On January 16, 2013 I turned eighty-five years old, being able to spend that day with my immediate family and friends was more than I could wish for. My early life was a road less traveled, one that my children’s generation can never experience. Looking back some would say that my family was stolen from me due to the events that continued after World War II. 

I am of German descent but was born in Poland, this may sound a little confusing, and it is, however you will understand how this came about after reading the pages of my memoir.  I was never a Polish citizen; my parents and my grandparents were all German. I was a German living in Poland, the part of Poland that was invaded and ruled by Germany during WW II. Then later invaded by the Russians who forced the Germans out at the end of WW II. I witnessed such indescribably pain, harm, and suffering inflicted on people of varied nationalities. First, the Germans placed this violent disrespect upon the Jews and Poles and then later, the Russians retaliated.  No single group of people was spared any suffering during WW II. 

To share my story while I am still alive is a unique experience. My story is not one of regret, bitterness or resentment, but rather a story told out of love for my fellow man. I learned at the young age of sixteen, when taken from my mother, that life would be different for me. Different to today’s standard is how I would describe my younger years. It is to that extreme that I want my family, and future generations, to be strengthened by my story. Ironically, my childhood experience is an integral part of what has now become part of my families’ roots!

 I am thankful that I was raised by a loving, gentle, kind mother and a strict, confident, proud father, because together they taught me that whatever life hands out, or what ever hand of cards you are (literally) dealt, you have no choice but to make the most of them. This theory, or belief, will become more apparent to future generations as they read my story. My children were subjected to this attitude first hand whilst growing up, yet knowing one’s roots as generations evolve can become the necessary equipment to instill courage when traveling any road, under whatever circumstance.

Some of my journey may horrify you and other parts you will find difficult to believe, but when you read of my love for family, you will know in my heart that I do not regret the early part of my life in the least, the latter part has made it all worth living, like the cherished reunions I had years ago with lost family members. Those experiences have made up for the multiple decades of years not having them in my life. 

Life is not easy getting old. It’s especially hard not having the loved ones who have passed before me.  I miss my wife, Barbara, immensely. She passed away in January 2010, I feel lost without her and I want to join her. That first year she was gone I continued to live in our home in Belleview, FL., with our son Michael. I experienced loneliness far beyond the tortures of labor camps. Nothing can ever replace her.

In January 2011, I ended up in ICU for a week with congestion heart failure, pneumonia and atrial fibrillation. I was hallucinating and had wandered outside at 3 a.m., it was wintertime—no shoes and jacket—but I was trying to help the Germans who were outside. Life comes back at you in the weirdest ways. My son, Michael, came to my rescue; he had no idea what was going on with his dad. Infections, like pneumonia, can play tricks on your mind. After being checked out of the hospital, I was released to a skilled nursing facility.  My daughter, Heidi, wanted me to be closer to her and her husband, Mike.

I moved into a retirement community called, Stratford Court, in Palm Harbor, Florida.  After daily rehab to help me walk again, I used a walker to safely get around. After spending my eighty-third birthday in the skilled nursing section, I was released to a new apartment in the Independent Living section.  My conditions further declined in late 2012 and I was diagonised with Lewy Body Dementia.  Little did I know the rollar coast medical ride ahead of me.   My daughter help me get placed in an Assisted Living Facility on January 1, 2013. In May 2013, I ended up in Nursing Facility at Manor Care Palm Harbor.  By this time, I was no longer using a walker but mostly confined to a wheel chair.   

When you read my life story you will understand how obsessed I became with food, I would take it, steal it, or cook it in the camps. It was my comfort. A man will do anything if he is hungry, today I’m not hungry—I just don’t like the food at any facility I have been.  I made some new friends playing poker, another obsession of mine, but when your poker-playing buddies pass away, playing cards is not much fun anymore.  As much as I may be ready, and want to go, I’m writing my story as a parting gift to a family whose love I cherish, and if the days turn into weeks, or months, I will remind myself of the philosophy I have always lived by:

                           Make the best of whatever life throws at you!



*Written by Samantha Elphick as told to her by Richard Thoricht 

1928 - Born January 16, 1928 in Lodz Poland son of Otto and Anna (Generowicz) Thoricht

1928-1944 – Went to school in Poland and was taught to speak German, Russian and Polish.  His father was a bicycle racer and often would ride 50 kilometers with him.  Active in various sports including ice hockey, volleyball, table tennis and soccer.  At age of 13, went to engineering school to learn machinery.  The Germans invaded Lodz Poland during World War II and took over the city. 

1944-1947 – Towards the end of World War II, the Russians pushed the Germans out of Poland and killed German soldiers.  His father was killed within the first week of the invasion.  Russian soldiers invaded the house where he lived with his mom.  During this time, Richard had to report to police station every morning to get work assignments which usually involved digging graves and shoveling remains of German soldiers into these graves.  One morning he was ordered to go to sports stadium with 2,000 other people.  After two weeks in stadium, he was transported by train to Russia where he worked in civilian labor camps.  He worked repairing coal mines in Stalino and lived with same shirt and barely eating for two years.  Luckily his ability to speak Russian helped him sell food on the black market that he stole from the kitchen.  He then was transferred to camp in Odessa near the Black Sea.  Here he was forced to dig clay to build bricks.  Eventually the civilian laborers were released to the Red Cross. 

1948 – Upon release from Russian camps, he was sent back to Poland.  His mother had left Poland and was now in East Germany with his sister Jenny in Dresdan.  He had to stay in Poland until he got papers that enabled him to move to West Germany to live with his Aunt Amaile Bertrandt in Backnang. While living in West Germany, he first worked for company called Kaelble and then with company Karcher for seven years.  

