Simon Gronowski

Simon Gronowski (born October 12, 1931) is a doctor of law, lawyer, jazz pianist, Holocaust survivor and author of the autobiography "L'Enfant du XXe Convoi" (The Child of the 20th Convoy). He served as president of the "Association of the Jewish Deportees in Belgium. Daughters and Sons of the Deportation". His escape as a boy from a train bound for Auschwitz inspired an opera. His memoir was recounted in a children’s picture book, "Simon, le petit évadé".

He survived the Holocaust by escaping deportation in the attack on the twentieth convoy, on 19 April 1943, which would have taken him to Auschwitz. The train they were on was uniquely stopped by three members of the resistance (Youra Livchitz, Jean Franklemon and Robert Maistriau) who had rigged up a red danger light to stop the train. The three were cleared away by gun shots and the train continued on its way. The people in his wagon managed to open the door and as the train slowed again, his mother helped him to jump from the train.

In April 2020, at the height of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, he began brightening lives by playing jazz tunes from his apartment window.

Honours Honorary Doctorate at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (2020) Ereteken van de Vlaamse Gemeenschap (2025) Grand Officer in the Order of the Crown (2025)