Isidor and Ida Straus. Photo courtesy of JewishTreats.com.

The Titanic, which sank after hitting an iceberg 100 years ago this week, has a connection to social work.

The great-grandparents of National Association of Social Workers member Paul Kurzman died in the disaster.

Isidor Straus, co-owner of Macy’s Department Store, was on the ship with his wife Ida. Isidor got Ida a seat on a lifeboat but she refused to leave his side.

“She said, ‘We have lived together and now we will die together,” Kurzman said in this CBS article. “And arm-in-arm, walked along the deck, prepared to die as the ship went down at sea.”

The touching story of Isidor and Ida was portrayed in at least three film versions of the disaster, including the 1997 James Cameron movie that was re-released in 3D this month.