I was born and raised in Amsterdam, Netherlands where, during the Holocaust, I was persecuted by the Nazis and survived. I came to the United States in 1946 to continue my medical studies at Boston University and graduated in 1949, specializing in psychiatry and psychoanalysis. My professional interest is in "resilience", which I studied in children and survivors of the Holocaust, and which I lecture and write about. I am retired and spend my time working for "Facing History and Ourselves" as well as for the "Suskind Young Arts" program, an outreach program at the Wang Center for the Performing Arts in Boston. In 2002, I received an honorific appointment from Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands as a special recognition for keeping the name of Walter Suskind alive. I am married to Netty Schwarz, have two children and four grandchildren, and work out every day! My hobbies include model railroading, jigsaw and crossword puzzles, and biking.
Maurice Vanderpol
