Legends of Michiana: Kurt Simon
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About
Kurt Simon: A Life of Serive is a touching documentary tracing Kurt Simon’s journey from immigrant youth to successful leader, highlighting resilience, generosity, and South Bend’s historic spirit.
In 1930, a 16-year-old boy set foot for the first time in South Bend. Kurt Simon arrived from Germany with his uncle Charles to a city that was in the midst of the Depression. Studebaker, the main employer in the area, was downsizing and laying off workers. It cut back its main stream automotive lines, relying on a low-cost vehicle called the Rockne to help boost sales. A polio epidemic was gripping South Bend as well. The trolley car was an important mode of transportation and the Oliver Hotel was the place to stay when coming to South Bend.
It is against this backdrop that WNIT proudly presents its newest documentary, Kurt Simon: A Life of Service. The story is told by Simon himself, from humble beginnings to attending South Bend Central High School and graduating from the University of Notre Dame. It features the time he met his wife Tessye and, through hard work and dedication, became the CEO of one of the largest wholesale foods and industrial supplies distributors in our area.
Throughout the documentary we’ll meet community members who have been touched by Simon’s generosity and friendship. Additionally, through the courtesy of the Center for History’s archiveal photography department, viewers will see South Bend in the 1930s – a charming city with a bustling downtown still thriving even in the midst of the Depression.
Some of the programs that have been established by Simon’s generosity include The Kurt and Tessye Simon Foundation, which he started with his late wife, Tessye. The Foundation has given millions of dollars towards educational causes, especially advancing the causes of Jewish studies, particularly studies that help educate the community about the Holocaust. Kurt Simon also helped revitalize the downtown by providing money for the Jewish Community Center.
Schedule
- September 20th, 2012 @ 10pm
- September 24th, 2012 @ 11:30pm
- September 30th, 2012 @ 6:30pm