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How the trauma of living through the Holocaust is felt across generations

AZPM | By Mark McLemore
Published September 17, 2025 at 12:07 PM MST
sidney finkel family hero
Laura Markowitz
Holocaust survivor Sidney Finkel with son Leon and granddaughters Bari and Becca.
How the trauma of living through the Holocaust is felt across generations

Featured on the September 18th, 2025 edition of ARIZONA SPOTLIGHT with host Mark McLemore:

  • Meet Alexander Ward, the originator of a podcast called People Helping People Live. Ward is forging new connections between members of the Southern Arizona community and the organizations that offer support and resources for making their lives better, including Camp AZDA a summer camp for youth living with Type 1 Diabetes.

  • Contributing producer Laura Markowitz presents a new episode of AZPM’s Children of the Holocaust: Stories of Survival. It focuses on survivor Sidney Finkel, and explores the impact that silence, trauma, and resilience can have on second and third-generation survivors.

COTH Sidney Finkel thumb
COTH Finkel 1
From left, Sidney’s mother, Faiga, his aunt Rachel, and his sister Ronia on the street in Poland before the war. All three perished in the Holocaust. This is the only photograph Sidney has of his mother and aunt.
COTH Finkel 11
Sidney’s memoir was endorsed by fellow Buchenwald survivor Elie Wiesel. He wrote, “You know how deeply I feel about memory. Many readers will thank you for yours.”
COTH Finkel 11
Sidney’s memoir was endorsed by fellow Buchenwald survivor Elie Wiesel. He wrote, “You know how deeply I feel about memory. Many readers will thank you for yours.”

  • And, Tony Paniagua introduces this month’s storyteller, Simon Donovan. Known for his public art installations, including the metal elephant sculpture at The Reid Park Zoo and the Rattlesnake Bridge over Broadway Boulevard, Donovan has also made many live appearances to share stories from his life. You’ll hear one about a dog named Betty that begins with tears, but ends with laughter.
Simon Donovan's Betty
Courtesy Simon Donovan
Local Artist Simon Donovan was featured as a storyteller to recite a piece of his sweet dog Betty. This is her in 1987
Simon, David and Betty
Sandy Leonard
Simon Donovan, his husband David, and their dog Betty in 1987
Rattlesnake Bridge Simon Donovan
Courtesy of Donovanolmstead.com
Local artist Simon Donovan helped create the Rattlesnake Bridge that oversees Broadway just west of Euclid.
Reid Park Elephant Simon Donovan
Courtesy of Donovanolmstead.com
Local artist Simon Donovan made this elephant that is placed in front of the Reid Park Zoo.
Unity Simon Donovan
Courtesy of Donovanolmstead.com
Simon Donovan's piece "Unity" in Tucson.

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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ArizonaLGBTEntertainmentTucsonHistoryArizona SpotlightCulture
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