Relatively Speaking 1987

Relatively Speaking 1987 בס"ד
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June 14, 1987

Dear Cousins,

I know you all have been wondering what I've been up to! What can I say, it's been absolutely mind‑boggling the information and people I've found through researching.

Eventually I'll get the family trees on paper. But just to let you know how some of these relationships are made, I'll give you these facts as I've been able to define them. I want to warn you that it will be confusing because our families married each other several times.

FANNIE LANGSDORF and LEVI KATZ came to Philadelphia in about 1846. They had several children, ELI, ABRAHAM, RACHEL, CAROLINE, DAVID, SIMON, HANNAH and HENRY (aka HARRY.

Fannie had several brothers and their families live in Philadelphia, St. Louis, Topeka, Washington .D. C. area, New York City area, Waterville, Maine and points unknown to me at this time. It is a very large family. Only one famous person from that clan was ALEXANDER LANGSDORF who was dean of the School of Engineering at Washington University in St. Louis. (My apologies to the rest of the clan for omitting them. I'll cover EVERYBODY in my family history.)

Here's where it starts getting intricate!

ROSA (?) and JOSEPH WEINBERG followed their children MOSES and SARAH to Baltimore in 1861. Their other children included NATHAN, ISAAC, SAMUEL, MICHAEL and RACHEAL.

MOSES WEINBERG married RAHCEL KATZ, which makes the connection between those two families. Their son IRVIN married EDNA ROSENSTOCK (a cousin of MOLLIE BIRKENWALD WEINBERG through her father's side).

IRVIN and EDNA's daughter RUTH WEINBERG GLANZ BOOZELL is my mother.

ISAAC Weinberg married MOLLIE Birkenwald (whose parents SOLOMON and HANNAH had come to Baltimore in 1845). Their daughter ETTA WEINBERG married JACOB NETTER of Philadelphia.

Mollie's brother KOSSUTH BIRKENWALD married SOPHIA ROSENSTOCK, the sister of SOLOMON ROSENSTOCK who was Edna's father. There is also an unproven possibility that Edna's mother SARAH FRANK was a cousin of Mollie. (I'm still working on that one.)

SAMUEL and HANNAH (COHEN) Weinberg's daughter ROSE married JACOB LOWENSTEIN‑STROUSSE.

RACHEAL WEINBERG married LOUIS LIEBMAN of Youngstown. Their daughter ALMA was EDDIE GOODMAN's step‑mother.

NATHAN and HESTER Weinberg's daughter ELLEN (aka Ella) married SOLOMON ROSENBERG of Bedford, Va. I think their son MOSES married and moved to Memphis.

SARAH Weinberg married ADOLPH BLONDHEIM of Baltimore. Children descended from them brought the last names of LUTSZKY, WALDORF, KOHEN, KAHN and ENGEL into the family. Some of this family moved to Louisville, Detroit,and New York according to information given to me. We have lost track of them. Any ideas?

If any of this information rings bells in your mind, please let me know what song they are playing. If you have any knowledge of the whereabouts of any of these families or their descendants, please let me know how I can get in touch

with them.
The branches of the family are spreading wider and it will grow with more information. Enclosed are some address lists of those people I've found so far. Who can you add to it? With my new computer it takes no time at all to add names and data. I'm looking forward to hearing from you and look forward to seeing you soon.

Love, Joan

When the Fall holidays appeared on the calendar, I wanted to send New Year's greetings to my 'vast' list of family members. Again it was typed and mailed.

September 1987

Dear Cousins,

It's that time of the year when we send out our Rosh Hashanah greetings that have been designed by our daughter, Adina. I'd like to take this opportunity to send out a family newsletter as well.
This past year has been filled with all kinds of wonderful meetings and new connections with family members that never knew about my immediate family and I only learned of their existence through my research. Summer 1987 included an eastern "genealogical dig" to Maine, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Florida, and Louisiana. My apologies to those cousins we didn't have time to contact; we were on a very tight schedule. But those whom we did meet were most gracious, warm and welcoming people. And, they all entertained us royally, far beyond what we ever expected. Sam and I thank you all, again, publicly.

