Southern Hosts Program for Holocaust Remembrance Exhibit, 'Those Who Returned and Those Who Did Not'

NEW HAVEN, CT — Southern Connecticut State University will host the opening program for “Those Who Returned and Those Who Did Not,” a Holocaust remembrance exhibit on Wednesday, April 15, from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. in Buley Library (Lower Level)—centered on a powerful personal story that spans generations and continents.

Created by the Museum of Mladá Boleslav in the Czech Republic, the exhibit tells the stories of eight Jewish families deported during World War II. For Deborah Weiss, Ph.D., SCSU Professor Emerita, the exhibit is deeply personal—she discovered her own family was included after a relative spotted a panel about her mother, Milada Günsburgová, through a chance connection on Instagram.

That discovery ultimately led to bringing the exhibit to Southern. Milada, who later settled in Bridgeport, Connecticut, was the sole survivor of her immediate family, escaping Czechoslovakia at 17 through an arranged marriage to an American citizen.

Now, her story—and those of seven other families—are preserved in this 26-panel exhibit marking the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II.

The opening program will feature Weiss’ presentation, “Mila Nishball: Story of Survival,” drawing from archival testimony, including materials from the USC Shoah Foundation. The exhibit will remain on view through May 22 and is free and open to the public.

The event is Wednesday, April 15 from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Buley Library at Southern Connecticut State University, 501 Crescent St., New Haven.

About Southern Connecticut State University

Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU) is Connecticut’s first and only Carnegie-classified Research 2 university, recognized for its high research activity and commitment to innovation. As a leading public research institution, SCSU is dedicated to academic excellence, community engagement, access, and opportunity.