blood cultures,” he explained. “That’s when they discovered listeria and meningitis, and I thought, ‘What on earth is that?'”

Documents from the USDA and CDC, along with medical records reviewed by YSL News, confirmed that Morgenstein was diagnosed with meningoencephalitis, which involves inflammation and/or infection of the brain and its coverings, alongside a bloodstream infection/sepsis.

Further testing confirmed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes, linking both conditions to “Listeria meningoencephalitis/sepsis,” attributed to the listeria bacteria, as stated in the medical and investigative documents. The records indicated that it was transmitted through food.

Moreover, the records highlighted some underlying health problems. Morgenstein’s death certificate, obtained by YSL News, listed Listeria meningoencephalitis as the immediate cause of death.

Upon learning of his father’s condition, Garshon and his family began reviewing his father’s diet to pinpoint how he might have been exposed to the bacteria. Many details were included in the investigation records.

Morgenstein particularly enjoyed bagels with lox, cheese, and consistently bought Boar’s Head deli meats. After researching his father’s diagnosis, Garshon stumbled upon a notice regarding a recall on Boar’s Head products, prompting the family to examine grocery receipts.

Through this review, they discovered that Morgenstein had bought the recalled Boar’s Head liverwurst, which matched the recall dates, lot number, and the timeline of the outbreak. Meanwhile, Morgenstein’s health continued to decline. He was put on antibiotics but lost most of his ability to communicate, able only to nod or shake his head.

After nearly ten days, doctors communicated the heartbreaking news that even if Morgenstein managed to survive, he would have severe and irreversible damage requiring constant care. He wouldn’t be the same person his family once knew.

“My mom couldn’t bear watching him suffer any longer,” Garshon shared. “And that was the end of it. If he had been a bit younger, perhaps he would have overcome this.”

“I never truly got to say goodbye when he was still aware,” he added.

Morgenstein died on July 18, 2024, just 10 days after being admitted to the hospital.

Third Death Linked to Listeria Outbreak from Boar’s Head

Health authorities forwarded blood samples from Morgenstein to the CDC, which analyzes these samples to trace the source of an illness.

A spokesperson from the CDC informed YSL News that the CDC, along with state health departments, employs advanced laboratory techniques known as whole genome sequencing to determine if the listeria affecting one individual matches that infecting others during the same timeframe.

“State health departments review death certificates and medical records to confirm the cause of death, ensuring that it is indeed linked to foodborne illness. The CDC reports deaths in foodborne outbreaks only when they have been confirmed as caused by the illness,” the spokesperson stated.

The CDC confirmed Morgenstein’s death as the third associated with the ongoing listeria outbreak on August 8.

Boar’s Head Addresses Illnesses and Deaths

Boar’s Head responded to YSL News with the following statement.

“We sincerely regret the impact this recall has had on affected families. It is impossible to express in words the sadness and genuine empathy we feel for those who have experienced loss or illness.”

“We are actively investigating with top food safety authorities to figure out how our liverwurst produced at our Jarratt, Virginia plant was contaminated and to ensure it does not happen again.”

“As soon as we identified a potential health risk with our liverwurst, we promptly and voluntarily recalled it. We subsequently expanded the recall to include other products made in the same facility during that time for added safety. Production at this plant has been halted and will not resume until we are certain it meets the standards our customers expect and deserve. The health and well-being of consumers has always been our utmost priority.”

The Impact on Individuals

The CDC indicated to YSL News that recalls of this nature may appear more frequent now due to improved testing methods. Outbreaks themselves may not be increasing, but enhanced testing and tracking facilitate more extensive recalls and notifications regarding foodborne illnesses.

With numerous warnings making headlines daily—from baby formula and deli meats to airbags and candles—public concern can quickly fade into the background, becoming something we easily overlook.

However, for families like the Morgensteins, these fleeting headlines symbolize a loss that cannot be restored—the unquantifiable human cost that defies statistics, graphs, or even a rising death toll.

“(My dad) survived the Holocaust, which adds a tragic irony to this situation,” Morgenstein shared. “He endured so much in life, only to lose his life to deli meat.”

The family is pursuing legal action following Morgenstein’s death.

Anthony Coveny from Ron Simon & Associates, the law firm representing the family, mentioned to YSL News that their office has advocated for thousands of foodborne illness victims, estimating that 48 million cases of food poisoning occur annually in the U.S., resulting in around 3,000 deaths. These figures are also acknowledged by the USDA.

What can be done? According to Coveny and other attorneys with similar views, the focus should be on ensuring strict compliance with good manufacturing practices (GMPs) and enforcing significant compensation for victims when these standards are not met. The CDC and regulatory agencies concentrate on identifying and tracking the origins of harmful bacteria and providing advice on which foods to avoid.

The USDA and lawmakers are seeking legislative solutions, while environmental and animal rights groups are critiquing the conditions of food production, particularly concerning animal products.

Whether it becomes a talking point for politicians, a success story for attorneys, or a significant innovation in food science, one undeniable fact remains: no solution is more precious than one that preserves human life.

For the Morgensteins, any advancement will be appreciated, though it may come with a bittersweet tinge. Even if significant changes are not immediately on the horizon, Garshon expressed that his father would want his story known.

“He would have wanted his story to be told,” said Morgenstein. “So, I feel it’s my responsibility to be his voice.”

Morgenstein’s strong spirit inspired even his reserved son to take action, sharing that it’s not just about the conclusion of his father’s story, but the way he lived it.

As the interview drew to a close, Garshon was asked to summarized his father’s essence in only a few words.

After a long moment, a tear formed, and he looked up at the sky, as if seeking a final piece of wisdom from his father, who always seemed to have the answers.

“Someone I aspire to be more like,” he eventually replied. “Just an exceptionally good person.”