The Triumphant Spirit
A Holocaust commemoration effort, The Triumphant Spirit project consists of a national portrait exhibition and a beautifully photographed book. Depicting individuals who survived the horrors of the Holocaust and then settled in the United States, many of them in Colorado. The book features the photography of acclaimed Denver documentary photographer Del Calzo, and moving narratives written by Renee Rockford, the daughter of a Holocaust survivor and current President and CEO of JewishColorado. Through the brief narratives on each survivor, we learn how they rebuilt their lives and prospered, either materially or spiritually, in a new land.
The Triumphant Spirit exhibition represents an enduring legacy of Holocaust Survivors who found their way to America’s shores, created new lives and families and built successful businesses. Over the years, these Survivors have become legends of hope that continue as a bright beacon for others who face insurmountable obstacles and for all humanity. Today, these portraits and stories also are validations of man’s inhumanity to man—that horrific moment in history that never must be forgotten. This historical body of work also will be seen as documents of war as well as uplifting, living testimonials from a group of unique Jews who overcame astonishing odds to survive. These rare portraits and stories will undoubtedly ignite the human spirit of all ages, particularly because they underscore a profound victory for moral justice.
Ignited by an impromptu visit to the Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany, Nick Del Calzo spent the next five years creating 145 portraits of Holocaust survivors in 12 states. Some 72 portraits are included in this award-winning book that received a glowing tribute in the Congressional Record and was selected by the American Library Association as one of the "Best Books for Young Adults".
Beginning in 2010, the Feiner Family Foundation republished The Triumphant Spirit, sending out 2,000 complimentary copies to Holocaust museums, educators, organizations and Jewish leaders. This is the first time in over a decade that this historical book has been available on a widespread basis.