Julian Eisen (1923-2011) was a Czech-Jewish Holocaust survivor born in Velke Mezirici, Czechoslovakia. At age 19 in 1942, he was deported to Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, where he endured forced labor, starvation, and constant threat of death before being liberated by Soviet forces in January 1945. After the war, he immigrated to the United States in 1949, settling in Cleveland, Ohio, where he worked as a tool and die maker. His experiences profoundly shaped his worldview, emphasizing resilience, the fragility of democracy, and the moral imperative to combat authoritarianism. As the father of prominent American attorney, diplomat, and ethics expert Norman Eisen, his harrowing survival stories and emphasis on ethical living deeply influenced his son's career advocating for government transparency, anti-corruption efforts, and democratic values. Eisen died on October 3, 2011, at age 88, leaving a legacy of survival and quiet strength that resonated through his family's public service.