Memories of Auschwitz
Holocaust survivor from Belgium to share story
Simon Gronowski’s journey is one that is in the history books.
And the 84-year-old Belgian survivor of the Holocaust is coming to New Mexico to tell his story.
It’s being made possible by Richard Atkins, artistic director of the East Mountain Center for Theatre.
“Getting all of the logistics together has been the most difficult,” Atkins says. “But Simon will be here for quite a few shows where he will tell his story and perform on piano.”
Gronowski’s story begins in April 1943, when he, his mother, Chana, and sister, Ita, were placed on a Nazi death train to Auschwitz, Poland, from Belgium.
Today, Gronowski is a working attorney in Belgium as well as an accomplished author and jazz pianist with an intense passion for American jazz, New Orleans style.
Atkins says he discovered Gronowski while he was researching for his Holocaust-themed play “DeliKateSSen.” So taken by Gronowski’s tale of survival, he set about trying to contact him, though that task proved quite difficult.
After forwarding e-mails from one contact to another, Atkins was finally able to reach him.
“He speaks broken English, but we set up a phone call where a friend of his would translate,” he says. “We had a great talk and even played piano for each other over the phone from across the ocean.”
Atkins says had the idea to bring Gronowski from Belgium to tell his story to New Mexicans.
“Simon gladly agreed and after generous public and private donors came forward with contributions, Simon’s presence in New Mexico will finally become a reality,” he says. “In addition to telling his harrowing story, Simon will perform on the piano, even playing a few duets with me.”
After each talk, there will be a short Q&A session.