EPISODE DESCRIPTION:
In today’s episode of 45 Forward, author Jan Henock talks about her remarkable book, To Enduring Love, which tells the story of her parents, Alexander Gottlieb and Ilona Herz. As young newlyweds separated by war, they endured years apart—he in Cuba and the U.S. Army, she under the brutal Arrow Cross in Hungary and later imprisoned at Bergen-Belsen—before finding each other again and building a new life in America. Jan shares how their resilience, courage, and love shaped her childhood in Astoria, Queens, and continues to influence her life many years later. Their story is a testament to hope, survival, and the enduring power of love across generations.
ABOUT THE GUEST:
Jan Henock is the author of To Enduring Love, the powerful story of her parents’ survival, separation, and reunion during World War II. A lifelong public servant, Jan earned degrees from Brooklyn College and Long Island University before embarking on a nearly 40-year career with the Federal Aviation Administration, where she held leadership posts including Executive Officer of the Eastern Region Flight Standards Division and International Liaison. She was also the founding Director of the Academy of Public Service and later taught at Long Island University and Vaughn College of Aeronautics. Now retired, Jan continues to champion education, community, and resilience as guiding values in life.
Contact: janhenock@gmail.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jan-henock-02876a66
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