HEDI BASCH LEVENBACK
Holocaust Survivor • Founder, NY Zero-to-Three Network • NY Department of Health
T H E I R H E R O S T O R Y
Hedi (Hay-dee) Basch was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1924.
She lived comfortably until the age of 6, when her mother unexpectedly died, and she became the subject of a custody dispute among family members. She ultimately lived with her grandparents in an apartment overlooking a Montessori school and enjoyed watching the children at play.
In the 1930’s life for the Jewish community deteriorated, culminating in the Kristallnacht when her father was arrested and sent to Dachau concentration camp.
Hedi never saw her father again.
At age 14, Hedi was one of 10,000 German and Austrian children evacuated to England on the Kindertransport just prior to the outbreak of WWII. Hedi recalled the heartbreaking scene at the train station of families saying goodbye to their children, some as young as 3 years old. During the long train ride, Hedi found herself, for the first time, in the role of a caregiver, comforting the young children.
In England, Hedi lived with foster parents, learned English, and went to high school. In 1945, she met an American GI at a Jewish social club. He was sent home at the end of the war. Hedi emigrated to NYC. Hedi was told that education was the key to success in America, so she enrolled in Hunter College.
In 1946, Hedi met an American GI by chance on the subway. Frustrated that he didn't ask for her phone number, she looked him up in the phone directory and, breaking the norms of the time, asked him out on a date. That chance meeting blossomed into love, marriage, two children, and five grandchildren.
Hedi’s experiences with early childhood trauma and education informed her professional life.
She became a nursery school director and later a consultant for the NYC Department of Health's Division of Day Care. She earned a master’s degree and doctorate in early childhood education. After her retirement from the Department of Health, she earned a master’s in social work. She became a founding member of the New York Zero to Three Network and the Supervised Visitation Network. Both organizations present annual awards in her name to honor her contributions.
Hedi Basch Levenback lived an eventful life and demonstrated incredible resilience. She set an example of personal and professional achievement for her children and grandchildren.
We are proud of her and miss her.
H O N O R E D B Y
The Levenback Family