Venice's Anne Frank Playmate Pieter Khonstam Dies at 89

Susan and Pieter Khonstam

Pieter Khonstam, Venice Area Democratic Club member and internationally known life-long fighter for Jewish rights and anti-Semitism, who escaped the horrors of Nazism in the 1930’s passed away peacefully this week at the home he retired to in the Venetian Golf and River Club in North Venice.  Pieter is survived by his wife Susan, and 2 children and thousands that knew and loved him.  

Pieter was very active in Jewish organizations around the world and in the Jewish Congregation of Venice where he was the past president. Armed with a PowerPoint presentation about his life in Amsterdam before and after the Nazis arrived, and his family’s escape through France, Free France, Spain and eventually on a cargo ship to Argentina Pieter made presentations to all who invited him such as the VADC, the Venetian Golf and River Club, the Venice Jewish Congregation, Booker High School and several others.

Pieter was born in Germany, but shortly after his family moved to Amsterdam, where he lived in an apartment building in the southern part of the city.  His best friend, babysitter and playmate was the celebrated Anne Frank who lived upstairs.  There is a park across the street with a statue of Anne in remembrance of where they frequently both used to play as children.

As a child, Anne was a storyteller and writer.  She kept a diary of her thoughts and feelings while encamped in the Annex close quarters.  Later those writings were published by Otto Frank and eventually became one of the best-selling books in the world translated into 37 different languages.  It was reported that Anne died of Typhus in Bergen Belsen prison camp in Germany but that has not been confirmed may not be true.

Pieter’s family journey out of Amsterdam, and through the French and Spanish countryside is filled with days of walking for miles, sleeping in farmers barns and fields, being shot at, dangerous river crossings, being passed through the anti-Nazi underground railroad and always in constant fear of the next person turning them in for a Nazi favor or money.  Luckily his father, who was a well-to-do businessman when they left Amsterdam, got some cash money which his wife sewed into their clothing to use as payments for those wishing to help them escape.  Eventually they did get a cargo ship to take them from Spain to Argentina after a kind sympathetic anti-Nazi Spanish Cardinal granted them travel documents.  Pieter later moved to New York City and became a chemical engineer.

Pieter spent many hours having his father re-tell their early life and escape journey because Pieter only had childhood memories of those times.  From his father’s tales, Pieter wrote a riveting story about those years in his book called “A Chance to be Free”.

A year ago Pieter was diagnosed with brain cancer, was treated, and was recovering nicely.  He could frequently be seen shopping with his wife at Publix.

Pieter was a fascinating intellectual who spoke 4 languages and always had a great sense of humor and many stories to tell.  He will be sorely missed by all of us who knew him and by the causes he represented.