Oral history interview with Rena Block

Oral history interview with Dora Ostberg and Elsie Hendell

Oral History

Elsie Hendell and Dora Ostberg, discuss their experiences as residents of the Safe Haven Refugee Camp when they were teenagers; the crowded conditions aboard the Henry Gibbons, the German air raid over sea, and the new foods they were introduced to; their excitement when they arrived in the United States and felt free; how they were selected to emigrate from Italy; their family already living in the US; meeting each other at the camp and being friends ever since; remembering their time in Oswego as being pleasant and having profound influence on their future successes; the fun activities they participated in at the camp; their new friends at the camp; attending school; learning how to swim; and Dora’s account of her father's angst over losing the authority he had in Europe.

Oral history interview with Edward Levitch and Leon Levitch

Oral History

Edward and Leon Levitch, discuss their experiences as residents of the Safe Haven Refugee Camp, escaping their homeland in Belgrade, Yugoslavia (now in Serbia) to Italy and ultimately to the United States; their journey through Europe evading the German forces; Edward’s memories of his near scrapes with death at the hands of the Nazis; and the different effects of their experiences on each member of their family.

Oral history interview with Esther Danon-Kaidanow and Sarah Danon-Meller

Oral History

Esther Danon and Sarah Danon Meller, discuss their experiences as residents at Safe Haven; their memories of the camp and life in the barracks; Esther’s wonderment at the sheer amount of snow in Oswego, her involvement in the girl scouts, and winning a package that was sent back to her sister in Yugoslavia; and Sarah’s memories of attending school in Oswego, the new and abundant food, and her grief over president Roosevelt's passing.

Oral history interview with David Ruchivarger-Levy and Zdenka Ruchivarger-Levy

Oral History

David and Zdenka Levy, discuss their experiences as residents of the Safe Haven refugee camp after growing up in Yugoslavia; David’s memories of persecution in Zagreb (Croatia), and his escape to Italy for about a year, where he was forced to flee once more from Nazi forces, until he was invited to Oswego; Zdenka’s time in a concentration camp in Ferramonti, Italy until she was rescued and given the opportunity to board the Henry Gibbons with her family; Zdenka’s work at the Oswego Hospital as a nurse with her first husband, who was a doctor, and meeting her second husband, David Levy, at the hospital; David’s description of meeting with Eleanor Roosevelt at the camp; and David’s opportunity to attend the Oswego State Teachers College.

Oral history interview with Charlotte Gal, Albert Gal, and Regina Gal

Oral History

The Gal Family (Charlotte, Regina, and Albert), discuss their experiences as residents of the Safe Haven refugee camp; their flight from their home in Paris, France to Italy, then ultimately to the United States; Charlotte and Albert reminisce about life in the camp, including how much fun they had with their friends, attending school, the snow, and their pet cat; Charlotte’s memories of meeting Eleanor Roosevelt and having a full conversation in French with her; and their surprise at the abundance of food and their inability to eat much after so long without.

Oral history interview with Edith Klein and Lillian Glass

Oral History

Edith Bronner Klein and Lillian Bronner Glass, discuss their experiences as residents of the Safe Haven Refugee Camp after fleeing Hungary; their family being caught and jailed after attempting to sneak across the Yugoslav border, and later were smuggled into the Italian-occupied area of Yugoslavia; the relief they felt being in Oswego; the opportunities given to them; the friendships forged in Oswego; Edith’s time working as an assistant in the camp hospital; and their memories from after the war when they were allowed to stay in the US and to work and attend night school.

Oral history interview with William Kremer and Herman Kremer

Oral History

William and Herman Kremer, discuss their experiences as residents of the Safe Haven Refugee Camp after fleeing from Yugoslavia; their first time being behind a wire fence when they were in Oswego; the friends they made; attending school; activities in the camp; and sneaking under the fence to play in the city of Oswego.

Oral history interview with Simon Kalderon and Flora Kalderon

Oral History

Simon and Flora Kalderon, siblings from Yugoslavia, discuss their experiences as residents of the Safe Haven refugee camp; their family fleeing to Italy and then later to the United States; the fun they had attending school, playing around the lake, and experiencing the cold winter; their acknowledgement they were amongst only a select lucky few; many of their relatives facing hardship in Europe during the Holocaust; and the contributions that many of the refugees have made to the US.

Oral history interview with Steve Katten and Elsie Warren

Oral History

Steve Katter and Elsie Warren, discuss their experiences as residents of the Safe Haven refugee camp after fleeing Italy; their journey on the Henry Gibbons; Elsie helping in the kitchens while in the Safe Haven refugee camp, going with her family to Canada when the camp was shut down, and immigrating to the US afterwards; Elsie’s move with her family to New York City, where Elsie and her mother made and modeled hats, making $25 a week; Steve’s memories of trying a tangerine for the first time in Niagara Falls, his enduring love for them, and his memories of life at the Safe Haven.

Oral history interview with Margaret Fay and Irene Reinsdorf

Oral History

Margaret Fay and Irene Reinsdorf, discuss their experiences as residents of the Safe Haven refugee camp; Margaret’s flight through Europe from Czechoslovakia, and the journey aboard the Henry Gibbons to Oswego; Margaret having malaria when she arrived, having her second child in Oswego, and the surprise and joy she felt meeting Mrs. Roosevelt; Margaret’s daughter Irene, who was born in Oswego; and Margaret’s feelings of how privileged and thankful she is that her family was chosen to come to the US.

