Included in this oral history are reminiscences of Sonja Saltman's personal non-Jewish heritage in Austria, the importance of her grandmother in her life, and how she recalls becoming part of the Jewish community.
Sonja Saltman is a psychologist and philanthropist in Las Vegas, Nevada. She is executive director and co-founder of the Existential Humanistic Institute, a non-profit organization based in San Francisco, California that offers training in existential-humanistic therapy and theory. In 2003 Sonja and her husband Michael Saltman founded the Saltman Center for Conflict Resolution at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) William S. Boyd School of Law. The Saltman Center is focused on research, teaching, and public service related to "the advanced study of the nature of conflict and how to resolve it." A native of Austria, Sonja Saltman also serves as the Honorary Consul for Austria in Las Vegas. The Saltmans are involved with multiple charitable organizations and initiatives, both locally and abroad. Sonja Saltman has served on the boards of the Anti-Defamation League, Nevada Women's Philanthropy, and the Black Mountain Institute. Projects that the couple has supported include the rebuilding of homes and bridges is Bosnia, and Streetball Hafla, a basketball program to improve relations between Jewish and Arab teenagers in Israel. In 2014 Sonja and Michael Saltman were recognized as Distinguished Nevadans by the Nevada System of Higher Education. Included in this oral history are reminiscences of her personal non-Jewish heritage in Austrian, the importance of her grandmother in her life, and how she recalls becoming part of the Jewish community.
John Foley is the youngest of five sons bora to Roger T. and Helen Foley. John's grandfather, Thomas L. Foley was an early transplant to Nevada when he headed for Goldfield in 1907. By 1910 Grandfather Foley had persuaded his son Roger T. to move west - it was a boom time. Roger who was finishing law school in Chicago passed both the Nevada and California bar exams in 1911. Two years later he married Helen who he knew from Chicago and with that launch a legal dynasty in southern Nevada: Roger, Thomas, George, Joseph and John. Each son would enjoy participating successfully in the history of Las Vegas. In this series of interviews, John shares his personal accomplishments as well as mentions his brothers contributions and service to the community. He talks about being young men, his brothers going off to war, the part-time jobs made available by the ever changing landscape of the area, new jobs and growth. He attended Fifth Street Elementary School and Las Vegas High School, actively encouraged the creation of the Boyd Law School at UNLV, and was elected a Nevada State Senator among many other activities as well as being father to his six children. John witnessed Las Vegas outgrowing its "little sister to Reno" role and now enjoys bragging that a fourth generation of Foleys lives in Las Vegas, many of whom carry on the family tradition of being lawyers.