Ira Segalewitz was born in Poland a few years before World War II started. The area he lived in came under Russian occupation at the start of the war. When Nazis began their attack on Russia, he and his mother escaped into the Ural Mountains, where they survived the Holocaust in a work camp.
After the war, they returned to a devastated Poland and learned that most of their family was murdered by the Nazis. They spent 5 years in a Displaced Persons (DP) camp in Austria and in 1951 came to America.
After serving in the Army in Korea, Ira attained a degree in electronics.
He retired from ITT where he was responsible for communication and education projects through out the world. His last position was as President of ITT Job Training Services in NJ.
Ira moved to the Dayton area in 2000 and has become active member of the community.
He is a docent at the National Air Force Museum, where he recounts the story of his survival to busloads of students who come to see the Holocaust exhibit. He also speaks at schools, colleges and various organizations.
Ira is a member of a number of organizations and a Director on the Board of Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton and Temple Beth Or in Dayton. He also lectures on Yiddish culture and language.