Relatively Speaking 1996

Relatively Speaking 1996 בס"ד
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Fall-Winter 1996/Kislev 5756 Volume 9

It is so nice to hear from so many of you, and I want to thank those of you who have sent in your subscriptions, it sure helps with production/mailing costs. Relatively Speaking is a labor of love - of our family and our interesting history. Most of our family came from Germany in the 19^th Century. We have been in the United States for over 160 years, and are spread throughout the United States, in Australia, Canada, England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, and Mexico. Who knows that we won’t be in space before long!

This year has seen many exciting changes in the World – B. B. Netanyahu was elected PM of Israel; Mr. Bill Clinton was re-elected President, Boris Yeltsin was re-elected President of Russia; there were Bertha and Fran; the Yankees won the World Series; and UCLA beat USC for the sixth year in a row!!

♥ Sam & I had the much anticipated pleasure of helping the many friends and family members celebrate the Golden Anniversary of Manny & Friedel Marx in Dallas. The festivities started on Friday night with a Shabbat service followed by a lovely dinner at the synagogue, and singing and dancing the hora till we could no longer stand. Saturday morning Manny lead us through the prayers while a huge wind storm was raging outside. During the rabbi’s remarks the lights went out and we finished the services in total darkness. Manny had said he wanted an occasion not easily forgotten! Luncheon at the synagogue turned out to be a romantic candlelight affair. As we left the synagogue, we could see the downed branches everywhere and what had happened while we ‘davened.’ Sunday noon, Manny and Friedel walked down the aisle accompanied by their daughters and sons-in-law, and stood under the Chuppah to renew their vows. It was a heart-warming, tearful ceremony. Luncheon was a Texas-style kosher barbecue, with ribs and all the trimmings. Dancing freilachs and singing rounded out the party as the couple escaped in their well-decorated car that sported the words “50 is Nifty.” And it truly is. That evening, Manny and Friedel joined all of us at the Preston Suites Inn for a pot-luck dinner. Everyone seemed to have a great time. Attendees included daughters Brenda (Bill Dunn) & Leslie (Carl Schwanke) Aaron, Daniel & Rachel Schwanke; Manny’s sister and brother-in-law, Judy & Herby Marx and their son and daughter-in-law Joseph & Andrea; many of Freidel’s family and yours truly with husband Sam.

© While in Dallas we had some extra time to visit with Allan & Jean Strousse London and their family at their spacious new home in Plano. We really appreciated Jean’s taking time out from her post-graduate studies to host us for lunch. We were absolutely charmed by their one-year old, Daniel. Older brother David was at day-camp, so we didn’t get to meet him till August when Jean and the boys came to visit Grandpa Jacques.

© Saturday evening we spent dining and “talking family” with Richard & Ruth Friedman. It was our first meeting and we spent a little time going through some albums and looking at photos and paintings. It was a delightful evening, thank you.

© On our way to the Boston Jewish Genealogical Societies meeting we experienced Hurricane Bertha in Stratford, CT, with Frances Langsdorf and hubby of 59 years, Henry Greenebaum. Fortunately Bertha only blew a lot of trees down and electricity went out sporadically. And we had a lovely visit, thank you, Frances & Henry.

© During the Boston research week, I had the opportunity to meet some “new” relatives, new, that is, that we’ve never met before. A drive out to Scituate brought us together with Marsha Klein and her mother Vivian. I learned that Marsha’s father, Stanley, was a limerick enthusiast, a hobby my husband also enjoys. Marsha had some old pictures of her grandparents, Louis & Mattie Goldenberg Klein, her father and her uncle’s baby books, and some other memorabilia. In all, it was a delightful visit.

© Stan Kessler made time for us in his very busy schedule as Chief Medical Office for the City of Boston. We shared some history and even a photo or two. Stan’s father Bernie wasn’t able to join us sorry to say, but warm regards were sent.

© Then we popped over to Wayland, which is very near Waltham, to visit with Colleen and Paul Abramson. We had met before, nine years ago at the Bar Mitzvah of Gabe Cross in Chicago. We pulled out old photos and newspaper articles, some of which will appear in the family story, which, I hope is getting nearer to completion. More about that later. Thank you, Paul & Colleen for the enchanting evening.

© Earlier in the year Donald and Esther Simon shared a similar experience with yours truly. We were both in ship wrecks! They were on the Sagafiord and it caught fire, and they floundered at sea for three days without power, until finally being rescued and towed into Manila. Our ship, the Royal Viking Sun, hit a reef in the Straits of Tiran and tore a nine foot hole in its side under the water line. We were only twelve miles from shore and the next day we were towed into Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, and flown home. Fortunately in both cases, no one was hurt, but everyone was disappointed in the sudden ending of two beautiful cruises. On a much happier note, Donald was surprised by Esther giving him a 65^th birthday bash in October. Sorry we couldn’t attend, it must have been fantastic.

© LA’s hottest ‘in place’ is the new Skirball Jewish Museum in the Sepulveda Pass, and I promise a visit there when you come to LA (except on Mondays). Ruth Reinheimer Rothschild, Margo Brown Skinner and friend Bob, were the first on my tour list during their all-too-short visits this summer. Come again!

© Many of our younger generation are in the entertainment industry. Carey Bodenheimer is working at CNN in Washington D.C. Watch for “The Further Adventures of Reptile Man,” starring Tony Curtis and produced by Mary Skinner, opening soon at your favorite theater. “The Single Guy” on NBC Thursday nights is being co-produced by Stephen Godchaux. Rich Brownstein is in the “script business” for various TV shows. Craig Lazarus produces The NFL Game Day Show for ESPN and has received a couple of Emmys and ACE Awards, while brother Craig works for Turner Sports in sales. Carol Haas Cross works at ABC in Chicago; and when Gabe Cross graduates next May, he wants to come to Hollywood to write comedy. Anybody out there need a comedy writer? Let him or me hear from you.

♥ Since the last Relatively Speaking was published the following have relocated: John & Julie Langsdorf Willoughby, Kenneth Langsdorf, Stephen & Jeanne Langsdorf, Andrea Robinson, Andrew & Holly Langsdorf Hatch, Robin Langsdorf, Carolyn & Tommy Godchaux, (looks like the Langsdorfs are on the move!) Alissa Rimmon & Kenny Bendik, Connie & Henry Katzenstein, and ¾ Mark Loeb, who has moved to the fastest growing city in the U.S.– Las Vegas. He’s helping it grow by working in the development of Summerlin.

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