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A Life Shaped by Survival and Purpose
Eger's story is one that defined courage across a lifetime. As a young teenager, she was deported to Auschwitz along with her family, an experience that would permanently alter the course of her life. Rather than be broken by it, she channeled those dark years into a career devoted to helping others heal. Her book The Choice brought her global recognition — in no small part after Oprah Winfrey recommended it to her audience — and recounts her time in the concentration camps and the long, painful journey of rebuilding her life afterward. She went on to write two more celebrated works, The Gift and The Ballerina of Auschwitz, cementing her place as one of the most important voices of her generation. Her family summed it up simply: "We are deeply moved by her life and will keep her memory alive through our actions."
A Bond That Lasted Years
For Igone de Jongh, Eger's passing is deeply personal. The two first connected in 2019, when De Jongh performed De dans ontsprongen at Carré — a stage production drawn from Eger's extraordinary life. "That was a very special moment. A warm bond was formed then, and we have always stayed in touch," De Jongh recalled. Over the years that followed, the two kept in regular contact through video calls, though De Jongh noted that this became increasingly difficult as Eger's health declined. In 2024, De Jongh made a special trip to visit Eger at her home in San Diego. "I danced for her in her garden," she said. "It was something I really wanted to give her." It was a quiet, intimate gesture — one that spoke volumes about the connection they had built. The family, in closing, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the public "for the love and support for her life and work."
