Ann Fisk
"Ann spoke extensively, and effectively, at schools about her experiences before the war and during the Holocaust. She was also very active in Jewish organizations. Her message was always not to blame or frighten, but to shed light on a dark time. "
Name at birth
Hanka Monczyk
Date of birth
06/04/1924
Where were you born?
Where did you grow up?
Czestochowa, Poland
Name of father, occupation
Avram Monczyk
Maiden name of mother, occupation
Miriam (Nachas) Monczyk
Immediate family (names, birth order)
brothers Moishe, Beinish, Shlomo, Irving, Jacob, Haskel; sisters Esther, Rose, Regina, Shefra. Birth order unclear.
How many in entire extended family?
Unknown
Who survived the Holocaust?
Ann, Irving, and Jacob
Ann’s father was a coal miner. The family had little money. Ann only went up to the 6th grade in school. She was living with cousins in the town of Auschwitz when WWII broke out. Ann was then sent to Sosnowiec when she was about 15.
Name of Ghetto(s)
Name of Concentration / Labor Camp(s)
What DP Camp were you after the war?
Landsberg DP camp in Germany.
When did you come to the United States?
1949
Where did you settle?
Originally in Oklahoma City, then husband Ben (married in Landsberg), son Alan (born in Landsberg) and Ann moved to Detroit.
How is it that you came to Michigan?
Better job opportunities for Ben, who was a carpenter.
Occupation after the war
Ann was primarily a housewife, but worked for years on Saturdays at a fruit and vegetable market in Detroit that was run by friends. She was a salesperson.
When and where were you married?
Landsberg, Germany
Spouse
Ben,
Carpenter
Children
Son Alan, journalist and novelist; son Milton, primarily self-employed in retail; daughter Judy, school teaching assistant.
Grandchildren
Six grandchildren, including Solomon and Ramona Lewis and Michael Frankfort.
What do you think helped you to survive?
Ann was young, athletic and very strong-willed.
What message would you like to leave for future generations?
Ann spoke extensively, and effectively, at schools about her experiences before the war and during the Holocaust. She was also very active in Jewish organizations. Her message was always not to blame or frighten, but to shed light on a dark time.
Interviewer:
Biography given by Alan Fisk, son of Ann Fisk
Interview date:
08/15/2024
To learn more about this survivor, please visit:
The Voice/Vision Holocaust Survivor Oral History Archive, University of Michigan
https://holocaust.umd.umich.edu/fisk/
https://holocaust.umd.umich.edu/fisk/