Maine
    Our first stop on our trip took us to Lake Salmon, Kennebec County, Maine. A delightful 48 hours was spent with Frances Fox Sandmel, her son David, another cousin and his new bride of two weeks, Stephen and Jeanne Langsdorf. We went picking wild blueberries in the area that inspired the author of "On Golden Pond". We also discovered that Stephen's father, Roger, and uncle, John, had attended Camp Kennebec, which was founded by Frances' father, Charles Edwin Fox, Sr.
New Jersey
    In New Jersey we met Helene Strousse Ross, who is an accomplished artist and presented us with an example of her works. We had the pleasure of meeting her mother Rose Weinberg Strousse, who is a lovely and charming lady of 90.
Philadelphia
    A very cozy week‑end in Rydal, Pa. was spent with Eddie, Myrna and Hilary Goodman. Their efforts on our behalf were above and beyond. We toured two very beautiful synagogues: the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Beth Sholom and Kennesth Israel, which has Chagall windows.
      A Sunday brunch, hosted by Peggy Glaser Jacobs, brought us together with several Philadelphia Langsdorf families. And it was a real pleasure for us to meet all of the charming people assembled at the York Town Inn, among them Melly Langsdorf, Bob and Betty Langsdorf, Ed and Madge Rosewater, Barbara Levy Thanhauser, Roger and Nula Thanhauser, Suzanne Samter Levy, Charles Simon, Jacob Miller 2d, and Jack Langsdorf. Special thanks to Jack for putting me in touch with everyone.
      In Philadelphia I was searching the old records of Congregation Rodeph Shalom marriages. There, big as life, was written the marriage of Jacob Langsdorf and Babette Scherzer dated October 15, 1840, solemnised by Moses Rau. This information was a big surprise, as most people believed had married before coming to this country in 1835.
      A very fascinating evening with Jay and Susan Silberstein Beneman brought us the news of their daughter, Nancy's, forthcoming wedding.
      Special thanks to Charles Simon and his friend Louis for a wonderful evening. Charles late wife, Jean Meyers Simon, was a cousin of Peggy Jacobs.
Baltimore
    When we got to Baltimore, we had the chance to renew an acquaintance with Samuel and Adelaide Rosenstock Silberstein, whom we had met last summer on our first genealogical trip. Adelaide and my mother's sister, Adelaide, were both named for the same Adelheit Levistein Rosenstock. It was so pleasant being with them again. They had recently returned from a trip to Europe. (They are the parents of the Susan mentioned above.)
    Our first encounter with anyone from the Katz family occurred in Baltimore. Dorothy Katz Bloom and her daughter Harriet (and hubby David) Hutzler hosted us for a lovely tour of Johns Hopkins U. and environs and dinner at the faculty club. Harriet teaches in their extension department. Dorothy's father, Harry, was a brother of Rachel Katz Weinberg. Dorothy is a fun lady and remembers Adelaide Weinberg Kane very well.
     How fortunate for my researching that Harriet had just completed a paper on the Katz family for a graduate course she was taking. I was able to give her information she hadn't been able to find, and more she didn't dream was available. And she gave me contacts to other members of the family, whom we met, both in Baltimore and Tamarac, Florida.
     Bernice Katz Hoffberger did a wonderful job in keeping us cool, in spite of a broken air conditioner. And Albert and Florette Katz Weitzman and Bernie and Jeanette Katz Kessler joined us for a very exciting reunion of cousins meeting for the first time. When Bernie saw how I was struggling to keep my camera steady as I was photographing old photos, his creative mind said there must be an easier way. Not long after our return home a box arrived with an ingenious little stand for my photographing needs. Thanks again, Bernie. Shall we patent it?
    One very exciting development occurred as I wandered through an old cemetery in Baltimore. Namely, Hebrew Friendship Cemetery on Baltimore Street. I found the headstone for Hannah Birkenwald, and I confirmed a theory that her maiden name was Nusbaum, the same as my great‑grandmother Rachel Nusbaum Frank. In the same plot there was a headstone for a Mathilda Nusbaum who died 27 December 1874. On the stone it stated her father's name as Samuel.
    Imagine my excitement, when a week later, in Shreveport, I read in an old prayer book that had belonged to Rachel Nusbaum Frank (translated from German) "I have Yahrzeit for my dear late mother 27 December 1874."
    There was the connection I had been seeking, and could now confirm the relationship between those families which had come from the Nusbaum‑Birkenwald marriage and the Nusbaum‑Frank marriage. And this changed the status of a marriage‑related family (Saltzstein, Herman, Diamond and Simon) to blood‑related category.
