From Myron Moskowitz

I will begin by saying that this brief story is one of impressions and imprecision rather than dates and specifics. I view my life in Brooklyn with the greatest fondness but through the eyes of a child growing up with the family in the 50’s and leaving the family home in 1968 with my parents when our neighborhood changed, as did our lives. Although I have lived in the suburbs or nearly 30 years, my loyalties have always been to the city, and most especially to Brooklyn New York.

1620 Carroll Street, in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn was the family gathering place for many, many years. I am not sure exactly when my grandfather Morris (Moshe Mendel,) for whom I am named, first moved there with my grandmother Lucy. It must have been in the20’s or early 30’s when the neighborhood boasted elegant homes and apartments houses with doormen. From the time I can remember, this two family, attached, brick house with garage in the back and alley perfect for playing various games with a noisy pink “spaldeen” was visited by aunts, uncles and cousins..

Our extended family lived in the area. The most adventurous was my uncle Sidney, the third oldest of my grandmother’s 6 children. Uncle Sid had the courage to move beyond the city limits to the new community of Plainview Long Island during the great post war suburban migration. Sid was like a second father to me. He and my aunt Lee were among the most hospitable people one could ever know. It is not totally coincidental that my wife Sue and I have chosen to live in Plainview as well
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My uncle Julius the youngest of the four boys lived with us until his marriage in the 1950’s and then he and his bride Mildred moved into the downstairs apartment while I remained upstairs with my parents. My mother Rose was the fourth oldest. . The first girl, she was the object of great attention, but assumed great responsibility when my grandfather died at a young age. It was my mother who took care of my grandmother in the house on Carroll Street. I well remember the doctor visits. Our doctor, Schenkman, one of three general practitioners on our block, lived above his office directly across the street and charged 3 to 5 dollars for a house call he not only delivered me, but drove me to school when he saw me waiting or a bus to take me to high school. His was the first Chrysler New Yorker I ever rode in. I guess 3 or 4 dollars went much further then! My grandmother died in the room I shared with her when I was only 5 years old. I knew this as there was no answer to the repeated “good bye ma” which Julius routinely offered as he left for work each morning. That day, the house erupted in mourning as the anchor of the family had left to join her beloved husband and her son Jesse

My uncle Jesse, the oldest of the boys died young as had Morris, and even though I was very young, I remember the family gathering for the “shiva” in the big living room of the house. The family stayed in touch with my aunt Rose until her recent passing. She was the senior aunt of the family. I don’t think that my grandmother ever recovered from the loss of Jesse. The cousins club which would have involved members of the Sommer family as well as my grandmother’s Osroff family was soon disbanded , my grandmother’s sister, Paulie Brown, lived next door to us and I maintain contact with members of that family as well to this day.
I miss those days of community, because even with disagreements and petty jealousies; let’s face it we are all human, there was an overriding warmth and security, especially for an only child growing up in the fearful time of the cold war 50’s.

My uncle Marty was the only member of the family to graduate from college. He also took the bold step of moving to the suburbs; at least we thought Laurelton Queens was in distant Long Island. My aunt Ceil always had a smile and always brought little gifts for everyone. What a special occasion when almost the entire family gathered in Pennsylvania several years ago to celebrate Ceil’s 90th birthday

My mother did not understand distance. To her, anything beyond Brooklyn was an adventure. Matter of fact, even after moving to Sheepsheadbay Brooklyn, from the old neighborhood, if I wanted to tell her that I passed the house in Crown Heights as I tried to do periodically, I would simply say, “I went to Brooklyn yesterday.” She understood exactly what I meant. My mother was a most generous and understanding person. Her loss this past year is mitigated by the fond memories and almost daily quotations we attribute to her; which we do with love and a smile. She was honest to a fault, but her comments were accepted by most people as they were offered with self effacing humor. My father Eugene was a sincerely religious man who was humble and very charitable. As is often the case, the less people have economically, the more they give to others. I could not ask for finer role models, and it is deeply gratifying when I am compared to my parents.

My aunt Alice, the youngest of the Sommers lived in an apartment on Crown Street several blocks from the family home. She visited us each day and I grew up playing with, and fighting with, my cousin Diane, who in many ways substituted for the sister I never had. Alice and my mother were inseparable, and spoke on the telephone at least once a day. Alice and my uncle Sol, also modeled generosity. As the only adult Brooklynite to drive, Sol would pick us up and take us all over (as long as it did not involve highway driving! His generosity cannot be overstated, nor can the fact that he has some truly interesting stories to tell as a member of the “greatest generatton” who served in the air force in Europe during World War II.

I felt toward my cousins as if they were my brothers and sisters. I still speak to my cousin Bill (Sidney’s youngest) by E mail or phone, each day . His brother Hal has lived in many parts of the country and yet when I see him, it is as if we were never apart.

I can remember our pride in Arthur and Marshal (Marty’s sons) when they graduated from dental school. And it is Arthur and his wife Linda who deserve so much credit for fostering the exciting new relationship between the Sommer and Frank families

Eugene (Jesse’s son) is the oldest of the cousins and is one of the brightest and most talented people I have ever known. His sister Marlene is a sensitive and caring person who lives not far from here.

Diane has just moved to Connecticut to be near her grandson and her brother Jesse, like his father and mother, would do anything to help anyone , at any time; and many of us have asked for and received this help.

I can’t leave out Larry and Fred (Julius’ sons.) The youngest cousins. They grew up with me on Carroll Street. I viewed them as younger brothers and still find it hard to imagine that they have children of their own.

I have tried to mention the names of aunts and uncles and cousins who have meant so much, in this little introduction to the Sommer family. Their faces flash before me as I write and I still derive a physical sense of warmth in recounting their names for you. I am sure that as you read, your own stories come to mind and I look forward to reading them as we continue to explore the uniqueness and sameness which unites us all.

Myron Moskowitz 5/20/04
mymosko@aol.com