On September 22, 2026, I arrived at 28 Landshuter Straße in Berlin-Schöneberg shortly before 1 p.m. At first, I thought I was there to take a few photos of the laying of Stolpersteine commemorating some distant relatives. But my cousin Robert Risch quickly set me straight: “No, no—not distant relatives. We’re talking about our great-grandparents!” “Direct line,” added Mike Rockelmann, head of the Peter A. Silbermann School, nodding and smiling.

Two Stolpersteine were laid by Mr. Münkel in front of the former home of Peter Adalbert and Eva Felicie Silbermann. My aunt Katrin Risch, a granddaughter of the two, and Mike Rockelmann spoke about the lives and work of Peter Adalbert Silbermann and my great-grandmother, Eva Felicie Silbermann.

The ceremony made me realize just how remarkable my great-grandparents’ lives were. In 1927, P. A. Silbermann founded Germany’s first evening high school and dedicated his life to education. Eva was a lawyer, pursuing a professional path that was groundbreaking for a woman of her time.

After the Nazis came to power, both lost their professional and civil rights. They were forced to leave Germany and eventually emigrated to the United States in 1937. There, they began an entirely new life. P. A. died in Los Angeles as early as 1944. Eva, however, built a new professional life for herself there and became a psychotherapist.

The memorial ceremony was accompanied by Mia Kleinen on the cello. She performed works by August Nölck, Johann Sebastian Bach, and Gabriel Fauré.

Although I’m not particularly fond of having my picture taken, I instinctively knew that this time I shouldn’t try to avoid it. So I handed my camera to my cousin and asked him to take a few photos of me (the fourth-to-last photo). Looking back, though, I have to admit: Maybe I didn’t need to look quite so serious. 😊