special thanks

First and foremost, this project never would have begun without the enormous support of “Dame” Professor Maggie Patterson, my primary advisor and teacher who read my initial draft in her class and saw the beginning of something much bigger. Her knowledge is fascinating and endless. Her leadership talked me off a few ledges and I always looked forward to learning from her thorough editing. She also introduced me to Dr. Marie Baird from Duquesne’s Theology department who became instrumental with her vast experience on the Holocaust and rescuers. I muttered to myself all along, “the Holocaust is not something that you screw up,” so having access to her experience was priceless. On the other end of the (audio) spectrum, but equally as important was Professor Don Maue. He opened me to so many new technical worlds, such as the specificities of audio and frame rates. Every class interaction or office hours became an invaluable learning experience.

It was always important for me to get “off the Bluff” of Duquesne to see what was happening in “the real world.” With the pandemic, that was increasingly difficult, but Nick Haberman from Shaler Area High School and the founder of the LIGHT Education Initiative, never hesitated to set up an in-person or online meeting. This project would not have made the arc into the new Holocaust education without his generosity.

The treasures that I collected from meeting Ivo Faltoni in 2016 never would have come to life without Lino Amatengelo’s Italian translation. I was given a tiny budget for his work, and he produced 5x the effort. It was also a pleasure to meet with this “voice” who lived through WWII and grew up during the era of Gino Bartali in Italy.

So many of the faculty in the Duquese Media department helped guide me as well. Special mention to Dr. Mike Dillon (also an excellent guide off the ledge) and Dr. Bill Gibbs who responded to my initial inquiry about this graduate program and saw more in myself than I did and encouraged me to keep going.

To all the other graduate students I met along the way, you were little butterfly wings that created the breeze that carried me along. Vivian, you literally jumped out of your chair and walked over to explain what a keyframe was. Ollie, your smile and openness has been a treasure.

Thank you to all the faculty who ever put up with me in one of their classes. You continuously ripped me out of my comfort zone and put me back together stronger and a little smarter. Thank you for choosing to become a teacher and changing our lives.

I never would have gotten to Perugia without the scholarship from the Seattle-Perugia Sister City Association and I never would have met Ivo without their long-standing friendship with Daniella at the Perugia Mayor’s office. But I never, literally, would have gotten to Perugia without a caravan full of Italians driving me there from Lake Como via L’Eroica as if they were simply dropping me off at the university. It takes an Italian village.

And to my parents the lifelong teachers who supported my time in graduate school because they always believe in the value of education and always encourage my writing.