The TMF 2025 Annual Gala will honor the memory of Dr. Anna Ornstein, who sadly passed away on July 2, 2025.

Anna was a remarkable woman whose life was a testament to resilience, intellect, and compassion. As a Holocaust survivor, distinguished psychiatrist, pioneering educator, and author, Anna devoted herself to sharing the lessons of her extraordinary journey. Her unwavering commitment to preserving the memory of the Holocaust and exploring the effects of trauma leaves a lasting legacy that will continue to inspire future generations.

Born in Szendrő, Hungary, Anna and her mother survived deportation to Auschwitz and imprisonment in the Parschnitz labor camp. Her father and two brothers, Andrew and Paul, perished in the Shoah. After the war, she completed medical school in Heidelberg and became a renowned child psychiatrist. She served for many years as Professor of Child Psychiatry at the University of Cincinnati Medical School and later as a lecturer in psychiatry at Harvard Medical School.

A tireless advocate for Holocaust education, Anna spent decades speaking with young people across the United States, helping them confront the most painful lessons of the Holocaust. She co-directed the International Center for the Study of Psychoanalytic Self-Psychology and mentored generations of scholars. Her memoir, My Mother’s Eyes, offers a deeply moving account of her survival and her journey of healing.

For over twenty years, Anna’s work as a TMF educator was a powerful extension of her lifelong mission, reflecting her deep belief in the power of art to bear witness, to heal, and to preserve memory. Through her passionate involvement, she brought TMF’s work to new audiences, amplifying the Foundation’s mission and ensuring that history continues to resonate through creativity and truth.

Anna’s enduring legacy is one of memory, healing, and hope. Through her words, her work, and her example, she reminded us of the strength of the human spirit and the urgent importance of confronting hatred with courage and compassion.

May her memory be a blessing—and a call to compassion, courage, and understanding.