Palm Desert Holocaust Survivor Honored In Sacramento

A Holocaust survivor who lives in Palm Desert was honored today in Sacramento at a special legislative session marking California Holocause Memorial Week.

Michael Resmo was honored by Assemblymen Brian Nestande, R-Palm Desert, and V. Manuel Perez, D-Coachella, who connected with him through the Tolerance Education Center in Rancho Mirage.

La Quinta High School student Colby Tarsitano interviewed Resmo for the California Holocaust Memorial Week project, which encourages students to record the stories of Holocaust survivors and liberators, according to Nestande’s office. The interviews were compiled into a video and shown in the Assembly today.

Resmo was born in 1928 in Kolozsvar, Transylvania. He and his family were imprisoned by the Hungarian Iron Guard in June 1943, when Resmo was 14. Resmo was forced to tunnel into the Alps, blasting holes and carrying out rocks. He lost his mother, father and five sisters to the gas chambers at Auschwitz.

Resmo and his wife Barbara have three children and two grandchildren.

“I would like to commend Mr. Resmo for his bravery and courage to share his experiences with us, so that we may learn from and remember the Holocaust,” Nestande said.

“Mr. Mike Resmo’s story is one that should not be forgotten,” Perez said. “I am very pleased that our two offices could work together with … Colby Tarsitano to ensure Mike’s story is shared with future generations.”