Holocaust survivor inspires after health crisis

MIDDLETON, Wis. – Bob Auerbach, a 95-year-old pianist and retired geneticist, has faced numerous challenges throughout his life but continues to inspire with his resilience and generosity.

Bob Auerbach, a Holocaust survivor who fled Nazi Germany at age 10, has dedicated his life to making the most of his talents, from playing the piano to his commitment to helping marginalized communities.

“I enjoy life and know that I am lucky,” Bob Auerbach said of his journey.

Although he shuffles a little slower these days, his mind remains sharp and his hands still glide over the piano keys with ease.

Berlin-born Bob Auerbach experienced the horrors of the Holocaust firsthand. Between the ages of four and nine, he experienced unimaginable suffering, but said he refused to let those dark memories consume him.

“I don’t long for those days,” he said.

His daughter Emily Auerbach credits her father’s ability to overcome the trauma of the Holocaust as one of the reasons he cares so much about the UW Odyssey Project, a program designed to help marginalized college students, veterans and inmates. Co-founded by Emily Auerbach, the program has been running for two decades, thanks in part to the contributions of Bob Auerbach.

“I feel like I would have become bitter if that had happened to me,” Emily Auerbach said. “But he sees beyond that.”

She explained that her father, who himself escaped poverty, dedicated his later years to helping others rise above their means. For his 90th and 95th birthdays, Bob Auerbach donated $100,000 to the UW Odyssey Project.

“I plan on buying one for my 100th birthday,” he said.

Bob Auerbach’s commitment to giving back goes beyond financial support. He often performs in assisted living homes and senior centers and brings joy to other seniors with his music. Last year, he received the American Association of Retired Persons’ (AARP) highest honor for his service to senior citizens.

In addition to his musical talents, Bob Auerbach is a testament to his resilience. After a recent bout with pneumonia, he received home care through UW Health’s Home-Based Care program, a service that has treated 175 patients since last summer. Bob Auerbach thanks the team of doctors and nurses who were on site daily for their help in his recovery.

“They were very good at monitoring everything and explaining what to do with the oxygen,” Bob Auerbach said. “It really felt like we were in a hospital. It happened to be at my house, where I had a more comfortable bed and a chance to be more myself.”

Mandy McGowan, director of UW Health Home-Based Care, said she is confident Bob Auerbach will reach his 100th milestone, thanks in part to his resilience.

“I am proud that we can provide this care and that patients and families trust us to come to their homes,” McGowan said.

Despite everything he has endured, Bob Auerbach continues to play the piano and support those in need.