Clearwater, FL – Woman Who Risked Her Life To Save Many Jews Escape The Nazis, Dies.

Clearwater, FL – Maria Castagna came from a wealthy family in Prague, Czechoslovakia. She worked as nurse and assistant to a well-known plastic surgeon.

Her father, a highly educated English professor, was sent to a concentration camp when Germany occupied the country. He died there. She knew the same fate awaited many of her friends.

She joined the resistance, helping Jews escape Nazi capture through the secretive underground railroad system in Prague.

It was risky -workers had cyanide pills ready to take if they were discovered, said her daughter, Nanetta Culbert.

Mrs Castagna died over the weekend at age 86 in Clearwater FL. [st.petersburgtimes]