Researcher, Author, Speaker
Publications
Just published
The Quiet Strength of Resilience
Synopsis
Sometimes hope can be pointless, a glimmering mirage in a desert of darkness. Sometimes it can be a mean hoax, an unreachable carrot at the end of a long cruel stick. But sometimes—like for Charles Schwarz, a Jewish boy separated from his parents and hiding from Nazis in war-torn Europe—hope is absolutely all that’s left.
In The Quiet Strength of Resilience, Ron Schwarz chronicles his late father’s journey: from his boyhood in pre-war Germany amid a rising wave of Nazi antisemitism to the teenage years spent in constant hiding, moving constantly to avoid the fate of so many millions of his fellow Jews at the hands of the Nazis, to the post-war reunion with his family, finally finding happiness and success in America.
Drawing on research spanning thousands of pages from archives all around Europe, along with hours of interviews with his father, Schwarz paints a compelling picture of resilience and endurance in the face of the greatest adversity while providing us a glimpse into the darkest days of world history. Through a child’s eyes.
Praise for The Quiet Strength of Resilience
This is a very powerful, beautifully written book. Ron is a wonderful storyteller, and the tale is so very moving. He not only knows his history, but he also knows how to breathe a human soul into that history.
Dr. David Patterson
Professor, University of Texas at Dallas
Hillel Feinberg Distinguished Chair in
Holocaust Studies
This Holocaust survivor story isn’t your typical story. It shares the perils felt and the persistence to push forward that was pursued by Ron’s father. What makes this a truly remarkable work of literature is that this book adds the unique perspective of the next generation’s journey to preserve history through Ron’s efforts to find documents that substantiate the stories he was told. His book proves to reflect on the history of antisemitism, as well as honor his father by sharing his story.
Stacy Singerman
Chief Operating Officer
The Macula Society
The harrowing story of a son’s quest to understand his father’s childhood experience as a Jewish refugee in Europe during World War II, The Quiet Strength of Resilience is equally a heart-warming story of filial affection and admiration—of the unique yet universal ties that bind families together during periods of extraordinary struggle, and across generations. Ron Schwarz is right: the more people have a chance to read stories like his and his father’s, the more inclined they might be to stand up to antisemitism and see “the quiet strength of resilience” in others.
Dr. Adam Nelson
Senior Associate Dean, School of Education
University of Wisconsin - Madison
Captivating. Moving. Gut wrenching. Humorous. Brave. These are some of the words that ran through my head after knowing this story. This is an unbelievable story to pass on to the generations. We can never let that happen again!
Stephen Robinson
Truist Wealth Management