    It also meant that the Netter family descendants were doubly related to me because my grandmother came from the Frank/Rosenstock side and the Netters from my grandfather's Birkenwald/Weinberg side. Confused? Sorry.
    As soon as I can get all this information fed into the computer and make a print‑out of the generations, I will get the family tree circulated.
      Another exciting find was in a musty, basement room at Temple Oheb Shalom in Baltimore, where I found a box of marriage licenses that had been issued by that City and completed by Rabbi Benjamin Szold (father of Henrietta Szold, founder of Hadassah). At least eight were for members of the family, and I was able to ascertain the maiden names and exact dates of marriages.
      In Baltimore Hebrew Congregation's archives I found out that Isabelle Birkenwald had been married to Isaac Heiman on April 23, 1865, two years before she married Adolph Docter. I don't know what happened to Isaac.
Arlington
    In Arlington, Va., in the home of Jack and Arlene Rephan we saw a silver shaving mug on which was engraved the name of Aaron Frank. Arlene has just become a delegate to the American Zionist Federation 31st Congress in the ARZA ticket. Congrats, Arlene!
Miami
    The main reason we traveled to the deep south in the middle of summer was to attend the Key Biscayne wedding of cousin Lisa Beth Weisman and Chris Abrams. Lisa's parents, Jerry and Joyce Weinberg Weisman, Grandmother Mae Luma Weinberg, and Uncle Howard and Aunt Sandie Weinberg Fixler, cousins Jeremy and Brian Fixler were beaming as Lisa walked down the aisle. She was a beautiful bride. The happy couple is living in Coral Gables.
     We had a warm and friendly evening with Albert and Pearl Katz Blumenthal of Tamarac which is very near Fort Lauderdale. With them, as with everyone we met, it was as if we had known each other for years.
New Orleans
    In New Orleans, at the Touro Synagogue, is a silver punch bowl, which was presented to the Temple by Jake and Mabel Frank Bodenheimer in memory of their parents: Henry and Cora Weil Bodenheimer and Isaac and Rachel Nusbaum Frank. Henry (great‑grandson of the above Henry) and Nini Bodenheimer took us on a tour of the synagogue and even borrowed the punchbowl so we could photograph it. They also took us to visit the old cemeteries where family members are buried. Sam and Henry played as partners in tennis in 100‑degree/98% humidity. I won't say how they fared, but they did have a nice time.
      And, in the same city, we had a delightful evening meeting the family of Helene (Lanie) Goldsmith Godchaux of the St. Louis Langsdorf family. On her bar was a cut glass carafe containing bourbon that was given to her parents as a wedding gift by my great‑grandparents, Moses and Rachel Katz Weinberg. There was also a gift of linen given by Dora Scherzer. Her father's family Bible pages contained an invitation to the wedding of Henrietta Bodenheimer (cousin of Jake) and Capt. Levy (cousin of Goldsmith family). My, how we are intertwined!
    As far fetched as it may seem, while Sam was talking to Carolyn (Thomas) Godchaux, he discovered that her 90‑year‑old mother's family came from a small town in Lithuania that was only 8 miles from where he had lived as a child. After a brief afternoon downpour, we were able to go next door from Lanie's to Thomas and Carolyn's where her mother lives. Such a lovely southern lady, we were so glad to meet her.
Shreveport
    Our whirlwind "dig" ended in Shreveport, where we made acquaintance with members of the Levinson, Redstone and Katzenstein branches of the Frank family. Evelyn Bodenheimer Redstone was about to celebrate her 80th birthday. Bobby Redstone, Jr., her devoted son, took her to Las Vegas for the occasion. Evelyn and my grandmother Edna Rosenstock Weinberg were first cousins. There was such a familial resemblance that I felt like I was sitting with my grandmother again. Evelyn was warm and charming and Sam and I thoroughly enjoyed her company. Sam especially enjoyed the tennis with Bobby.
      Herman and Jean Katzenstein Van Os gave a lovely dinner party for us where we met Rosa Sour Katzenstein, Albert and Marcia Katzenstein, Ida Katzenstein (widow of the late Jack) and Donald and Frances Katzenstein Zadeck. Billy Levinson, Evelyn and Bobby Redstone joined us also. It was certainly a wonderful opportunity to meet the Shreveport family.
      On Sunday Herman and Jean took us to Louisiana Downs for the horse races and we really had a fun time picking the winners. We actually picked enough of them to finally only lose $2 per couple. They'll never get rich on us!
      Reluctantly on Monday, after doing some research at the library and a month of touring, we boarded our plane for Los Angeles. I had photos to be developed of all the old photos I had copied and people we had met. And a lot of material to sort and feed into the computer. In fact I'm still working on it.

