Biography: Isidor Straus (6 February 1845 – 15 April 1912) was a German-American businessman, politician, and co-owner of the department store Macy’s. He and his wife, Rosalie Ida Straus, were first-class passengers aboard the ocean liner RMS Titanic on its maiden voyage. Straus died in the ship’s sinking after refusing to leave his wife, becoming one of the most remembered victims of the disaster.