Jerry Elman
Jerry Elman is an American author, educator, and business owner known for his work on Holocaust remembrance, Jewish history, and ethical business practices. He is the author of Miracles Through Hell (2022), a memoir documenting Holocaust survival and intergenerational trauma, and has received national recognition for leadership in the automotive service industry[1]
Early life and education
Elman was born in Syracuse, New York. He moved to the Rochester, New York area in 1972 to attend the Rochester Institute of Technology, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering and later an MBA in business management. [2]
He is a second-generation Holocaust survivor; both of his parents survived Nazi persecution in Poland. In 1967, Elman traveled to Israel for his bar mitzvah as part of a reunion of Holocaust survivors from his family's hometowns, an experience that later influenced his writing and public education work. [3]
Career
Kodak and early career
Elman worked for 26 years at Eastman Kodak Company as an engineer and technical manager before leaving the company during a period of corporate restructuring. [1]
Schoen Place Auto
In 2007, Elman purchased Schoen Place Auto, an automotive repair business in the Rochester, New York area. After the 2008 financial crisis significantly affected the business, he restructured operations by eliminating vehicle sales and focusing exclusively on automotive repair services. [4]
The business became known for an ethics-centered customer model and initiatives aimed at improving consumer trust in the automotive service industry. In 2010, Schoen Place Auto received the Rochester Business Ethics Award, becoming the first auto repair shop to receive the honor. The award was later formally recognized by the Village of East Rochester during a public board meeting. [5][6]
In 2015, Elman received the Ratchet+Wrench All-Star Executive Award, a national industry honor recognizing leadership, community engagement, and ethical business practices. [1]
Authorship and advocacy
Elman's book Miracles Through Hell (2022) chronicles his parents' Holocaust survival and examines the long-term effects of trauma on second-generation survivors. The book has been featured in regional media coverage and public radio interviews. [7][8]
In addition to writing, Elman gives public presentations and participates in educational discussions on Holocaust history, Jewish identity, and contemporary manifestations of antisemitism, addressing general audiences through libraries, schools, and community organizations.
Community involvement
Elman serves as board president of the Little Finger Lakes Center, a nonprofit organization based in Hemlock, New York. In this role, he has been involved in regional placemaking initiatives aimed at defining and promoting a shared identity for the Little Finger Lakes region through community workshops and collaborative planning.
Personal life
Elman resides in the Rochester region of New York. In a 2020 interview with WXXI News, he recounted placing a personal advertisement in CITY Newspaper in 1983 that led him to meet his future spouse. [9]
Awards and recognition
- Rochester Business Ethics Award (2010), Schoen Place Auto
- Ratchet+Wrench All-Star Executive Award (2015)[citation needed]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "R+W All-Star Awards". Ratchet and Wrench. Nov 1, 2015. Retrieved Jan 8, 2026.
- ↑ "Alumnus builds female-customer trust at car repair shop". RIT. Retrieved Jan 8, 2026.
- ↑ Tobin, Tom. "Comings and goings: Pet day spa opens, mechanic helps car buyers". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved Jan 8, 2026.
- ↑ Shengulette, Jinelle. "How Jerry Elman kept Schoen Place Auto open". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved Jan 8, 2026.
- ↑ Staff, Daily Record (Jul 19, 2010). "Business Ethics finalists announced". Retrieved Jan 8, 2026.
- ↑ https://eastrochester.org/Portals/0/Government/Board/board_11-08-10_minutes_reports.pdf [bare URL PDF]
- ↑ "Sam Rind and Jerry Elman on remarkable stories of surviving the Holocaust". WXXI News. Retrieved Jan 8, 2026.
- ↑ Rochester, Fox (Mar 23, 2022). "Local author shares his family's Holocaust survival story in new book". WUHF. Retrieved Jan 8, 2026.
- ↑ Stathis, Katherine; Andreatta, David (May 20, 2020). "WANTED: The personal ad that brought them together". WXXI News. Retrieved Jan 8, 2026.
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