A Holocaust survivor with connections to both Anne Frank and Youngstown died on Jan. 3 at the age of 96. 

Eva Schloss, co-founder of the Anne Frank Trust UK, became Frank's stepsister when Schloss's mother married Frank's father after World War II. 

Schloss lived in London following the war and would visit the Youngstown area several times a year, sometimes speaking at local schools and universities. According to one of Schloss's friends and playwright John Ballantyne, she used her time at schools to speak extensively about the time she spent in Auschwitz with her mother.

In 2005, Schloss made a trip to the area to see Ballantyne's "Block 5," a play which dealt with an incident at the Mauthausen Concentration Camp where Schloss's father and brother died.

Schloss co-founded the Anne Frank Trust UK in 1990, aimed to educate young people about prejudice and the Holocaust through Frank's story.

"Her legacy will continue to guide and empower young people to build a world free from hatred and discrimination," Dan Green, chief executive of the trust, stated. "We at the Anne Frank Trust mourn her loss deeply and extend our heartfelt condolences to her family and friends during this difficult time.

Ballantyne stated that Schloss will be remembered by students who saw her speak, stating that she always made a deep impression on those who heard her story.

She had also visited Boardman for the dedication event honoring those who had died in the Holocaust at Center Middle School in 2010.