Holocaust Survivor Dies 1 Month Before Liberation Celebration

CALISTOGA, CA — At 100 years old, Calistoga resident Nick Hope was one of the few remaining Holocaust survivors in Northern California. His story came to an end Monday afternoon when he died after battling pneumonia and flu complications since January, his children told CBS Sacramento.

Hope—born as Nickoliay "Nick" Xoprenko on Sept. 7, 1924, in Petrovka, Dunbas, Ukraine—changed his last name to Hope in 1974.

"Spiritually, he has always believed in hope… and it is a far easier spelling," his son, George Hope, wrote on a GoFundMe page to raise money to travel with his father to Germany next month for the 80th anniversary of his liberation.

On April 29, 1945, Nick was among 32,000 prisoners liberated from the Dachau concentration camp near Munich, Germany.

It was not the first time, but the third time he was imprisoned. Nick was 9 years old during the 1933 Holodomor famine implemented in Ukraine by Stalin, which killed over 3 million people, including his two brothers.

During World War II under Hitler's regime and by the hand of Hitler's SS, Nick was forced into labor at an ammunition factory at Wolfratshausen. For 11 months, he wore only the clothes on his back. Eventually, he was falsely accused of sabotage and forcefully removed from his duties.

Guards then imprisoned him in Dachau concentration camp where he experienced horrifying tragedies that would affect his life forever. During this time, he was directed to build aircraft engines at a subcamp, Allach; enduring two and a half more years of unspeakable atrocities, including starvation, torture and beatings.

"He even survived a brutal death march where only a fraction of his fellow prisoners made it out alive," Geroge wrote.

The liberation of Dachau took place on April 29, 1945, by the U.S. Army, 42nd Rainbow Division, the 45th Infantry Regiment, the 20th Armored Tank Corps, and a handful of other U.S. military units.

Hope wanted to return to the Dachau camp this April to tell of, show and share his forgiveness, compassion and hope with everyone who wished to listen.

Hope forgave all those who caused him harm, pain and immense suffering, including the SS officer whom Nick happened to meet 15 years later at the Krankenhausse, Germany unemployment office.

Nick and Nadja came to Calistoga 63 years ago on Valentine's Day with their oldest son, Victor, in tow. Nick built his family a home in Calistoga and over the years, homes for many others in the Napa Valley. He officially retired at the age of 97.

Nick was preceded in death by his wife, Nadja, who died in 2015. He is survived by his three children, Victor Hope, 68; Jenny Hope McLaren, 61; and George Hope, 58; and his grandchildren, Janessa Vella, 29; Jacob Shafer, 25; and Joseph Shafer, 23.

The family is holding a memorial service on March 30 at St. Helena Seventh Day Adventist Church, 1777 Main St. in St. Helena, time TBD.