The sinking of the RMS Titanic on April 15, 1912, remains one of the most mythologized events in history, with countless tales surrounding the disaster. Among them, the poignant love story of Ida and Isidor Straus stands out—a couple inseparable in life and death aboard the ill-fated ship.

Isidor Straus, the 70-year-old co-owner of Macy’s, and his wife of 43 years, Ida, were well-known figures in New York society. Renowned for their vast wealth and philanthropy, the couple was also renowned for their unwavering devotion to each other. Ida often accompanied Isidor on his business trips, and when they were apart, they exchanged heartfelt letters daily.

Typically crossing the Atlantic on German liners, the Strauses were enticed by the grandeur of the Titanic and decided to embark on its maiden voyage. They boarded the ship in Southampton, England, on April 10, 1912, joining a distinguished group of first-class passengers, including prominent individuals like John Jacob Astor and Benjamin Guggenheim.

As tragedy struck on the night of April 14, the couple found themselves near Lifeboat 8, along with Isidor’s valet, John Farthing, and Ida’s maid, Ellen Bird. Madeleine Astor, already in the lifeboat, gestured for Ida to join her, pointing to an empty seat. However, Ida turned to her husband, who urged her to go ahead.

Ida, however, made it clear that she would not leave the ship without Isidor. When a sailor suggested there was room for him too, Isidor proclaimed, “As long as there is a woman on this vessel, I will not leave.” Despite being considered an old man, Isidor firmly stated, “I am not too old to sacrifice myself for a woman.”

Witnessing Ellen Bird shivering in the lifeboat, Ida selflessly removed her fur coat and handed it to her, declaring that she would no longer need it. As Bird accepted the coat, a struggle ensued as sailors attempted to maneuver Ida into the lifeboat. Determined, she broke free from their grasp, declaring, “I will not be parted from my husband.”

Isidor pleaded with Ida to join the other women in the lifeboat, but her unwavering love and loyalty prevailed. She stated, “We have been together for many years. Where you go, I go.” Some survivors’ accounts recall seeing the couple arm-in-arm on the deck as the lifeboat rowed away, while others suggest they retired to deck chairs, calmly awaiting their fate.

Archibald Gracie, a fellow first-class passenger and reliable witness, later recounted seeing the Strauses washed away as the ship’s stern rose before sinking into the depths. This image of the couple’s serene acceptance of their fate became one of the most poignant accounts shared by survivors upon their arrival in New York.

Isidor’s body was recovered by the Mackay-Bennett, a British ship tasked with searching for the deceased around the wreckage site. Sadly, Ida’s remains were never found. A month after the tragedy, a massive crowd gathered at Carnegie Hall in Manhattan to attend a memorial service dedicated to the couple. Andrew Carnegie and the city’s mayor, William Jay Gaynor, paid heartfelt tributes, highlighting Isidor’s selflessness and Ida’s unwavering devotion.

Amidst the noise surrounding the deaths of numerous eminent men, Ida’s sacrifice was sometimes overshadowed. Nonetheless, it stood as a powerful contrast to the era’s frequent and scandalous divorces. The American Israelite praised her love and devotion, highlighting the rarity of such unwavering commitment.

Ida, born Rosalie Ida Blun in Germany, crossed paths with Isidor Straus in New York in 1866. They married in 1871, and their union resulted in seven children. Together, they built a successful business empire, with Isidor’s role in Macy’s shaping their fortunes. Their philanthropic endeavors, fueled by genuine compassion and personal involvement, endeared them to New York’s Jewish institutions.

Among the 2,227 people aboard the Titanic that night, approximately 1,522 lost their lives. While stories of heroism and chivalry abound across all passenger classes, the actions and words of Ida and Isidor Straus—a couple whose lives were intricately entwined from birth until their final moments in the Atlantic Ocean—represent one of the most enduringly poignant tales of the disaster. Their unwavering love and devotion amidst the tragedy serve as a timeless reminder of the power of a bond forged through a lifetime of shared experiences.