Nancy Sprowell Geise's Blog
October 23, 2020
Wow! Holocaust Survivor turns 100!
What a tremendous time we had this fall to honor Joe Rubinstein on his 100th birthday on
September 16, 2020.
The birthday celebration was a spectacular Colorado day in Fort Collins, full of blue skies and bright sunshine…just the kind of day Joe loves. The Mayor of Fort Collins, Wade Troxell, was there on behalf of the City of Fort Collins to proclaim: September 16, 2020, Joe Rubinstein Day.
Joe, and his beautiful wife Irene, married now for 73 years, had a great time. Joe said over and over, “I’m so grateful to God to be here. I love life and I love people! I can’t believe I’m still here!” For those of us who know Joe’s story, and all he endured, we can’t believe it either.
I was grateful to the many people, most I have never met, who answered a call to “shower” Joe with birthday cards. I had the cards mailed to my home in Kansas, and they started arriving from around the world. To present the cards, we covered a box with the hand-drawn sketches Joe had done of shoes he designed years ago when he was a leading shoe designer in New York City.
Joe’s son and daughter-in-law read the cards to Joe after the guests left. His son thanked everyone for their loving and kind words. He said, “They made an old man feel great.” Joe also loved the white chocolate shoes designed by Hazel Hill in Topeka, Kansas to look like a pair of shoes Joe designed for the Herbert Levine, Inc. shoe company decades ago. The chocolate shoes were so beautiful, they were hard to distinguish from the originals. We encouraged Joe to eat one after we were gone, and he did! He took a bite out of the heel and exclaimed, “It’s delicious!”
Joe’s family did a wonderful job in their planning of this birthday party for this special man.
I was grateful to my niece, Madeline, and her husband Matt Shugert who were able to share their musical talents in signing to Joe. One of the songs they sang was Keep on the Sunny Side (of life) which describes Joe best. Keeping on the sunny side is something he has always done best, which is even more remarkable, given that he is someone who has seen the worst of humanity, yet believes the best.
I thank God for the beautiful life of Joe Rubinstein, born 100 years ago in Radom, Poland. Joe is an example to us all of how to live in grace and courage, no matter what. For more information about Joe’s remarkable and inspirational life read: Auschwitz #34207 - The Joe Rubinstein Story or visit: www.nancygeise.com
September 16, 2020.
The birthday celebration was a spectacular Colorado day in Fort Collins, full of blue skies and bright sunshine…just the kind of day Joe loves. The Mayor of Fort Collins, Wade Troxell, was there on behalf of the City of Fort Collins to proclaim: September 16, 2020, Joe Rubinstein Day.
Joe, and his beautiful wife Irene, married now for 73 years, had a great time. Joe said over and over, “I’m so grateful to God to be here. I love life and I love people! I can’t believe I’m still here!” For those of us who know Joe’s story, and all he endured, we can’t believe it either.
I was grateful to the many people, most I have never met, who answered a call to “shower” Joe with birthday cards. I had the cards mailed to my home in Kansas, and they started arriving from around the world. To present the cards, we covered a box with the hand-drawn sketches Joe had done of shoes he designed years ago when he was a leading shoe designer in New York City.
Joe’s son and daughter-in-law read the cards to Joe after the guests left. His son thanked everyone for their loving and kind words. He said, “They made an old man feel great.” Joe also loved the white chocolate shoes designed by Hazel Hill in Topeka, Kansas to look like a pair of shoes Joe designed for the Herbert Levine, Inc. shoe company decades ago. The chocolate shoes were so beautiful, they were hard to distinguish from the originals. We encouraged Joe to eat one after we were gone, and he did! He took a bite out of the heel and exclaimed, “It’s delicious!”
Joe’s family did a wonderful job in their planning of this birthday party for this special man.
I was grateful to my niece, Madeline, and her husband Matt Shugert who were able to share their musical talents in signing to Joe. One of the songs they sang was Keep on the Sunny Side (of life) which describes Joe best. Keeping on the sunny side is something he has always done best, which is even more remarkable, given that he is someone who has seen the worst of humanity, yet believes the best.
