Brandywine Princeton by Monarch Honors International Women’s Day

This story recounts the remarkable journey of Eva Gossman, a Holocaust survivor, born in 1930 to the Reinitz family in Presov, Slovakia.

After the deportations of December 1942, Eva’s father made the difficult decision to send her and her brother to relatives in Tolcsva, Hungary. Their journey was perilous — intercepted by Hungarian police and confined in the Ricse internment camp.

In April 1943, their uncle, a rabbi in Tolcsva, secured their release, offering them temporary refuge. However, in March 1944, the Jewish residents of Tolcsva were sent to the Satoraljaujhely ghetto. Eva , and her brother bravely escaped, returning to Presov to reunite with their parents — only to be resettled the next day in Nitra, western Slovakia.

In Nitra, the Reinitz family went into hiding, relying on the selfless courage of a single catholic woman Maria Krescankova and her daughter Vlastimila, whose compassion helped save their lives. The family endured until Nitra’s liberation by Soviet forces in the spring of 1945.

After the war, the Reinitz family immigrated to the United States, arriving on the night President Harry Truman was elected. They settled in Washington, D.C., where Eva learned English and completed high school. Determined to pursue higher education, she worked as a secretary during the day and attended George Washington University night school, graduating Phi Delta Kappa.

Eva continued her studies at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, earning a PHD, in Philosophy . From 1960 to 1963, she taught philosophy at Sarah Lawrence College before marrying in 1963 and settling in Baltimore, Maryland. The following year, Eva became a Professor of Philosophy at Goucher College, where she taught until 1976 before relocating with her husband to Princeton, New Jersey.

At Princeton University, Eva first served as the Director of the Board of Advisors, later becoming the Associate Dean of the College. She retired in 1996, leaving behind an incredible legacy of knowledge and dedication to education.

In 2022, Eva published her memoir, Good Beyond Evil, recounting her harrowing journey of survival. Eva wrote her book with one word in mind — gratitude — to show that even in the most constrained circumstances, people have the choice to choose good over evil.

Eva has been a cherished resident of Brandywine Princeton by Monarch since 2023, where she serves as a beacon of wisdom and friendship to all. Last year, she graciously shared her story with residents and family members, inspiring us all with her resilience and unwavering spirit.
We love Eva and are so proud to have her as part of our Brandywine Princeton by Monarch family.