The American cousin to school Lea and Elizabeth
Marvin Bittner is the American cousin of Lea and Elizabeth, both girls
deported in 1943. He was welcomed by the school that bears their name.
MONTESCOT
Marvin, surrounded by schoolchildren at the plaque
with the school’s name, wanted to honor his two cousins.
This week, the school was visited by Marvin Bittner. The American doctor
of 59 years is a cousin of Lea and Elizabeth Schnitzler, the two children
for whom the school is now named. The great-grandfather of Marvin and
that of the two girls were brothers. They lived in Hungary. Cathy Hody
recalls that she and her students had, in February 2008, received the
Annie and Charles Corrin Prize in recognition of their work on teaching
the Holocaust. "In arranging the ceremony for this award at the
Sorbonne, the Unified Jewish Social Fund had researched the family of
the two children deported to Sobibor for a trip without return in 1943.
As a result of international research, three members of this family,
including Marvin, had been found in various countries. He has been contacted
to come to Paris for the ceremony, but time was too short for him to
arrange such a long journey. So he was unable to attend. From that day,
though, he was left with the desire to explore the village and the school
which had hidden his cousins and to meet current students. For his current
vacation, he decided to cross the Atlantic, " explained School
Director Cathy Hody.
Reception at the school
After meeting with village elders who knew his family, he was warmly
received at school. The reception was hosted by Cathy Hody with Mayor
Michael Martin; Robert Clarimon, Academy Honorary Inspector; Christine
Alberny, elected Officer of schools; and Maguy Olynik, a villager who
knew the two little schoolgirls very well.
On this occasion, Marvin spoke to students gathered in the courtyard.
His remarks in English were translated by Joëlle Fournier, who teaches
the class CE1: "It is a remarkable experience for me. I've always
been interested in the history of my family, and I have prepared a family
tree. I did not know that I would find a trace of my family in France.
I was surprised to learn that there was a school that had studied the
history of part of my family, and which now bears the name of my little
cousins."
Then the discussions continued around a buffet.
--Claude Bernat