A Generational Story

Two generations of the Pozmantier family have long been part of the Houston community. Irving and Paula Pozmantier, and Irving's son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Janet Pozmantier, have contributed to this city professionally, and as community volunteers and philanthropists. The nine grandchildren of the Pozmantier family's third generation (and the emerging fourth generation!) have had strong role models and are following in their parents' and grandparents' footsteps.

Irving Pozmantier was born in Galveston, Texas in 1930 to parents who had emigrated from Poland and Russia. He was raised Orthodox in the small island community with only two synagogues. Irving and his late wife, Sidney (z"l), moved to Houston in 1956 to work in her family's insurance business, with Jeff joining the firm in 1980. Paula and Irving married in 2003. Paula is a native Houstonian, as were her parents (founding members of Congregation Emanu El) and grandparents.

Irving was on the inaugural Board of the Holocaust Museum Houston and has contributed to the Museum's well-being over the past 25 years. He has served on the boards of many organizations and is a Past President of the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston and Congregation Beth Yeshurun. For his lifetime of service to the Jewish community and beyond, he has been honored with numerous awards.

Irving and Paula Pozmantier have their joint community commitments as well as their personal interests. Paula supports the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston and the Emery Weiner School as they have had grandchildren graduate from there and have one remaining grandchild in attendance. Their granddaughter, Mia Cotta, was enrolled in the Museum's "Engines of Change" program, which had a big influence on her personal outlook.

Jeff and Janet Pozmantier are native Houstonians. Jeff was born in Houston in 1958 to Irving and his late wife, Sidney. Janet was born in 1957 to Anita and the late Robert Rothschild. Janet's parents and their respective families immigrated from Germany to America in 1938 to escape Hitler. Her father subsequently served as a sergeant in the United States Army during World War II and was sent to Germany to interrogate Nazis. Janet's mother, Anita, is an active 96-year-old and a Holocaust survivor.

Jeff and Janet have two daughters, Amy Eberly and her husband, Joe, and Jenni Muskin and her husband, Zach. Amy and Jenni are following in their parents' and grandparents' footsteps through their involvement in education and social justice initiatives. Janet and Jeff love seeing how Irving, Sidney, Anita and Robert's legacies live on through their daughters and their families: "We're very proud of our daughters — they have beautiful, caring hearts."

Irving and Paula, Jeff and Janet — two generations of the Pozmantier family, each with their own philanthropic commitments. The two generations came together to create an endowment for Holocaust Museum Houston when Janet and Jeff approached Irving and Paula with their idea, which Irving and Paula enthusiastically embraced. According to Irving, Janet gets the credit for conceptualizing the family endowment. She was motivated to make a gift to the Museum in remembrance of her parents' Holocaust experience and to fulfill the traditional Jewish value of tikkun olam.

The Pozmantiers strongly believe, "Now more than ever, it is essential for young people to develop critical thinking skills grounded in compassion, kindness, justice and truth." The Rothschild-Pozmantier Endowment Fund at the Museum will support education, evaluation and advocacy related to programming for youth. Through the endowment, the Pozmantiers hope future generations will be empowered to dismantle antisemitism, racism, prejudice and hate.

Holocaust Museum Houston encourages generational involvement, from volunteering to serving as Board members. The Museum teaches families about Holocaust history and human rights and also demonstrates the importance of giving back. The Pozmantiers hope sharing their story of involvement with the Museum will encourage others to consider leaving a family legacy.

You too can create a legacy that stands for compassion, kindness and truth through a future gift for the Museum. Contact Colton Larsen at clarsen@hmh.org or 713-527-1612 to learn more.