Samuel (Sam) Frydrych

Sam Frydrych, z’l is among the last of the generation of the brave survivors of the concentration camps. Born on April 1, 1930 in Ostrowiec, Poland, his early years were happy, growing  up with his four brothers and a sister in a comfortable family home, thanks to the small factory that his father owned. His childhood was cut short when the Nazi’s invaded Poland and he and his family were forced into the town’s ghetto. His parents were deported straight to Treblinka . His sister was shot trying to escape. And he and his brothers were moved from ghetto to ghetto until they ended up in Auschwitz. Despite his age, he was selected for work duty, because he was tall and strong, as were his older brothers. But the youngest was taken from his arms and he never saw him again. He remembered that every month, Mengele would inspect the young men working in the camp, and if their ribs were showing, they were told to move aside and sent to be gassed and burned.

After liberation Sam went home to Ostrowiec only to face a pogrom by the Poles. He made his way to a DP camp and in 1948 was selected as one of the 1300 orphans that Canada accepted after the war.

In Canada he built a new life, married his wife of 69 years, Adele, They had a son Stevie and two grandchildren, Melanie and Shawn. He was a generous and caring man and will be missed not only by his family but also by his many friends in Manhattan Place and his breakfast club.

Memorial donations may be made to the Baycrest Foundation (416) 785-2875