Lisa Colton
"Be nice to other people. They are just like you. "
Name at birth
Lelisa Kreisman
Date of birth
01/16/1931
Where did you grow up?
France
Name of father, occupation
Samuel Kreisman,
Upolsterer, couches, chairs, was a good craftsman
Maiden name of mother, occupation
Rose Axelrod,
Homemaker
Immediate family (names, birth order)
Parents and Lisa
How many in entire extended family?
I saw my grandparents on my mothers side only once, I was very young maybe 3 or 4 years old. On my Father’s side, my father’s mother died when he was very young. His father was Abraham, he had brothers and sisters, so did my mother, had brothers and sisters. Father’s family: ten, they all died; mother’s family, her brothers, I don’t know. Her parents died before the Holocaust. Three girls, mother and I had two aunts. One came to US, last one was taken and was in a camp, died of Typhus, she was my favorite aunt. We called her Hela or Helen. She was wonderful.
Who survived the Holocaust?
Parents, a brother of my father and another brother and his wife. Emile Kreisman and other, Abraham.
Name of Concentration / Labor Camp(s)
When did you come to the United States?
December, 1951
Where did you settle?
Detroit, Michigan
How is it that you came to Michigan?
My father found work in Detroit through his cousin who lived here.
When and where were you married?
1952
Spouse
Andy Kornblit (Colton),
Painting contractor
Children
Elaine, Hospital Administrator, Debby, Money Management, and Tom Bookkeeper
Grandchildren
Ryan, Jeffrey, Adam, Eric, Daniel, Dana, Michael, Jennifer, Sean, Adam, and Danny. Great Grandchildren: Stella, Jack, Paige, Brody, Grayson, Charlotte, Erin, Morgan, Hayley, Juliana, Chloe, Max, Sonomoa, Andrew, Harper, and Matthew.
What do you think helped you to survive?
I was too young, and I didn't understand what was really going on. I didn't realize what the Germans were doing to people in concentration camps. I wasn't aware, I only found out what happened after the war.
What message would you like to leave for future generations?
Be nice to other people. They are just like you.
Interviewer:
Charles Silow
