UPPER WEST SIDE — Mayor de Blasio co-named 84 Street and Central Park West “Elie Wiesel Way” on Tuesday to memorialize the Holocaust survivor and renowned author.
Wiesel, a Nobel Peace Prize winner and author of Night who penned his experiences as a survivor of a Nazi death camp, died last summer at the age of 87 in his Manhattan home.
During his life, the literary activist denounced war crimes and genocide across the world and was recognized for his humanitarian work.
“Elie Wiesel endured one of the darkest periods in history,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a press release. “His indelible faith in humanity is an everlasting example of courage and tolerance. His words serve as a beacon of hope against fear and oppression in uncertain times.”
Wiesel is survived by his son, Elisha, and wife Marion, who attended the ceremony.
Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer said Wiesel united communities with peace.
“Elie Wiesel faced some of the darkest horrors of humanity’s history, and he spent the rest of his life lighting the world with his teaching, his words, and his work,” said Brewer in a press release.
For six years, Wiesel taught Judaic studies at CUNY’s City College. Wiesel is a founding board member of the New York Human Rights Foundation.
“He preached tolerance of religious minorities, and knew first-hand the experience of being a refugee, and the vulnerability of living in this country without citizenship,” said Council Member Mark Levine of District 7 in Manhattan. “Mr. Wiesel’s ties to New York City were deep. His family made their home on the Upper West Side for many years, raising their children there and attending a local synagogue.
Levine added, “Generations to come will remember the man who made ‘never again’ among the most important words uttered in the past century.”
