Emmy Winning Houston Director Comes Home to Deliver Emotional Holocaust Museum Speech — Guardians of the Human Spirit Stand Strong
Facing Down Rising Antisemitism With Human Courage and Kindness
BY Shelby Hodge // 11.27.23
Honorees Bruce & Rhona Caress at Holocaust Museum Houston's Guardian of the Human Spirit Award luncheon. (Photo by Wilson Parish)
What: Holocaust Museum Houston “Guardian of the Human Spirit Luncheon”
Where: Hilton Americas-Houston
PC Moment: As keynote speaker, native Houstonian and nine-time Emmy Award winning director and executive producer Thomas Schlamme spoke about his late father Otto Schlamme and his profound influence on his career path. On the night of his son’s Bar Mitzvah in 1963, Otto chose to show “Tommy” photos he took when his US Army unit liberated the first concentration camp after the Allied victory. Otto, whose family escaped Nazi Germany when he was a kid, had come to the United States with few belongings but one prized possession — his Leica camera that he carried with him during the war.
The World War II veteran shared the photos of the emaciated survivors as well as the victims of the death camp with his young son Schlamme revealing that those powerful images showed the 13-year-old the power of film and helped set him on his groundbreaking career.
The 750 guests applauded Guardian of the Human Spirit Award recipients Rhona and Bruce Caress, who have been active supporters of the museum since its inception in 1996. The Caresses are members of Holocaust Museum Houston’s Leadership Circle, Generation to Generation Legacy Society and Cornerstone Society.
“The museum is eternally grateful for Rhona and Bruce Caress’s unwavering support over more than 27 years,” HMS interim co-executive director Tamara Savage says. “Their commitment to preserving Jewish identity within our community is especially inspiring in the face of rising antisemitism.”
Introducing Pêche
Key players in the event that raised $710,000 included luncheon chairs Mandy and Ronnie Caress, Denise and Steve Estrin, and Jessica Strehlow and Brian Caress. The host committee was chaired by Vicky and Michael Richker.
Among Holocaust survivors attending were Michelle Flornoy, Louise Joskowitz, Edith Jucker, Hans Mayer, Edith Mincberg, Morris Narunsky, Bill Orlin, Dr. Anna Steinberger and Ruth Steinfeld.
PC Seen: Co-executive director Kristin Albers Lamm, HMH board chair Barbara J. and Buddy Herz, Jewel and Brian Gaister, Tuyet and Michael Kaplan, Sunni and Gary Markowitz, Judy and Mark Mucasey, Chinhui and Eddie Allen, Heidi and David Gerger, Glen Rosenbaum, Joy and Benjamin Warren, Elyse and Lewis Kalmans, Nanci Li-Tarim and Soner Tarim, Robin and Donald Wayne, Regina Rogers, Barry Mandel and Scott Sawyer, Nancy and Jack Dinerstein, Consul General of Israel Livia Link-Raviv and chairman of Houston First David Mincberg and Lainie Gordon.
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