JRI-Poland Interview with Amy Fish, Author of “One in Six Million”

JRI-Poland president, Robinn Magid, recently interviewed Amy Fish, author of the new book called ” One in Six Million: The Baby by the Roadside and the Man Who Retraced a Holocaust Survivor’s Lost Identity” which honors founding director, Stanley Diamond (z”l). The book is available on Amazon. Also available is a Signed Copy of One in Six Million. 

You originally met Stanley at a shiva… how were each of you related to the family sitting shiva?

I first met Stanley at my great uncle Avi’s shiva. Avi Morrow was my maternal grandmother’s youngest brother. Stanley’s maternal grandmother and my great-grandmother were sisters, so Avi Morrow was Stanley’s first cousin once-removed. Stanley was a second cousin of my late mother, so he was my second cousin once removed, and it was that family connection that encouraged Stanley to let me write his story. He told me he had been approached multiple times over the years, but it never felt right. Because I was a member of his family, he was able to trust me, and I am so happy he did.

There are many stories that Stanley could have shared with you about helping people learn who they are. Why do you think he shared this particular story of Maria with you?

As Stanley said in the Foreword to One in Six Million, ” In many ways it [Maria’s story] is one of the crowning jewels of my thirty-four-year research journey.” I think he felt that way because it was supremely challenging, yet had an excellent payoff. It was also timely, I met him several months after he cracked the case.

Have you been interested in your own family history and what are your thoughts about genealogy pursuits after spending so much time with Stanley and his story?

Stanley told me many interesting things about my family history, for example he showed me that the last names were reversed in my grandparents’ wedding certificate, incorrectly identifying my grandmother and grandfather’s parents. He also sent me a short film clip of my grandparents walking into a wedding, and it was the first time I ever saw them walk and talk. Up until then I had only seen still photographs. He was an amazing researcher and had a wealth of knowledge. I have so much respect for genealogists after working with Stanley, particularly a renewed appreciation for the logical and scientific nature of research as well as the necessity to be creative in order to break through brick walls. 

What’s the most interesting question you have received about the book or Stanley from readers of the book?

Many people have asked about the title of the book, One in Six Million, which has given me the chance to explain that Stanley did not like the title. He was concerned that because Maria survived the Holocaust, she was not one of the six million, and he worried that this would be disrespectful to the six million who perished. I think this is a valid concern. At the same time, the reasons for picking the title are valid too. First, it was not immediately obvious that Maria had survived. At points in the book, she was deemed to have perished, and may have been counted as one of the six million. Also, I think the title conveys that we are all one in six million, this could have happened to any of us. And, that each of the six million has a long and complex story behind them as does Maria. It is nearly impossible to get your head around such a large number, and that is why I believe these stories must be told.

If you could ask Stanley just one more question – what would it be?

Oh that is such a good question. After spending six years writing this book, and over 100 hours interviewing Stanley, it is hard to imagine that I have not asked him every single question under the sun. But of course, we are always longing for that one last conversation. I think if I had more time with Stanley, I would probably ask him more about his early days in the creation of JRI-Poland, and whether he realized then what it would eventually become.

Amy will be at the IAJGS conference in Fort Wayne, Indiana, this summer doing a workshop on How to Tell Your Story for Future Generations. Copies of her book are available on Amazon. Also available is a Signed Copy of One in Six Million.