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Drake series to feature Holocaust survivor

MEIDA CONTACT: Aimee Beckmann-Collier, 515-271-2841, aimee.beckmann-collier@drake.edu; Tory Olson, 515-271-1834, tory.olson@drake.edu


Des Moines resident Peter Pintus, a survivor of the Holocaust, will speak at Drake University on Tuesday, March 3, about his experiences in a Nazi concentration camp and his perspective 60 years later. 

The talk is free and open to the public and will begin at 5:15 p.m. in Sheslow Auditorium in Old Main, 2507 University Ave. 

His presentation is part of a series of events on the Holocaust and related topics that will culminate with a performance of a Holocaust memorial oratorio — “To Be Certain of the Dawn” — by Drake musicians later this spring. 
Pintus is a para-rabbinical fellow and assistant to the Rabbi at Temple B’nai Jeshurun of Des Moines. He also is a chaplain emeritus after serving Iowa Health System for 22 years. In addition, he mediates at the small claims court of the Iowa 5th Judicial District. Pintus was born in Berlin, Germany, and came to the United States in 1951 and has lived in Des Moines since 1964. He has been married for 60 years to his wife, Eva, and they have five children, 10 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. 



Drake’s Holocaust series will continue with the following public events, which are free unless otherwise indicated:
  • Friday, April 17 — Michael Dennis Browne, the Morse-alumni distinguished teaching professor of English at the University of Minnesota, renowned poet and librettist of “To Be Certain of the Dawn,” will speak about his experiences in interfaith dialogue during the six years in which he and Stephen Paulus worked on the oratorio, as well as what he has learned since the premiere of the piece. His presentation, titled “A Different Kind of Belonging: Listening to the Voices of Interfaith,” noon, St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Student Center, 1150 28th St.
  • Sunday, April 19 — Michael Dennis Browne, librettist, and Stephen Paulus, composer of “To Be Certain of the Dawn,” will discuss the work in a pre-concert talk, 2 p.m., East Lobby of the Civic Center of Greater Des Moines, 221 Walnut St.
  • Sunday, April 19 — Performance of “To Be Certain of the Dawn” by four Drake choruses, a faculty/student orchestra, members of the Heartland Youth Chorus and soloists, 3 p.m., Civic Center of Greater Des Moines. Tickets, available at the Drake Fine Arts and Civic Center box offices, are $15 for adults, $7 for students.
For more information on the series, contact Beckmann-Collier at 515-271-2841 or aimee.beckmann-collier@drake.edu.