Jean Hoff­mann Lewan­da was born in 1954, one year after her par­ents, Paul and Shirley Hoff­mann, arrived in the Unit­ed States from Shang­hai, Chi­na. Jean spent her pro­fes­sion­al career as a spe­cial edu­ca­tor, but always main­tained a deep-seat­ed inter­est in her fam­i­ly back­ground. It is with enthu­si­asm and com­mit­ment that Jean now research­es and shares the strength and deter­mi­na­tion that enabled her loved ones to find a path to freedom.