For 20 years I had breakfast or lunch with Marty. Storch.....We discussed Life in general and his experiences at Auschwitz in particular, where Marty was compelled to do electrical repairs for Nazi prison SS members to stay alive! Marty attempted many times to persuade me to ghost write a book about his horrid experiences in Nazi prison camp; however, I always declined, making hundreds of attempts to convince him that he should try to forget that time of his life.....Nevertheless, Marty was, though deeply depressed, always cheerful and supportive of others. I am so saddened by his death....sigh.....
A MAN NAMED MARTY If you've ever had breakfast in Buckhead, at the White House on Peachtree, you might have noticed the same guy eating at the counter for over 30 years. People thought he looked like George Burns. He was always simply dressed in clothes that sometimes came from another era. That man was Marty. What most diners at the cafe didn't know was the real story behind this 5'5" giant of a man. Fourteen years ago, Marty was diagnosed with malignant lung cancer. Doctors told him that all they could do was administer heavy doses of radiation to buy him a little time, six months or so, before the cancer would take his life. As always, Marty respectfully smiled at the doctors. He didn't question or even complain about his prognosis. He went through his treatments, making friends with doctors and nurses, who all admired his cheerful positive attitude. His spirit, his humor and his amazing strength were part of his rock solid build. When I asked him how he was dealing with having cancer, he instantly replied "If Hitler didn't get me, this won't either." And he meant it. He lived to tell his story of the Holocaust, wanting to make some sense of the atrocities he witnessed. Marty told his story in schools, at The Breman Jewish Heritage Museum, and to others who recognized the value of meeting such a man. He wanted to use his pain and his sorrow, his loss of family and dignity for a good purpose. He especially wanted to make his message one that would have impact on the lives of children. He conveyed his story so that his audience could understand the fragility of life and the importance of family. He knew what it was like to have it all taken away. The letters he received in response to his lectures were his trophies. They served to validate the good things that come from bad experiences. The love of Marty's life was his wife Dora. Marty and Dora met after they were liberated from Concentration Camps. He fell in love with her instantly, promising her a good life with all of the security and support she would ever need. He kept his word, far exceeding her expectations. Their love and devotion to one another stayed strong for over 62 years. With boundless energy and an ironclad work ethic, he was a success as a grocer and later as a real estate developer. Marty Storch died peacefully at St. Joseph's Hospital.
Movements In The Moment by Rhonda Lorence
