Mark Schonwetter was born in Brzostek, Poland to farm owners, Israel & Sala Schonwetter. When Germany invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, Mark was a 5 ½ year old boy living happily and comfortably with his younger sister, Zosia on the farm his parents owned. Until one day when the Gestapo came into their town and forced them to find someplace else to live. Israel, being the head of the Jewish community was regularly taken to the police station and questioned about the Jews and community. One night in the spring of 1942 he did not return home. That night changed their lives forever. Knowing that the Gestapo would be looking for them next, Sala, Mark and his younger sister escaped their hometown and walked 15 miles in the middle of the night to a ghetto where they thought they would be safer. After spending 3 months in the Dembica Ghetto, they escaped with the help from a Polish friend, Antonio Pilat. For the next three years, Sala, Mark & Zosia survived the Holocaust hiding in the attics, barns or in the ground below a pig stye of kind Polish people during the winters and in a forest during the warm weather months. During the fall of 1944 they were no longer “safe” to hide in the forest because the war was actively in that part of the country, and it was too dangerous with the artillery and fighting. They ended up joining other Polish people that were escaping the front lines and took on false identities to live as refugees for about 5 months until they were liberated by the Russian army in February 1945. After the war, Mark, along with his mother and sister, stayed in Poland and lived under the Communist Regime until 1957 at which time they had an opportunity to leave and emigrate to Israel.
Making a living in Israel was difficult, so after 4 years Mark reached out to his family in America and was sponsored to come to the United States. Not knowing a word of English and having only $5.00 in his pocket he boarded a ship and made his way across the ocean to start a new life for himself. With the help of family, he obtained work at a jewelry factory sweeping floors. Working hard he went to school to learn English and started to learn the trade of the company. Within 5 years he rose to become the factory manager and in 1971, Mark had the opportunity to purchase a wedding ring manufacturing company of his own.
Over the next 40 years Mark grew that manufacturing company, Lieberfarb, Inc. into a successful nationally branded wedding ring and bridal brand. Now in retirement, Mark has dedicated his time to speaking with students and adults about his life’s journey.
Mark has always lived by the saying “Live every day with love not hatred and you will accomplish so much more in life.” When you meet Mark even though he is small in stature his huge smile and love for life shines through. Married to his beautiful wife, Luba, for over 55 years and having 2 daughters, Ann and Isabella, he can say he has lived the American Dream!
In January of 2025, Mark was chosen as a Shine A Light on Antisemitism Civic Courage Award Recipient in the category for Outstanding Influencer In Action Against Antisemitism. He is honored that his story can inspire the next generation to choose kindness over hate.
Most recently Ann, along with her sister Isabella Fiske, created the foundation in honor of their father. She is also the CFO of H. Arnold Wood Turning, Inc. a premier supplier of wood products, and a current board member of BIG (Buyers Intelligence Group), which provides comprehensive, scalable, industry solutions that deliver dramatically improved performance to jewelry retailers and manufacturers, and a current board member of Day’s Jewelers, a leading jewelry retailers in Maine and New Hampshire.
After graduating from Lehigh and earning her CPA working at Deloitte, she ran Lieberfarb, a leading U.S.-based designer and manufacturer of bridal jewelry, for over 20 years, where she most recently served as CEO. As a 27-year industry veteran, Ann then founded the Arnold Advisory Group.
She is proud of her accomplishments in and service to the jewelry industry. Some of these include Past Chair of the Jewelers Board of Trade (JBT), Former president of the National Board of Directors of the Women’s Jewelry Association and the WJA Foundation, Past Chair of the Manufacturers Jewelers and Suppliers of America (MJSA), and Past Board Member and Treasurer of the 24 Karat Club of New York. She is also the recipient of the distinguished WJA Award for Excellence in Manufacturing, and along with her father, Mark Schonwetter, she has won two Platinum Innovation Awards for Design.
Her board works continue outside the jewelry industry as well. She is the current Treasurer of the Triple Negative Breast Cancer Foundation as well as a past board member of Mr. T’s Carting, a family-owned and operated private waste management company.
One of her greatest accomplishments has been publishing, Together-A Journey for Survival. In September of 2016, she was awarded the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Heroes for Tolerance Award. She speaks to people of all ages all over the country and has written a lesson plan to accompany the book, which is now being used in many schools.
Isabella Fiske is a woman that wears many different hats depending on the time of day. A mother of two boys, Isabella finds a balance between her family, career, and volunteer work.
Raised in the jewelry industry, Isabella Fiske’s family owned and operated Lieberfarb, Inc., a wedding and engagement ring manufacturer. After graduating college Isabella joined the business in the mid 1990’s, as Vice President of Marketing and Design. With Isabella’s assistance Lieberfarb was transformed from a simple wedding ring company into a nationally branded, full service bridal company. In 2002, she along with her sister, were honored with the Women’s Jewelry Association “Manufacturer of the Year” Award.
In 2016, Isabella started her own business, ISF Jewels. Leaving the manufacturing side of the industry she joined the retail sector by becoming a personal jeweler custom designing jewelry for her clients.
Most recently, in August of 2019, Isabella & Ann started the foundation in honor of their father, Mark Schonwetter. Being the daughters of a Holocaust survivor, they have made it their mission to promote awareness, kindness, and respect through Holocaust education. Since 2015 she has been traveling to schools to speak with students about her father’s survival.
In September of 2021, Isabella was awarded with the Simon Wiesenthal Center’s Heroes for Tolerance Award. Isabella sits on various Boards consisting of past co-chair and current member of the Holocaust Council of Jewish Federation of Greater MetroWest NJ as well as board member of Woman’s Philanthropy of JFedGMW.
We are a registered 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization. EIN: 84-2332632.
Holly Ash
Michael Ash
Sari Bochner
Sari Bochner is a Licensed Social Worker who, for the first 3 years of her career, worked at Selfhelp Community Services on their Holocaust Survivor Program. She worked with over 60 survivors, hearing their stories, providing supportive counseling, and helping them with their home care and financial needs. She has recently left that role and is now working at the Metropolitan Council of Jewish Poverty on their Family Violence Program, and is an Associate Therapist at Manhattan Wellness.
Sari is extremely passionate about working with survivors and making sure that we are continuing to educate individuals on the Holocaust. She is honored to be joining the Board of Trustees.
Peggy Edelson
Andrea Gershwin
Mary Houghtaling
Claudia Oshry
Andrew Wayne
