Henriette J. A. Stern: Her Memoirs

By Henriette J. A. Stern

This memoir is a testament to the immigrant experience of Eastern European Jews and their miraculous integration and contribution to the American Dream. It spans the cultural and technological divide between tenement outhouse to CAT Scans and includes first-hand accounts of the 1904 General Slocum Steamboat and 1937 Hindenburg disasters. It’s a compelling tribute to strong Women in the person of Henriette and her mother. A mother and daughter who raised a family of seven without a male breadwinner. It’s the story of a matriarch who was deservedly worshiped by her husband and son. And finally, it’s a story of rags to riches and the unlimited possibility that was 20th Century America.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: Mar 27, 2017
• ISBN: 9781483464275

Book preview

Henriette J. A. Stern

HER MEMOIRS

Copyright © 2017 Henriette J. A. Stern.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of both publisher and author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

ISBN: 978-1-4834-6426-8 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4834-6428-2 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4834-6427-5 (e)

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Thinkstock are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Thinkstock.

Lulu Publishing Services rev. date: 03/13/2017

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August 10, 1889 to November 19, 1991 ~ 12th of Kislev, 5752

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Henriette Janet Abraham

Earliest Photo, Age 4

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Henriette at 100

CONTENTS

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Preface

Preface to second printing

Introduction

Family of Henriette Janet Abraham Stern

Family Tree

The Interview

Interview With Jerome L. Stern

Appendix

Further resources

About the Author

PREFACE

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A few years ago in Jerusalem, I bumped into Marion Weisel (Elie Weisel’s wife) in the lobby of the King David Hotel, and invited her to my home for a L’Chaim. She accepted, but told me that she would only be able to drop by for a few minutes, as it was her last day in the country and she had many things to do. While visiting me, I introduced her to my mother and soon they were deep in conversation. They got along famously, discussing mother’s background and the good old days. Losing all sense of time, they continued for over an hour and then Marion took me aside and said, Jerome, you have a wonderful mother. You should arrange to have her interviewed and do an oral history to preserve her priceless memories and experiences. The idea for this book was planted in my mind at that very moment.

A few years later, through a mutual friend, I met Jean Shulman, an oral historian. When I presented the project to my mother, her reaction was anything but positive. She thought the whole idea was foolish. Who would be interested in my life? I just lead a very ordinary life! Finally, we wore down her resistance and got her approval and cooperation and this manuscript is the result.

Mother is a remarkable woman and among her many attributes was the wonderful relationship that she had with my father. I feel blessed that I was able to grow up with such loving parents in such a happy home. Attached is a letter that my father wrote to me containing some advice and how he felt about his wife, my mother, Henriette J. Stern.

Jerome L. Stern

9/11/1987

PREFACE TO SECOND PRINTING

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This saga started by Marion Wiesel insisting that we do an oral history of my mom.

Since 1987 when I printed 15 copies, the family has grown and so has the interest in the book by extended family members of both the Abraham and Gottesman families and some close friends.

What you hold in your hands is the result of tireless efforts by my son Geoffrey to gather and rescan all of the original photos in color and provide updated photos, including images of my mother up through her passing in her 102nd year.

This book contains the story of our family origins. The story continues and we have much to look forward to. In just a few months, please G-d, my grandson Dean will be married to Dana Frider in Israel and youngest grandson Jordan will have his Bar Mitzvah at our family compound in Westhampton.

I look forward to these and other family events in our continuing saga.

Jerome L. Stern

Passover 2017

Palm Beach

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INTRODUCTION

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This volume of treasured memories of HENRIETTE J. STERN is the result of a delightful interview that we tape recorded together. Grandma Stern and I relaxed and talked for hours with herbal tea and oatmeal cookies in the living room of Jerome’s Westhampton Beach home on Long Island on October 15 and 16, 1986.

Henriette, in her 97th year, shared recollections of family stories passed down to her from a previous generation, as well as those of her own lifetime. Despite physical discomfort and the disruption in her usual daily routine, she recounted her story with clarity, patience, good humor and verve, for the edification and enjoyment of younger and future generations in her family.