1955 – Traveled to East Germany to see his mother Anna and sister Jenny.  His mom died shortly after of cancer.  His correspondence with his sister ended after their mother’s death. 

1957 – Married first wife Evelyn and through the coaching of Aunt Amaile decided to catch the last boat to United States as part of the Truman Displaced Persons Act.  Did not speak English at this time and only had $50 to his name.  Upon arriving to the states, he was sponsored for a year by the Geiger Church of the Brethren in Somerset PA that helped him find a job and invited them to dinners with every Sunday with various church members.  He learned to speak English by watching TV.  He worked for Koval Tool and Die in Somerset PA. 

1959 – Richard’s first son Adrian was born to him and his first wife Evelyn on January 15, 1959.

1960 – Richard and first wife Evelyn divorced.  She later remarried and took Adrian with her to Australia.

1963 – Married second wife Barbara Emert on July 20, 1963.  Met her at grocery store in Somerset where she was working as cashier. He would always get ice cream and she would have to double bag it.  He cooked her duck (which was very greasy) for their first date.  Later in 1963, moved to Roserville PA and started working for Mack Trucks in Hagerstown MD.

1964 – First daughter Heidi was born on March 18, 1964.

1965 – Their second daughter Karen was born on January 21, 1965.

1966 – Bought first house in Greencastle PA.  Was very active in sports including bowling, golf and swimming.  Enjoyed playing cards and watching NFL football on Sundays. Worked the night shift (4- midnight) and would take any overtime he could get.  Usually worked Saturdays and Sunday was only day with family.  Family vacations were usually trips to the New Jersey Beach. 

1969 – Became United States citizen on June 26, 1969. 

1970 – Second son Michael was born on October 9, 1970.

1980-1987 – Supported wife Barbara and daughters Heidi and Karen all going to college at the same time.  During this timeframe, he took over cooking the family meals.  His wife Barbara started work as an Accountant for various Credit Unions. 

1984 – Went on 3 week vacation to Europe with wife Barbara and her parents Annabelle and Ralph Emert. 

1992 – Retired from Mack Trucks after 28 years and moved to sunny Florida with his wife Barbara to Belleview FL.

1998 - Reunited with son Adrian and his family after not seeing him since the age of two, which was almost no contact for 38 years.  Adrian and his wife Lourdes and their children Adam & Jazmine came to visit Richard in FL.  Richard, Barbara and Heidi later went to Catalina Island CA to visit Adrian and his family there.

1999 – Reunited with his sister Jenny in Dresden Germany after 43 years without correspondence.  Met Jenny’s son Jurgen and wife Renate and their children.   Celebrated her 75th birthday together in Germany.

2001 – Richard's sister Jenny comes to visit him and Barbara in the United States for three weeks.  This also included a trip up to PA with his sister

2005 – all Richard’s US family members together for Thanksgiving at daughter Heidi’s house.

2010 - a very sad year.  Richard’s sister Jenny and wife Barbara died within a week of each other.  Richard was in the hospital at the same time his wife is and ends up getting stent in heart and neck arteries cleared. 

2011 - In January 2011, Richard ended up in ICU for a week with congestion heart failure, pneumonia and atrial fibrillation. He was hallucinating and had wandered outside at 3 a.m., it was wintertime—no shoes and jacket—but he was trying to help the Germans who were outside. Life comes back at you in the weirdest ways. His son, Michael, came to his rescue; though he had no idea what was going on with his dad. Infections, like pneumonia, can play tricks on your mind. After being checked out of the hospital, he was released to a skilled nursing facility.  His daughter, Heidi, wanted him to be closer to her and her husband, Mike.  Moved into an independent living apartment at Stratford Court.  Had fun playing Saturday night poker games and eating dinner with friends.  All his children and their family were together for Thanksgiving 2011.

2012 – Fell and lay on floor for 11 hours because he was not wearing alert bracelet.   Spent 6 weeks in rehab/skilled nursing in order to recover.  At the end of the year, started having more hallucinations and further decline of physical capabilities. This was at the point where it was determined that he had Lewy Body Disease. 

2013 – Moved to Safety Harbor Assisted Living facility.  By April, was in the need of nursing level of care and moved to Manor Care in Palm Harbor.  Son Adrian and his wife Lourdes that came to visit for my 85th birthday in January.  Daughter Karen and her boyfriend Butch in addition to grandson Derek visited in March.  Grand-daughter Jazmine and her boyfriend Brandon also visited in April.  Ongoing medical battles continued to further physical decline. He was moved to Hospice after a battling pnuemonia until he passed away on December 23 2013.  

Richard Leszek Thoricht 85 of Belleview Florida died December 23, 2013 at Suncoast Hospice House Brookside in Palm Harbor Florida. Born January 16, 1928 in Lodz Poland son of Otto and Anna (Generowicz) Thoricht. Preceded in death by parents, sister Eugenia (Thoricht) Schroder and loving wife Barbara (Emert) Thoricht whom he had been married to for 47 years.  Survived by his children Adrian Thoricht and wife Lourdes of Catalina Island CA, Heidi Thoricht-Miller and husband Michael of Dunedin FL; Karen Lentz of Gettysburg PA; son Michael Thoricht of Belleview FL; grandchildren Adam Thoricht and wife Casey, Jazmine Thoricht, Derek Lentz; step-grandchildren Meghan Miller, Melissa Moran and husband Brian; great-grandchild Brynn Thoricht; and step-great-grandchildren Kylie Clamon and Jackson Moran.