About Karen Becher Karen Burri Becher was one of the pillars of excellence and a role model of humanity at the National Holocaust Museum in Laxton, Nottinghamshire, for almost ten years until her sudden, unexpected death in January 2024. As an American with ancestors from all over Europe, she moved across the Atlantic early in life to immerse herself in European history and culture. She had already become a fluent German speaker in school thanks to a brilliant teacher who happened to be a child refugee from Nazi Germany and married to a survivor of the concentration camps. With a degree in European history, a trust-winning and joyful personality, a gift for active listening and public speaking, and professional skills as administrator, Karen was perfectly equipped for leaving a lasting mark of achievement at the NHM, above all also through cultivating the bond with our Holocaust survivors. Most significantly, she devoted herself to shaping education programmes and forums in the region in cooperation with Nottinghamshire Police and local communities to support No to Hate education and bring young offenders to the NHM for a unique personal development opportunity through respectful conversation involving the lessons of the Holocaust. The annual award competition in her name, jointly supported by the NHM and Karen’s family, has been established to honour her memory and legacy in a way that reflects her sincerity, creativity and spirit of exploration. Manage Cookie Preferences