Max Michelson

Max Michelson was a Holocaust survivor and author, born on February 1, 1924, in Riga, Latvia. He spent his early years in a vibrant Jewish community, but his life took a harrowing turn with the Nazi invasion in 1941. At 17, Michelson and his family were confined to the Riga Ghetto, where they endured unimaginable hardships. Tragically, most of his family perished, but Michelson survived a series of concentration camps, including Kaiserwald and Stutthof.

After the war, displaced and with no family to return to, Michelson emigrated to the United States in 1947. He settled in Massachusetts, where he rebuilt his life, marrying and starting a family. A man of resilience and hope, Michelson pursued education and worked as an engineer, contributing to his community while quietly carrying the weight of his past.

Michelson chose to break his silence in the later years of his life, sharing his experiences to educate future generations. His memoir, "City of Life, City of Death: Memories of Riga," published in 2001, provides a poignant account of his survival, ensuring that the horrors of the Holocaust would not be forgotten. Max Michelson passed away on April 9, 2016, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, remembrance, and advocacy for peace and tolerance.