top of page

About Us

The mission of The Hannah Ida Urman Foundation is to remember and learn about the innocent victims who suffered and/or murdered by Hitler’s Nazi regime.  Toward that goal, we share the personal story of Hannah, her children and family, the Jewish communities she knew, and the stories of so many other people devastated by the Third Reich.

"I have never seen a picture of my grandmother Hannah, though I continue to search records and photos that have become available. This seemingly small matter is a profound metaphor that illustrates the reality of a life once lived full and normal — extinguished from humanity. Those of us, who carry on the legacy for the victims of this atrocity, have a responsibility to keep their stories alive in ways that honor, respect, and inspire. It is my intent to promote the affirming lessons learned through Holocaust education, hearing personal histories and conscientious reflection."

- Sharon Berry

Our Team

Co-founder Sharon Hannah Berry is one of Hannah’s seven grandchildren. Along with her sisters, Sandra and Cynthia, this foundation was created to fulfill Ben Fainer’s wishes of continuing his legacy of Holocaust education. Ben is their father who survived Hitler's Hell

"While most U.S. adults know when the Holocaust happened and are familiar with Auschwitz, [...] fewer are cognizant about the number of Jews murdered and how Hitler came to power in Germany, according to a [...] American Jewish Committee (AJC) public opinion survey." /1

It seems the concept of Never Again has been replaced with disinformation intended to denigrate people who observe Judaism. This powerful wave of hate in the streets, the media, and college campuses propels us to challenge the rise in global anti-Semitism fueled by lack of knowledge about the Holocaust, Holocaust denial, prejudices against Jews, and the denial of Israel’s right to exist.

Sharon is retired and now works part time in a research capacity. She devotes the lion's share of her time to the administration and management of the Hannah Ida Urman Foundation. She lives on a several acres in the suburbs of Philadelphia, and is turning her love of gardening into a farmette growing blackberries, sunflowers, and tomatoes. In her spare time, she is writing a book to be titled After the Silence -- her personal story following her father's memoir Silent for Sixty Years, co authored by Mark Leach.

/1 The survey of U.S. adults was conducted for AJC, a nonpartisan organization, by the independent research firm SSRS. A nationally representative sample of 1,004 general population adults, ages 18 or older, was interviewed from October 10 – October 18, 2022. The margin of error is +/-3.8 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.

Lucy & Ram.jpg

Sandra J. Isenmann, co-founder of the Hannah Ida Urman Foundation, draws inspiration from her personal connection as the child of a Holocaust survivor. 

Retired from the medical field, Sandra brings a wealth of experience to her deep commitment to Holocaust education. Beyond her work for the foundation, she is a loving mother of three and grandparent of six. Sandra places significant emphasis on family, finding solace in her role as a devoted mother and grandmother. Her love for gardening not only reflects her nurturing nature, but also serves as a meaningful outlet for personal growth and connection. Sandra embodies a passion for preserving history and cultivating a strong family bond across generations.

image.png

Autherine Smith Scholl brings extensive business and legal experience to guide the board in fulfilling its mission.

 

For more than two decades, Autherine maintained an active litigation practice in bankruptcy law, consumer protection, and housing litigation in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. She worked as a supervising attorney at Community Legal Services, and was a senior associate at a major Philadelphia Banking firm. 

Autherine is a frequent continuing legal education lecturer on mediation and ethics issues. She has taught a host of legal justice, bankruptcy law, commercial litigation. and human relations courses for the University of the District of Columbia, Rutgers University School of Law (Camden, New Jersey), and Widener University School of Law (Wilmington, DE).

She is a graduate of the Temple Beasley School of Law and Talladega College and has served internships at the Pennsylvania Bureau of Consumer Protection and in the Office of the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission. She is an active member of the Bars of the United States District Court for the Eastern and Middle Districts of Pennsylvania, the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit and the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, Washington, DC. She was recently appointed to the New Jersey State Agricultural Mediation Panel. She has extensive mediation experience in multiple venues and is a certified mediator in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Civil Division of the District of Columbia Superior Court in Washington, DC

Stacey Cooley is a compassionate and dedicated professional who serves as the Hannah Ida Urman Foundation's Public Relations Director and Grant Administrator.

With over two decades of experience as a healthcare administrator, Stacey has a robust background in serving our nations most vulnerable veterans.

 

In his role, Stacey excels at fostering meaningful relationships with individuals and organizations that share a common dedication to Holocaust education. His extensive experience and heartfelt commitment make him a valuable asset in ensuring the foundation's initiatives thrive, creating a lasting impact in the realm of historical awareness and education. Married to a Holocaust survivor's granddaughter, he brings a personal connection to the foundation's mission.

Erin Cooley is a dedicated professional serving as the Hannah Ida Urman Foundation's Social Media Director.

With a decade-long commitment to mental health advocacy, she brings a personal touch as the granddaughter of a Holocaust survivor. Erin passionately utilizes the power of social media to amplify the foundation's message, ensuring it resonates widely, inspires action, and creates a lasting impact. Her strategic vision and heartfelt dedication drive positive change, making her a valuable force in raising awareness and fostering a compassionate understanding of historical narratives.

Molly and Sam at their grand daughter Barbara's wedding in 1957

MALKA "MOLLY" URMAN

 was Hannah’s aunt, who lived in Bedzin, Poland. She was married in Bedzin and came to the U.S. in the early 1900's and settled in New York.  Her husband Sam Finkel was a co-founder of the Fraternal Order of Bendin Sosnowiecer ("FOBS"), a landsmanschaften established in 1929 and still in existence today; FOBS helped immigrants from their homeland region settle in the U.S. before and after WWII. Molly and Sam had three children -- Rose, Anna and Rachael, of blessed memory; Molly and Sam have seven grandchildren, 22 great grandchildren, 28 second great grandchildren and 10 third great grandchildren -- currently. 

May their memories be a blessing.

bottom of page