Oral history interview with Eva Dye

Oral History

Eva Kaufman, discusses her experiences as a resident of the Safe Haven refugee camp after fleeing Yugoslavia; her memories of her arrival at camp, the events leading up to the boarding of the Henry Gibbons, and her trip to the US on the ship; her memories of feeling safe and enjoying wonderful food, which were in contrast to her experiences in Europe; the time she spent in quarantine in the Oswego hospital with scarlet fever, social and recreational activities at camp, her experience attending school in Oswego, and the visit to camp by Eleanor Roosevelt, whom she remembers talking with; her family's life after the camp; and the generosity and kindness of the people of Oswego.

Oral history interview with David Hendell

Oral History

David Hendell, born in Zagreb, Yugoslavia (now in Croatia), discusses his experiences as a resident of the Safe Haven Refugee Camp; the circumstances that led to his family's arrival at the camp, including their escape to Italian-occupied Yugoslavia and then to Italy; learning about the Safe Haven voyage; his time at Oswego, which he describes as "the pause that refreshed"; life in the camp; his experience attending school in Oswego; Eleanor Roosevelt's visit to the camp; and believing the camp experience led to his gradual introduction to American society and for the feeling that anything is possible.

Oral history interview with Ivo Lederer

Oral History

Oral history interview with Vince Marinkovich

Oral History

Oral history interview with Manya Breuer

Oral History

Oral history interview with Rolf Manfred

Oral History

Oral history interview with Tina Chernick-Jordan

Oral History

Tina Chernick Jordan, born in Vienna, Austria, discusses her experiences as a resident of the Safe Haven Refugee Camp; the events leading up to her family's arrival in Oswego: their escape to Italy in 1939, their life in Genoa, an internment camp, and then the already-liberated Ferramonti concentration camp, where her father applied to come to the US; her first impressions of the camp; her life at the camp and as a student at Oswego State; and her reflections on the meaning of the Safe Haven experience.

Oral history interview with Margareta Fisse

Oral History

Margaretta Fisse, born in Slovenia, discusses her experiences as a resident of the Safe Haven Refugee Camp; her first impressions of the camp, which were initially negative because it was surrounded by a fence; her time in the camp, including recreational activities and school; the theatre and music productions performed at the camp, led by Charles Abeles and Leon Levitch; seeing Safe Haven as a stepping stone to life in the US; and her appreciation for being in the US.

Oral history interview with Fred Bohm

Oral History

Fred Bohm, born in Vienna, Austria, discusses his parents, who were residents of the Safe Haven refugee camp; arriving in the US before his parents; his time in the US Army; how his parents came to be in the camp; discovering that his parents were in the US; his one-month stay in the camp visiting his parents; and his children's interest in their grandparents' story, particularly after his daughter heard Ruth Gruber speak in San Diego, CA.

Oral history interview with Irene Danon

Oral History

Irene Danon, born in Yugoslavia, discusses her experiences as a resident of the Safe Haven Refugee Camp; her father's escape from a death camp, the two- and one-half years her family spent hiding in Yugoslavia and coming close to death in a bombing and shooting; their lives in Italy before arriving in the US; her impressions of the camp and of Oswego; her survivor's guilt; and her role in life to pass on love and positive thinking.

Oral history interview with Tamar Hendel

Oral History

Tamar Hendel discusses her experiences as a resident of the Safe Haven Refugee Camp; her memories of leaving her home in Italy and living in Oswego; the relief she felt at finally being safe, not having to hide, and being able to attend school; and her activities in the camp, including swimming in the lake, joining the Girl Scouts, learning how to read English, and attending a few parties while in Oswego.

Oral history interview with Ruth Wallerstein Samuel

Oral History

Ruth Wallerstein Samuel discusses her immigration to the United States from Germany before WWII started; staying with family already residing in the US; her mother and brother returning to Germany before escaping to Yugoslavia until they were captured by Nazi forces and their successful escape to Italy; her mother and brother hiding with a family in Italy until Hitler marched into North Italy and they were sent to the concentration camp in Ferramonti; Ruth’s marriage to an American officer who was sent to Italy, where he found her parents and arranged for their travel to Safe Haven; her convoluted feelings when she was reunited with her parents and brother after 18 years; and their difficulty coming to terms with the horrors they had witnessed.

Oral history interview with Neti Levy-Fredericks

Oral History

Oral history interview with Walter Greenberg

Oral History

Walter Greenberg, a resident of the Safe Haven refugee camp during WWII, discusses how his father helped smuggle Jews out of Yugoslavia, was eventually arrested; his family’s escape using a Chinese exit visa to Africa; spending time in a concentration camp in Africa until they were sent back to Italy; living in another concentration camp in Ferramonti, where his mother contracted malaria; their escape and subsequent flight from a particular German general and how the compassion of two Italian policemen allowed his father to escape once more; his disappointment when they were placed behind a fence upon their arrival in Oswego; his memories of the community which was very friendly; and his enjoyment while attending school in Oswego.

Oral history interview with Mona Lisa Gioconda

Oral History

Mona Lisa Gioconda, born in Italy, discusses her experiences as a resident of the Safe Haven Refugee Camp; her German parents; the circumstances leading to her arrival to the US; her Protestant father's and Jewish mother's banishment from Germany; their life in France; escaping to Italy and life in an internment camp there; her experiences in Oswego, which provided a respite; her school and recreational experiences at the camp; her family members' lives after Oswego; her life after the war; dancing under Isadora Duncan's daughter, Maria-Theresa, and studying with Ayn Rand; Dr. Esther Morrison's Quaker mission work at the camp and her later work in Chinese history at Howard University; and the meaning of the 50th anniversary celebration of Safe Haven.