Dr. Erwin and Edie Koranyi fonds

Dr. Erwin and Edie Koranyi fonds 

Erwin Koranyi was born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1924. He had one sister, Marta Koranyi. Before Erwin's birth his father changed the family name from Kohn to Koranyi in order to get a business license. Erwin Koranyi was one of the estimated 100,000 Jews saved during the Holocaust by Swedish diplomat Raul Wallenberg. Wallenberg issued a very formidable looking protective passport or “Schutz-Pass” that declared the holder to be under the protection of the Swedish government. Erwin was able to receive passports for his entire family, including his then wife Lici (Alice) Breur and her brother. As “Swedes” they were allowed more freedoms than Hungarian Jews and were not required to wear the yellow star. Wallenberg was able to help Erwin and Lici a second time six months later when they had been caught in a roundup, destined to be shot on the banks of the Danube River. Wallenberg arrived with the police commissioner where hundreds of Jews were waiting and was able to secure everyone’s release. After the wat Erwin and Lici Breur were divorced and she remained in Stockholm, Sweden. Erwin moved to Ottawa, Canada, became a physician and psychiatrist and remarried to Edie Rosenbaum, who was also a holocaust survivor who originated from Budapest. Edie was a former art dealer well known for her philanthropic works. Erwin Koranyi passed away on June 11, 2012, a year after a he was recorded in a final video interview with Laurie Dougherty, past Archivist of the Ottawa Jewish Archives. 

Dr. Erwin and Edie Koranyi fonds