When the St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum opens its doors on Sept. 28 for “Survivor Hour: Josh Schonfeld,” it won’t just be another lecture. This free community program offers a rare chance to hear how one family’s story of survival during the Holocaust continues to shape St. Louis today. The program, titled “Survival and Triumph,” will be led by Josh, son of Dr. Gustav “Gus” Schonfeld — a Shoah survivor who went on to become a nationally respected physician and professor based here in St. Louis.
A story of survival and science
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Gus Schonfeld was just 10 when he and his parents were deported by cattle car to Auschwitz. His younger brother was murdered upon arrival. Schonfeld endured multiple camps, including Warsaw and Dachau, before liberation. Years later, he would build a new life in St. Louis, earning his degrees from Washington University and becoming a leading researcher on cholesterol and heart disease. His memoir, “Absence of Closure,” detailed those early years of terror and resilience. The book is still available for purchase online.
The Schonfelds made St. Louis their home after the war, and Gus built his life here — from Washington University to Bais Abraham Congregation. As Bob Cohn, editor-in-chief emeritus of the Jewish Light, wrote in a 2011 obituary, “Gus was the quintessential physician-scientist. He was a person of consummate integrity and wisdom. He provided thoughtful advice and counsel. He was my friend, and I will miss him.”
Passing down the memory
On Sept. 28, Josh Schonfeld will share how his father’s strength and determination carried forward into family life and community leadership. In 2009, Gus donated proceeds from his memoir to Jewish institutions in St. Louis, and his quiet storytelling still reverberates in the Museum’s permanent exhibit. For Josh, telling the story is about making sure his father’s memory does not fade — especially as we lose the last generation of living survivors.
What to expect at the event
“Survival and Triumph” will include a 40-minute presentation followed by live Q&A, allowing guests to engage directly with Josh. Copies of Gus’s book will be available in the Museum shop. The event is free and open to the public, with accessible seating and parking provided.
What: Survivor Hour: Josh Schonfeld
When: Sunday, Sept. 28, from 12 -1 p.m.
Where: St. Louis Kaplan Feldman Holocaust Museum auditorium, 36 Millstone Campus Dr.
Registration is available online.
