Children of the Holocaust: The survival story of Pawel Lichter.

AZPM | By Mark McLemore

Published February 8, 2023 at 3:12 PM MST

COTH Pawel Litcher 1 unsized — Pawel Lichter in Warsaw at the Kino Muranów fountain. Not long after this was taken, Germany invaded Poland. Pawel was eight years old.

Children of the Holocaust: The survival story of Pawel Lichter.

Featured on the February 9th, 2023 edition of ARIZONA SPOTLIGHT with host Mark McLemore:

“Children of the Holocaust” is a living-history project launched by AZPM. Project producer Laura Markowitz interviewed 19 survivors who were children during the Holocaust, and now live in Southern Arizona. This week, hear the story of a survivor who fled Poland when the Nazis invaded, and went East into the Soviet Union.

Time is truly running out to listen and bear witness to the stories of Holocaust survivors. On the morning that this story first aired, February 9th, 2023, Pawel Lichter passed away. He was 91 years old. He is survived by his loving wife Sara, his three daughters, seven grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

COTH Pawel Lichter 7 unsized — When the war was over, Lichter was 14 years old. His uncle helped the family emigrate to Mexico.

COTH Pawel Litchter 3B unsized — Lichter, with his father and his sister, Gina.

COTH Pawel Lichter 6 hero — After the Holocaust ended, Lichter and his family returned to Rypin and discovered that their building had been turned into apartments. The family never recovered their property, nor were they compensated for their losses.

COTH Pawel Lichter 10 unsized — Pawel self-portrait.

The U.S. Air Force has new plans to escalate training over the Sonoran Desert, the most biodiverse region in the continental United States. These low-altitude military maneuvers risk harming conservation areas as well as Tribal Lands. The Peaceful Sky Benefit is sharing awareness of these proposals between February 19th and the 22nd, using the mediums of art and music. Mark talks with two of the participants about what to expect. You can donate to the cause through the Peaceful Sky Benefit Gofundme.

AF Map peaceful sky unsized — Created for Peaceful Gila Skies for general educational purposes by Opening Spaces, 2022

Carrier of life unsized — The Carrier of Life mural by Lynnette Haozous 2019, Harwood Arts Center Encompass exhibition, Albuquerque NM

Peaceful sky poster unsized — Poster for the Peaceful Sky Benefit taking place Feb. 19 - 22, 2023.

Plus, a new song from Tucson musician and songwriter Gabrielle Pietrangelo called “El Gran Altar". Pietrangelo says It was inspired by the El Pinacate wilderness in northwest Sonora, just south of the U.S. / Mexico border. Gabrielle Pietrangelo will be among many artists contributing to The Peaceful Sky Benefit, playing a show at Groundworks on February 22nd at 7:30 pm, all ages admitted.

Gabrielle Pietrangelo spotlight — Gabrielle Pietrangelo performs at Hotel Congress on Jan. 2, 2022. This was her first live show since March 2020.

Webpage by Leah Britton.

Arizona Spotlight airs every Thursday at 8:30 am and 6:00 pm and every Friday at 8:00 pm on NPR 89.1 FM / 1550 AM. You can subscribe to our podcast on Apple Music, Spotify, Amazon Music, or the NPR App. See more from Arizona Spotlight.

ARIZONA SPOTLIGHT airs Fridays at 8:30 am and 6:00 pm, and Saturdays at 5:00 pm, on NPR 89.1 FM / 1550 AM.

Update your Zip Code

Children of the Holocaust: The survival story of Pawel Lichter.