The Death Readiness Podcast: Not your dad’s estate planning podcast · Jill Mastroianni - Estate Planning & Probate Attorney/Lawyer for Women

How One Boy Survived Auschwitz and Found His Dog

·1 hr 7 min·5 clips

Emery Grossinger spent his 12th birthday in Auschwitz, enduring a death march and losing both parents by age 13.

This episode features Kerry Alterman sharing the story of her father, Emery Grossinger, a Holocaust survivor. Host Jill Mastroianni, a former estate attorney, frames the narrative within her visit to the Holocaust Museum. The episode explores themes of survival, loss, and the unexpected connections that shape a life. Emery Grossinger was sent to Auschwitz on his 12th birthday. He endured a death march and was liberated from Mauthausen concentration camp on his 13th birthday, which was also Victory in Europe Day. By liberation, he had lost both of his parents. Kerry Alterman details his post-war journey as an orphan navigating a shattered world. Jill Mastroianni recounts a specific, haunting photograph of a man facing execution she saw at the museum. She also describes a story of a newlywed couple who hid 36 Jewish neighbors in their home. That couple even constructed a tunnel for escape during Gestapo raids. The central, surprising element is how Emery eventually found a dog, which became a pivotal part of his recovery. His story illustrates the profound resilience of a child surviving unimaginable trauma. The museum exhibit's contrast between profound darkness and acts of light deeply influences the host's perspective. The narrative promises to connect this historical trauma to broader conversations about legacy and memory. Jill Mastroianni's professional background in estate planning informs her focus on the stories we leave behind. The tone is reflective, narrative, and deeply personal, blending historical testimony with emotional resonance. The style is conversational but carefully structured, guiding the listener through a difficult story. Listeners interested in powerful human survival stories and oral history would find this episode compelling. Those seeking strictly technical estate planning advice might find the content less directly applicable.

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