Back to Los Angeles
Since we returned home, I have made contact with Shirley Joan Engel Stern of New York and Ferdinand Engel of Nashville, who are descended from Sarah Weinberg and Adolph Blondheim of Baltimore. We also had the occasion to go to a wedding in Las Vegas and while there met Wilma Ann (Willye) Taylor of the Katz family. She was a delight to meet.

The latest news that I have to report is:

MAZAL TOV (CONGRATULATIONS) to:

    Roma Cosel Schachtel who celebrated her 90th in June.
Rose Weinberg Strousse who celebrated her 90th last December.
    John Herman married to Mary Pearl Oneil May 24.
Scott and Jane Loeb Levine first anniversary August 31.
    Michael Vanos Becker born April 30 to Marc and Ellen Van Os Becker.
Carey Bodenheimer, who just graduated the Gunnery School in Washington, CT and is now attending St. Johns College in Annapolis, MD.
    Capt. Douglas Katz assuming the helm of the New Jersey out of Long Beach, CA, on August 14.
Phoebe, daughter of John and Ruth Katzenstein Souza, one year old July 31.
    Gabe Cross, who celebrated his becoming a Bar Mitzvah, May 9.
Paul D. Abramson, III, who is starting Stanford University this month.
    Jacques Strousse, who retired and is just enjoying life.
Alan and Jean Strousse London, who just moved to Palatine, Illinois.
    Kaitlin Jean born June 17 to Robert and Pamela Railing Mihalov (Katz family).
David Thanhauser on his marriage to Laura Pines, Nov. 1986, solemnized by Rabbi David Sandmel of Portland, Maine.
    Ira and Helene Strousse whose daughter, Liz, will be married next month.
Alan Loeb, who was just accepted at Harvard's Kennedy Graduate School of Government.
    Erin born to Ruth Holly and Jim Fenton.
Lee Greenwald and Judy Meyer who were married September 19.
    Danielle Langsdorf and cousin Geoffrey Genser who celebrated a bat and bar mitzva this year, a real first in the Langsdorf family for many years.

CONDOLENCES TO:
Henry Marx and sons, Scott and Andrew, on the loss of their dear wife and mother, Susan, in April.
Barbara Levy Thanhauser and family on the loss of their dear husband and father, Bob Thanhauser, in June.

REFUAH SHLEMAH, GET WELL VERY SOON:
Edna Levinson Roberts, who had catarrac surgery this summer.
Bob Langsdorf, who also had surgery, and is now doing very well.

My apologies to anyone I've missed, we'll catch it next time. I hope everyone will send me the latest news of their families so we can become acquainted with each other. And if you know anyone who you would like to have receive this letter, send me their address, especially your college students and children.

I'd like to know if there is any interest in a family reunion. The one we attempted to have for the Frank Family in Little Rock did not take place, but that doesn't mean it won't. How does Las Vegas sound? Los Angeles? The Catskills? One of our cousins is a travel agent and can get us some good deals on flights and accommodations. Let me know if you would be interested in working on such a project. We need a working committee and people to come and we have it made. Hope you've enjoyed the newsletter as much as I have enjoyed writing it. Let me know.

To all a very sweet and healthy New Year. love, Joan

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