As firsthand accounts of the Holocaust become increasingly rare, a Finger Lakes Community College event will spotlight the next generation preserving those stories.
Bill Lin, a recent retiree from Buffalo State College, will share his family’s experience during the Holocaust at a public presentation on Tuesday, April 14, at FLCC’s main campus in Canandaigua.
The talk is scheduled for 1 p.m. in the campus auditorium and is free and open to the public. It will also be streamed live through FLCC’s YouTube channel and Finger Lakes TV.
Lin is considered part of the “second generation,” meaning he did not directly experience the Holocaust but has a close personal connection through his family. Born in Poland shortly after World War II, Lin grew up in the shadow of the conflict, with most of his extended family having perished during the Holocaust.
He recalls aspects of post-war life in Communist Poland, including experiences with antisemitism. His family later immigrated to Israel in the 1950s before relocating to the United States in 1960. Lin eventually settled in Western New York, where he built a career in higher education and raised a family.
Organizers say the event aims to preserve and share stories that might otherwise fade as the number of surviving witnesses continues to decline. The presentation is part of FLCC’s History, Culture and Diversity Series.
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