George Jiri Brady (born Jiří Brady; 9 February 1928 – 11 January 2019) was a Czech-born Jewish survivor of the Holocaust who later settled in Canada and became known both as a businessman and as a public speaker on wartime memory. He lived through Nazi persecution as a young man and, after the war, rebuilt his life abroad. His story is closely associated with that of his sister, Hana Brady, whose fate became widely known and helped bring attention to his family’s experience.

Early life and wartime experience

Brady was born in 1928 into a family of Jewish-Czech background. During World War II he and his family were caught up in the Nazi deportations that targeted Jews across Central Europe. Many members of his family were murdered in the Holocaust. Brady survived the ordeal of internment and displacement and was eventually liberated at the end of the war. The trauma and loss he experienced shaped his later public work.

Emigration, career and public work

After the war Brady emigrated to Canada, where he built a career in business and raised a family. Over the ensuing decades he became an active voice in Holocaust remembrance. He spoke publicly about his experiences, worked with educators, and met people who had helped to uncover his family’s story. His willingness to share testimony contributed to classroom discussions and museum programs about the Holocaust.

Legacy and recognition

Brady’s personal story reached a wider audience through efforts to recover and tell the biography of his sister Hana, a child victim whose life was recounted in international educational projects and a popular book. In Canada Brady received civic recognition for his contributions to public awareness of the Holocaust, including provincial honors for community service. He died in January 2019, remembered for his resilience and his commitment to ensuring younger generations learn from the past.

  • Born Jiří Brady in 1928; died 11 January 2019.
  • Survivor of the Nazi-era deportations who rebuilt life in Canada.
  • Recognized for educational work and awarded provincial honors (O.Ont).

Brady’s life illustrates the arc from persecution and loss to rebuilding and public testimony. His experiences remain a reference point in discussions about memory, reconciliation and the responsibilities of societies to remember atrocities and teach their lessons.