The following transcription of our Westhampton Beach interview, with some later telephone additions and corrections from Palm Beach, has been minimally edited in order to faithfully retain the spontaneous flavor of Henriette’s conversational style.

Coincidentally, our interview, punctuated by several excited telephone calls, took place on a very special day with the announcement of the birth of Henriette Stern’s sixth male great grandchild, Joshua. L’Chaim!

Jean Shulman

Oral Historian

FAMILY OF HENRIETTE JANET ABRAHAM STERN

Born August 10, 1889

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HENRIETTE’S FATHER: REV. YEHUDAH LAIB ABRAHAM, born in Turkey, lived in Budapest or Vienna. Concert singer, composer, cantor. Died at 59 in 1894. Father of 20 children (!) by two marriages.

HENRIETTE’S MOTHER: FANNY GOTTESMAN ABRAHAM, birthplace unknown, but lived in Munkartz, Hungary. Married Yehudah Laib Abraham as his second wife at age 14. Widowed while pregnant at age 28. Had 9 children, one deceased in infancy. Ran a butcher shop on Lower East Side of Manhattan. Died at 77 in 1941. Had brother Henry Gottesman and sister Gisella (called Aunt Gizzi). Fanny’s Uncle, Mendel Gottesman (referred to as Uncle Gottesman).

HENRIETTE & SIBLINGS IN BIRTH ORDER:

FLORA & ISADORE, born in Europe

SAM, born aboard ship to America

One child deceased in infancy

NATHAN & DOTTIE, born in New York City

HENNY, born August 10, 1889, in Chicago

MAX (nicknamed ULLU), born in New York City

DAVID, born N.Y. City after father’s death

HENRIETTE JANET ABRAHAM, at age 26, on June 11, 1916, married her second cousin

DAVID SAMUEL STERN, age 33, born in Svalyuvah near Munkartz Hungary (later in Czechoslavakia, now called Sevlyush and Mukachevo in Russia).

THEIR ONLY SON: JEROME L. STERN

married/later divorced

JANE WOLFSON, from London, England

re-married

ELLEN FEIER, from Chattanooga, Tennessee

JEROME & JANE’S CHILDREN, GRANDCHILDREN and

GREAT-GRANDCHILDREN:

RONNIE married to Ralou Aryeh

Children: DAVID married to Haley Rothman

Grandchildren

Noah Leo

Layla August

JONATHAN

JOSHUA

ERIC

MICHAEL married/later divorced

Ronit Baron     Children: DEAN

STAV

married/later divorced

Maytal Levi

Child:     ROMIEL

GEOFFREY married to Orna Wexler

Children: CHARLES married to Lauri Aginsky

Grandchildren:

Adam Eli

Ari Benjamin

DANIEL

ABIGAIL

LYNDA married to Scott VanderVoort

Child:       JORDAN

JEROME & ELLEN’S CHILD:

AVI

FAMILY TREE

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Yehuda Laib Abraham’s 1st Wife & Their Children in Hungary - 1867

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Cantor Yehuda Laib Abraham

Henriette’s Father

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Fanny Gottesman Abraham

Henriette’s Mother after husband’s death

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Fanny Abraham

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Henriette     Ullu     Mother

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April 30, 1917, Del Monte California

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Henriette & Friend

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Back l to r: Flora & Joe Farkas

Dottie & Doc Ehrenreich

Middle front: Henriette

Henriette Doc & Dottie Ehrenreich

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Henriette, Doc

& Dottie Ehrenreich

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Dottie Henriette

Henriette Before Marriage

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1916                         Atlantic City, New Jersey

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Henriette & Jerome

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David with Jerome – 1 month

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Henriette & David in Europe

1932

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Jerome as youngster

Svalyuvah 1932

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David Stern, Jerome (on shoulders) Bernard Gottesman, Relative

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Jerome with a friend

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Henriette

On Terrace 110 Riverside Drive

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David    Henriette     Jerome

Ruth & Jerry Granger Wedding ~ June 25,