Carrying My Father's Torch: From Holocaust Trauma to Transformation

Written by Gail Weiss Gaspar

Narrated by Gail Weiss Gaspar

Finding your place in a family tree that has only one branch, the other shorn by the Holocaust, is a tricky business. Gail Weiss Gaspar grew up believing that her worth was tied to busyness and productivity, with achievement and education prized above all other accomplishments. Keenly aware that her beloved father survived Auschwitz and the brutal environment of the Mauthausen labor camp, she silenced her suffering because nothing could match what he endured.

Gail’s family had secrets, as all families do. It became her job to be the family’s secret keeper. It wasn’t until her 63-year-old father stood on stage at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and told his story that Gail understood that her voice mattered, too. This moving memoir honors the past while unshackling from it and highlights a generational journey through loss with tenderness and love.

If you have ever said to yourself, “How could I possibly break free from my family’s past?” this book is for you. When you read Carrying my Father’s Torch, you will be inspired to consider how your family legacy has impacted your life, find the courage to overcome your legacy wound and become the hero of your own story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Oceanwalk Press
• Release date: May 6, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664926073

Gail Weiss Gaspar

Gail Weiss Gaspar, MA, ACC, is a certified coach, an executive career strategist and the author of Carrying my Father's Torch. She has a B.A. in Psychology from Ithaca College, an M.A. in Education/Human Resource Development from The George Washington University, and Professional Certifications from both The Coaches Training Institute (CTI) and International Coach Federation (ICF). Gail's signature coaching program, Leading True, has guided hundreds of clients around the globe to move beyond perception of limitations and decision paralysis and become bolder leaders in their career and life. She chaired the Bearing Witness Program which introduced Holocaust education into U.S. Catholic schools with the Anti-Defamation League, and has been a supporter of education and development outreach for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Gail enjoys hiking, biking and running outdoors, and continues the family tradition of cooking. She lives with her husband and labradoodle near Washington, D.C. In addition to offering private coaching, courses and speaking, Gail writes a blog and newsletter which provide tips and inspirational stories for those who want to be successful on their own terms without sacrificing a fulfilling life. Learn more at www.gailgaspar.com.