Student Tribune
Tell Everyone My Story
"Tell Everyone My Story"
The Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Project (HGHRP) has been inviting
Holocaust survivors to share their stories for 30 years. Hearing their stories
in the first person will not exist in the distant future. As we approach the
30th Annual Yom HaShoah Commemoration this year we will continue to share the
stories of the Rochester Holocaust survivors who have spoken at MCC.
Today, we would like to introduce you to:
STEVEN HESS
Steven Hess and his twin sister, Marion, were born in
Amsterdam. In 1943, his family was taken to Westerbork, a Dutch transit camp,
before finally being sent to Bergen Belsen where conditions were so horrific
that by the end of the year, nearly 15,000 Jews died each month from
starvation, disease, neglect and maltreatment. Steven and his sister, then
seven years old were an exception; many children did not survive.
By April 1945, they were herded onto cattle trains headed for what the train
engineer called their "final voyage." Fourteen days later, with almost a third
of the passengers dead, the train, later known as the "lost transport" because
it meandered directionless for two weeks back and forth through Germany, was
liberated by advancing Russian troops.
Eventually Hess's family returned to Holland and emigrated to the United
States. Steven lived in New York City, graduated from Columbia University in
1960, and served as a naval officer from 1960 to 1964 before moving to
Rochester in 1975. He now lives in Pittsford, and continues to speak today
about the Holocaust
We invite you to join HGHRP alumni and current student leaders in paying
tribute to Rochester-area Holocaust Survivors by helping to establish an
endowed scholarship in their name at the MCC Foundation. The Chai
Scholarship: A Tribute to Rochester Holocaust Survivors, will be awarded
to an MCC student who reflects these survivors' courage and spirit. Your
donation can be sent to the MCC Foundation in care of Chai Scholarship.
The 30th Annual Yom HaShoah Commemoration will be Wednesday, April
22, 2020 in the R. Thomas Flynn Campus Center Atrium. Our traditional candle
lighting ceremony, calling of the names and Holocaust survivor testimony will
begin at 9:00AM.
Hosted by the HGHRP, this event is free and open to the college community.
Contact Jodi Oriel Office of Student Life and Leadership Development at joriel@monroecc.edu for more
information.
Attached Files:
Hess Survivor Tribute.pdf
Stevens, Angelique
Holocaust, Genocide, and Human Rights Project
03/03/2020