meet samuel r. harris
Samuel R Harris was four years old in 1939 when Hitler overran the town in which he lived, Demblin, Poland. Hitler destroyed Mr. Harris’ large family. He spent three and a half years in two concentration camps: Demblin and Czestochowa.
EDUCATION EXPERIENCE Sam Harris is a 1958 graduate of Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa, where he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Political Science.
PROFESSIONAL WORK Sam Harris joined the Equitable Life Assurance Society in 1960 where he served as an agent until his promotion to District Manager and then Agency Manager in 1969. He has been retired for a number of years.
COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES Sam Harris has been very active in community and scholastic affairs. He served for 18 years as a board member of Spertus College of Judaica and was on the Board of Directors of Forest Hospital for 10 years. Sam Harris has been a member (and former officer) of The Rotary Club of Northbrook, Illinois for 58 years. He is a former President of Northbrook, Illinois United Way. Sam Harris spearheaded the building of the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center and currently serves as President Emeritus of the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center in Skokie, Illinois. He speaks frequently about his childhood experiences during the Holocaust to schools, religious institutions and community groups throughout the country.
AUTHOR In 2001, Mr. Harris wrote his autobiography, Sammy, Child Survivor of the Holocaust. Spanish, Japanese, Russian, Polish, Bosnian and German editions are now available.. In 2013, Ellen Palestrant published a book about Sam, If You Can Make it Mr Harris, So Can I. This book has a published companion Teacher’s Guide.
AWARDS
• The State of Illinois Human Rights Award for Distinguished Leadership for Protecting the Human Rights of People of Illinois
• Alumni Award, Grinnell College Temple Chai, Long Grove, Illinois their first Tikkun Olom Award “Repairing the World”
• “The Service Above Self” Award, Northbrook Rotary Club
• “Chicagoan of the Year, 2009”, Chicago Magazine
• One of the Most Influential Jewish People in America, The Forward Newspaper
• Named onne of the ten outstanding graduates of all time, New Trier High School
• The Distinguished Citizenship Award, Boy Scouts of America
• The Ellis Island Medal of Honor
FAMILY Sam Harris resides with his wife Dede. Their children include daughter Julie and her husband Jeff and their two children Jeremy and Jessica. Their son David is recently deceased.
CURRENTLY Sam continues to speak about his experiences in the Holocaust and beyond.