Dr. Aron Wajskol

Physician. Teacher. Holocaust Survivor. Quiet Hero. Dr. Aron Wajskol was born in Lodz, Poland on November 21, 1924 to Elias and Rachel Wajskol. On September 1, 1939, Germany invaded Poland. Soon after, a Jewish ghetto was created in Lodz. At the age of 15, Aron and his family were forcibly relocated to the ghetto. Life was extremely difficult and it was there that his father died. In 1942, at the age of 17, he was separated from his mother (who later was killed in Auschwitz) and his sister. He was transported to his first concentration camp, the Czenstojowa forced labor camp. In 1944, he was sent to the Buchenwald concentration camp. From there, he was sent to a satellite labor camp, Berga an der Elster, where he was forced to work in mines and a munitions factory. On April 6, 1945, he and
hundreds of prisoners were subjected to a death march where hundreds were shot or died. He escaped from the march to his freedom. From more than 50 extended family members, only he, his sister, and a few cousins survived the war. In 1945, after World War II ended, Aron made his way from a Displaced Persons camp and found his sister, Ada, at the Bergen Belsen concentration camp. They settled in Szczecin, Poland. Within four years, he was recognized as a top student and sent to Leningrad, Russia for medical school. Despite knowing no Russian when he arrived, Aron graduated at the top of his class and returned to Poland. There, Aron completed his training as a Surgeon, served his mandatory two years as a physician with the Polish army and settled into civilian life. In 1965, Aron met and married his wife of 51 years, Anastazja. In 1968, Jews were forced to leave Poland. Aron and his wife arrived in Toledo, Ohio as refugees, several months later. In 1974, Aron became an Anesthesiologist and Associate Professor of Medicine at the Medical College of Ohio. He loved being a doctor. He genuinely cared about his patients, and his patients knew and felt it. He was sympathetic and compassionate. His thinking was rigorous and systematic, and his medical knowledge was both broad and deep. He taught many current anesthesiolo
gists, introduced the first pediatric open heart surgeries to Toledo, and was a published researcher. He retired in 1994. In his retirement, Aron built on his skills as a photographer and furniture maker and discovered a talent for drawing and painting. Within a few years, his work was shown in local exhibits. He also made time to speak about the Holocaust in local schools. As Aron so often said, “May we never forget.” He was a member of Congregation B’nai Israel. He will be remembered for his hard work, quick wit and sense of humor, his infinite patience and his love for logic, science, caregiving, and teaching. Aron is survived by his wife, Anastazja, son Eliot Wajskol and daughter-in-law Amy, and his grandchildren, Asher and Piper. He will be missed. The funeral will take place on Friday at 12:00 p.m. at the Beth Shalom Cemetery, followed by a meal of condolence and visitation at the Wajskol home. The family will also be home for visitation on Sunday from 2:004:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Aron’s memory may be made to Hospice of Northwest Ohio or to Congregation B’nai Israel.
 

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