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Remembering Paula Bronstein, a survivor of the Holocaust.

AZPM | By Mark McLemore

Published November 20, 2024 at 2:02 PM MST

Paula Bronstein cover hero — Paula at age 12. She hadn’t been able to start school until age 8, after the war ended.

COTH Bronstein 00 1920 — Paula, age 4.

Remembering Paula Bronstein, a survivor of the Holocaust.

Featured on the November 21, 2024 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 20 survivors who were children during the Holocaust, and later settled in Southern Arizona. This week, hear the story of Paula Bronstein, a survivor who escaped the Nazis by hiding in Holland. It saved her life, but cost her her childhood. Bronstein passed away earlier this month, at age 87.

COTH Bronstein 04 1920 — Paula as a toddler playing on a sled in Eindhoven before the war.

Paula Bronstein and mother unsized — During the German occupation of Holland, adult Jews were required to wear a yellow star on their outer garments. In this photo, Paula (age 4) and her mother were on their way to the hospital to bring flowers to an aunt who had just given birth. It was risky. They could have been picked up off the streets by the Germans and sent to a concentration camp. Soon after this photo was taken, they went into hiding separately.

COTH Bronstein 17 1920 — When she first moved in with the Ruiters, Paula (center) played with neighbor children. Then they started asking her why she didn’t have blonde hair or blue eyes.

And, our featured storyteller this month is Beth Colburn Orozco, a writer who teaches at Cochise College southeast of Tucson, who also hosts a monthly Open Mic Night event in Sierra Vista at Urbano Bar and Bistro. She shares an emotional story about adoption, remorse, anxiety and the joy of finding out how life and love can persevere.

Beth Orozco open mic unsized — Beth Colburn Orozco participates in and hosts an Open Mic Night at Urbano Bar and Bistro in Sierra Vista. The Open Mic Night is every Tuesday of each month from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Beth Orozco in AZPM hero — Beth Colburn Orozco in AZPM's studio reading her story, "The Search."

Beth Orozco and daughter unsized — Beth Colburn Orozco (right) stands with her daughter Kelsey (left). Kelsey lives in Wisconsin with her husband and children.

Web page by Sophia Hammer.

Arizona Spotlight

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.

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Mark McLemore

Mark McLemore is the host of Arizona Spotlight on NPR 89.1, a weekly radio show with a very wide beat.

See stories by Mark McLemore