Alice Herz-Sommer

Alice Herz-Sommer, who lived to be 110, was perhaps best known for being the oldest known Holocaust survivor. Born in Prague, she received a classical musical education, becoming a renowned pianist. Her early life was steeped in a rich Jewish intellectual and artistic environment, even hosting Franz Kafka for afternoon tea, because, of course she did.

Her world shattered when she, her husband, and their son were deported to the Theresienstadt concentration camp. While there, she performed in over 100 concerts for fellow prisoners, literally playing for her life and the lives of those who listened, proving that sometimes, even in hell, the show must go on. Her husband died in Auschwitz; she and her son survived.

After the war, she immigrated to Israel, continuing her career as a piano teacher at the Jerusalem Academy of Music. Later, she moved to London, living independently well into her supercentenarian years, offering wisdom and musical insight, showing that even after enduring unimaginable horror, one could still play a pretty good tune. She passed away in 2014, leaving behind a legacy of resilience, music, and an undeniable knack for outliving almost everyone.