MIDDLETON, Wis. — Bob Auerbach, a 95-year-old pianist and retired geneticist, has faced numerous challenges throughout his life, but continues to inspire with his resilience and generosity.

What You Need To Know

  • Bob Auerbach, a 95-year-old Holocaust survivor and retired UW-Madison geneticist, continues to inspire through his music and philanthropy
  • Auerbach has donated $100,000 two times to the UW Odyssey Project, which helps marginalized students, veterans and inmates succeed in higher education
  • After recovering from a severe bout of pneumonia, Auerbach credits UW Health’s Home-Based Care program for his recovery and ongoing well-being
  • Auerbach regularly performs piano at senior centers and assisted living homes, recently earning AARP’s top volunteer award for his service to seniors

Bob Auerbach, a Holocaust survivor who fled Nazi Germany at the age of 10, has dedicated his life to making the most of his talents, from playing the piano to his commitment to helping marginalized communities.

“I enjoy life and know I’m lucky,” Bob Auerbach said, reflecting on his journey.

Though he shuffles a bit more slowly these days, his mind remains sharp and his hands still glide across the piano keys with ease.

Born in Berlin, Bob Auerbach experienced the horrors of the Holocaust firsthand. From age four to nine, he witnessed unimaginable suffering, but said he refuses to let those dark memories consume him.

“I’m not pining for those days,” he said.

His daughter, Emily Auerbach, credits her father’s ability to move beyond the trauma of the Holocaust as one of the reasons he cares so deeply about the UW Odyssey Project, a program aimed at helping marginalized college students, veterans and inmates. The program, which Emily Auerbach co-founded, has been running for two decades, thanks in part to Bob Auerbach’s contributions.

“I feel I might have become bitter if it had happened to me,” Emily Auerbach said. “But he sees beyond that.”

She explained that her father, who escaped poverty himself, has dedicated his later years to helping others rise above their circumstances. For both his 90th and 95th birthdays, Bob Auerbach donated $100,000 to the UW Odyssey Project.

“I’m planning on one for my 100th,” he said.

Bob Auerbach’s commitment to giving back extends beyond financial support. He frequently performs at assisted living homes and senior centers, bringing joy to fellow seniors through his music. Last year, his volunteer efforts earned him the American Association of Retired Persons’ (AARP) top volunteer award for his service to seniors.

In addition to his musical talents, Bob Auerbach is a testament to resilience. After a recent bout of pneumonia, he received in-home care from UW Health’s Home-Based Care program, a service that has treated 175 patients since last summer. Bob Auerbach credits the team of doctors and nurses who checked in daily with helping him recover.

“They were very good about monitoring everything, explaining what to do with the oxygen,” said Bob Auerbach. “It really did feel like we were in a hospital. It just happened to be in my home, where I had a more comfortable bed and the chance to be more like myself.”

Mandy McGowan, director of UW Health Home-Based Care, said she’s confident Bob Auerbach will reach his centennial milestone, thanks in part to his resilience.

“I’m proud of the fact that we can provide this care, and the fact that patients and families trust us to come into their home,” McGowan said.

Despite all he’s endured, Bob Auerbach continues to play the piano and support those in need.

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