Once upon a time, circa 2008, I was lucky to be invited by a friend to visit her in Paris.  My stay there coincided with the visit of one of those rare individuals who –in his unassuming way- was a giant of his era. He made an incredible contribution to mankind and is known as the British Schindler.

Sir Nicholas Winton, “Nicky” to his friends, was in France for a special program on anti-Semitism.  He hailed from Maidenhead (UK), was a lover of gardens, a gentle, kind, no-nonsense man who stressed that he was not a diplomat.

His story is one for the ages. In 1939, as an English stockbroker, Sir Nicholas Winton  spent some time in Prague and he became a “living angel” by rescuing 669 Czech children from their doomed fate in the Nazi death camps. Most of the saved children never saw their parents again. These unfortunate souls perished in the German Nazi concentration camps.

Nicholas Winton’s feat was unrecognized for more than 50 years, and most of the children he saved were totally unaware who their savior had been.  His story came to light when his wife Greta, rummaging through their attic, found an old leather briefcase that contained lists of the children and letters from their parents.  

Sir Nicholas’ perspicacity made him aware that something was terribly wrong. Unlike so many others, he was courageous enough to do something to right what was so terribly wrong at the time.  Because he was born of Jewish parents who later converted to Christianity, he was not recognized as one of the Righteous Gentiles at Yad Vashem.

The impact of Sir Nicholas’ remarkable achievement was so striking that there has even been a movie made of him, One Life, with Anthony Hopkins playing him. There also is a children’s book written and illustrated by Peter Sís called Nicky & Vera: A Quiet Hero of the Holocaust and the Children He Rescued. Below are 3 videos that tell his poignant story better than me.

I had the privilege, honor, and great fortune to meet a living legend, who lived to be 106 years and died in 2015.  I spent a few times with Sir Nicholas and heard the harrowing experiences from the man himself. He had a sparkle in his eye and a most beautiful smile. I think of him often, and how it is so true that one person can make an enormous difference.

Sir Nicholas Winton never thought what he did was outstanding. It was just the right thing to do.