Ep 85: Kinder People. Kindest People. with Peter Suchmann and guest Manny Korman P2 on hmTv

Episode 85 – Kinder People. Kindest People (Part 2): “Teaching the Legacy”

In the conclusion of their two-part conversation, host Peter Suchmann welcomes back 93-year-old Kindertransport survivor Manny Korman for a deep dive into the life he built after rescue—and the lessons he’s devoted to passing on.

🔹 From refugees to educators – Manny explains how he and his brother Gerhard both gravitated to teaching, with careers that spanned Queens classrooms and Cornell University.

🔹 Crafting a survivor’s narrative – Hear how Manny’s presentations evolved from simple storytelling to multimedia programs that captivate sixth-graders, Mensa scholars, and Names, Not Numbers filmmakers alike.

🔹 The power of listening – Manny describes the transformative impact of student-run oral-history projects and why a single question from a grieving audience member still shapes his talks today.

🔹 Memory in the garden – Peter previews HMTC’s new Kindertransport memorial bench, where visitors can scan a QR code to hear survivors’ voices—including Manny’s.

🔹 A return to Hamburg – Manny prepares to address his birthplace 85 years after exile, carrying a message of tolerance, democracy, and responsibility toward today’s refugees.

Press play for an inspiring testament to resilience, education, and the simple truth that humanity matters—now more than ever.

Transcript

Episode 85 (Part 2)
Host: Peter Suchmann
Guest: Manny Korman

Peter Suchmann:
Hi, everyone—Pete Suchmann here. Welcome back to Kinder People. Kindest People on hmTv. This is part two of my conversation with dear friend, fellow “bashert-in-history,” and Kindertransport survivor Manny Korman. Manny, thanks for staying on for another round.

Manny Korman:
Always a pleasure, Pete.

Rebuilding a Family

Peter:
When we left off, your family had finally been reunited in New York after the war—your father survived the St. Louis odyssey, your mother made it out, and you and your brother reached the States. Miraculously, both you and your brother Gerhard wound up in education. Any idea why teaching became the family calling?

Manny:
In Gerhard’s case, history just grabbed him. He did his BA at Brooklyn College, then master’s and a PhD at the University of Wisconsin. His first post was at Elmira College, but Cornell’s School of Industrial and Labor Relations snapped him up as their American historian. He loved every minute.

Peter:
And your path?

Manny:
I’ve always been a numbers guy. I majored in math at Queens College and added education courses because a doctoral student’s survey pegged me as a future teacher. After Army service during Korea, a former professor called—there was an emergency opening in a brand-new junior high in Flushing. That was it: math teacher, then assistant principal, then principal—thirty-nine years that flew by.

Peter:
Our parents definitely valued the security and purpose education offers. My father used to tell us, “Learn how to learn, and never stop.”

From Survivor Story to Classroom

Peter:
You’ve now spent decades telling your Holocaust story to students. How has your presentation evolved?

Manny:
Early on, I just spoke; now I use a thumb drive packed with photos, maps, and timelines. I start with my uncle’s 1933 assassination by local Nazis—that shows how bad it was even before deportations. Then I trace each branch: our deportation to Poland, my father’s St. Louis ordeal and Westerbork, my mother’s escape, and finally the Kindertransport to England. Visuals keep students anchored.

Peter:
You speak to sixth-graders next week. How do younger kids handle it?

Manny:
Surprisingly well—if they’re prepared. Their questions show they’re listening. Fifth grade is my cutoff; sixth and up can grasp the nuances.

Peter:
You’ve also done the Names, Not Numbers oral-history program.

Manny:
Fantastic model. High-schoolers research, film, and edit two-hour interviews down to 25 minutes. They learn interviewing, videography, and—most important—respectful listening.

The Mensa Conference and Other Highlights

Peter:
One of your standout talks was at the national Mensa convention.

Manny:
Kansas City. Packed room—largest turnout of any panel that year. A young woman wept as she tried to grasp how a mother could put her children on a train not knowing if she’d ever see them again. Moments like that remind me why we keep telling these stories.

Preserving Memory: The Kindertransport Bench

Peter:
On May 4th, the Kindertransport Association is dedicating a memorial bench in our Children’s Garden. Visitors can scan a QR code to hear survivors’ voices—including yours, I hope. It’s our way of turning a quiet spot into living history.

Manny:
Beautiful idea. Anything that invites people to sit, listen, and reflect keeps the legacy alive.

Looking Ahead—and a Return to Hamburg

Peter:
You’re headed back to Hamburg in June with your sons and grandkids. What’s on the agenda?

Manny:
The city invited me for a commemorative week. I’ll speak—briefly, five minutes they say—in English, not German! It’ll be powerful to stand where my story began.

Final Thoughts

Peter:
As we wrap up, what’s the one message you hope listeners take away—especially about refugees today?

Manny:
The United States is, at heart, a nation of refugees. With that privilege comes responsibility: honor newcomers, safeguard democracy, practice decency. Respect and tolerance aren’t extras—they’re the foundation.

Peter:
Amen. Manny, thank you—for your resilience, your decades in the classroom, and for sharing so generously with us. Safe travels, and love to the family.

Manny:
Thank you, Pete. Humanity matters—keep spreading the light.

Peter:
And to our audience: please subscribe, share, and stay connected for more conversations that prove, time and again, that humanity matters. Until next time—be well.