I thank God for the beautiful life of Joe Rubinstein, born 100 years ago in Radom, Poland. Joe is an example to us all of how to live in grace and courage, no matter what. For more information about Joe’s remarkable and inspirational life read: Auschwitz #34207 - The Joe Rubinstein Story or visit: www.nancygeise.com
February 3, 2016
From Ashes to Alive - A Remarkable True Story About a Remarkable Man
Joe is 95 years old now, and he is the most joy-filled man I've ever known. Until sharing his story with me, he had not told anyone what he did to survive at Auschwitz. The Nazis took him from his home when he was 21 and sent him to Auschwitz where he would be imprisoned for over two years before being taken to several other Nazi concentration camps. He lost everything and everyone he knew and loved, including his widowed mother, his four sibling - even his identical twin.
Yet from the ashes of his life, he found a way to move forward with hope and joy. How was that possible? How did he find the strength to go on and not only survive but thrive? And how did this man, without a home, possession or dime to his name, end up in New York and become one of the leading shoe designers in the world?
Joe's story is one for all of us, one of overcoming the unimaginable. His is a story of courage, hope, faith, love and never giving in to despair. Auschwitz 34207 - The Joe Rubinstein Story, is one for all of us. One you'll never forgot.
Yet from the ashes of his life, he found a way to move forward with hope and joy. How was that possible? How did he find the strength to go on and not only survive but thrive? And how did this man, without a home, possession or dime to his name, end up in New York and become one of the leading shoe designers in the world?
Joe's story is one for all of us, one of overcoming the unimaginable. His is a story of courage, hope, faith, love and never giving in to despair. Auschwitz 34207 - The Joe Rubinstein Story, is one for all of us. One you'll never forgot.
March 14, 2012
Thank You!
I want to take this opportunity to say a very deep and heartfelt thank you for all of you who have taken the time to read my novel, The Eighth Sea! It is an inspirational, historical fiction/romance set in the 1700s.
I am humbled and grateful beyond words at the heartfelt responses I am hearing from readers at every turn about the ways this story is touching their hearts. During these difficult times, a story of triumph against all odds and hope seems to be touching a deep cord.
For a quick review, since this is my first post: On March 2, in order to gain worldwide attention, I listed my book on Amazon Kindles free download. I was simply blown-away at the response. It quickly rose to #1 in Historical Fiction for free-downloads and #1 in Historical Romance free downloads. It stayed in near the top positions for several days. In total it had nearly 44,000 downloads!
In the first week since coming onto the paid site on Amazon ebook, it remained in the top 20 for both Historical Romance and Historical Fiction and made it as high as #9 on Amazon Kindles Movers and Shakers list of the fastest rising e-books...up nearly 500% in 24 hours.
Again, my sincerest thanks to all of you! I am very eager to eager of your continued thoughts and feedback.
Cheers and 8th Sea Blessings,
Nancy Sprowell Geise
I am humbled and grateful beyond words at the heartfelt responses I am hearing from readers at every turn about the ways this story is touching their hearts. During these difficult times, a story of triumph against all odds and hope seems to be touching a deep cord.
For a quick review, since this is my first post: On March 2, in order to gain worldwide attention, I listed my book on Amazon Kindles free download. I was simply blown-away at the response. It quickly rose to #1 in Historical Fiction for free-downloads and #1 in Historical Romance free downloads. It stayed in near the top positions for several days. In total it had nearly 44,000 downloads!
In the first week since coming onto the paid site on Amazon ebook, it remained in the top 20 for both Historical Romance and Historical Fiction and made it as high as #9 on Amazon Kindles Movers and Shakers list of the fastest rising e-books...up nearly 500% in 24 hours.
Again, my sincerest thanks to all of you! I am very eager to eager of your continued thoughts and feedback.
Cheers and 8th Sea Blessings,
Nancy Sprowell Geise
