17 October 2006
On 17 October, a ceremony recognizing the generous donation of Lucian and Susan Seifert of Los Angeles took place at Yad Vashem in the presence of former IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. (res.) Moshe Yaalon, Chairman of the Yad Vashem Directorate Avner Shalev, soldiers, friends and guests from Israel and abroad. The Seiferts unveiled a plaque in the garden endowed in memory of Seifert family members who perished in the Shoah, including Lucian's father.
Lucian was born and raised in eastern Poland and spent part of the war in hiding with the underground in the forest. Seifert survived, together with his mother, brother, sister, one uncle, and three cousins. Following liberation by the Red Army, Seifert, then 15, spent 4 years in the DP camp in Foehrenwald, Germany. Many of the guests at the ceremony were friends and acquaintances from the camp.
In 1949 Seifert sailed for the USA, eventually finding his way to Los Angeles, were he met and married Susan, established a family and enjoyed a very successful business career, which continues to this day. Lucian and Susan are passionate supporters of the State of Israel. With their extremely generous donation to Yad Vashem, they have taken an active role in ensuring that the memory of the Holocaust will serve to help build a better future for the Jewish people and for all mankind.