The Finegold Family of Russia
and Massachusetts
Written by Nick Gelbard
Great Grandson of Bella and Fishel Finegold
August 2005
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 - The Finegolds Come to Massachusetts
Introduction……………………………………..…………..
page 5
The Family Name………………………………………….
page 8
Documentary Evidence…………………………… …..
page 9
Historical Events of the Time…….…………
page 10
Russia After the Immigration………………….
page 11
Earliest Ancestors………………………………………
page 12
Frank Fine and Bella Rodman Fine………………
page 12
Chapter 2 - The Immigrant Finegold Children
Unnamed Children of Frank and Bella Fine… page 18
Sarah Fine …….………………………………………… ……… page 18
1
Miriam “Minnie” Fine Darr……………………………… page 22
Pearl Fine Fisher/Kuznitz …….………………………. page 27
Lewis Feingold…………………………………………………… page 31
Anna Fine Gersinovitch ………………………………….. page 32
Harry Fine ………………………………………………………… page 34
Chapter 3 - The First American Generation
Introduction ……………………………………………………. page 37
Children of Miriam “Minnie” G. Fine and Alexander Darr
Ethel Darr Sloane ...………..……………………………… page 37
Leo Darr ……….…………………………………………………… page 38
Ruth Darr ………….……………………………………………… page 40
Children of Sarah Fine and Samuel Fine
Amy Fine ………….……………………………………………….. page 41
Perle (Pearl) Fine ……………………………………………. page 41
Rose Fine Kirle…………………………………………………. page 41
Israel Leo (Zeke) Fine …………………………………… page 44
Melvin Fine ………………..……………………………………… page 44
Robert J. Fields (Robert Fine)……………………… page 45
2
Children of Harry Fine and Esther Feldman
Roy S. Fine………………………………………………………
page 46
Phyllis Fine Weinberg …………………………………
page 50
Children of Pearl Fine and Barnet Fisher
Saul Fisher ……………………………………………………
page 51
Fred Fisher ………………..…………………………………
page 51
Ruth Fisher Gelbard ……………………………………
page 52
Sidney Ephraim Fisher ……………………………..
page 57
Child of Pearl Fine Fisher and Harry Kuznitz
Evelyn Kuznitz Mayer…………………………………
page 58
Chapter 4 – Multiply and Prosper
- page 59
Appendices
Appendix A – Family Tree………………………………………
page 60
Appendix B - The Pale of Settlement…………………
page 61
Appendix C - The Holocaust …………………………………
page 64
3
References
References by Person …………………………………………
page 66
Significant References & Sources …………………
page 75
4
Chapter 1
The Finegolds Come to Massachusetts
Introduction
The following narrative reviews information about the family of Fishel and
Bella Finegold who immigrated from Russia to Massachusetts in the United
States in the early 20th Century. The Finegold family lived in the shtetls
and towns in a large region of Russia called the Pale of Settlement,
specifically in what is now the Ukraine. They uprooted themselves from the
familiar communities in which they lived and collected enough money to buy
their passage to the United States to start a new life. There were very
good reasons why our ancestors left Russia.
In the mid 19th Century, Tsar Alexander II began to help Russia emerge
from its feudal social order including the freeing of Russia’s serfs in 1861.
His assassination in 1881 led to the ascension of his son, Tsar Alexander III,
who brought about a return to the old ways of repression. This tsar
encouraged the persecution of the Jews through economic restrictions and
violence including the enactment of the May Laws. These laws instituted a
systematic policy of discrimination, with the object of removing the Jews
from their economic and public positions, to "cause one-third of the Jews to
emigrate, one-third to accept baptism and one-third to starve."
In 1891, 20,000 Jews were expelled from Moscow but that same year, the
Congress of the United States altered immigration restrictions for Jews
from the Russian Empire. Admittance to the United States had been eased
but readers should note that denial of entry (text taken from a US 1903
immigration manifest) could be made on the basis of the immigrant being:
…an idiot, or an insane person, or a pauper, or is likely to become a public
charge or is suffering from a loathsome or dangerous disease, or is a person
who has been convicted of a felony or crime or other misdemeanor involving
moral turpitude, or a polygamist, or an anarchist, or under promise of
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agreement, expressed or implied, to perform labor in the United States, or a
prostitute…
Organized violence against Jews in Russia of this era, called pogroms
(including those in 1881-82, 1891 and 1903 in Kishnev), prompted many Jews
to immigrate. They often traveled west overland to the Austrian town of
Brody, then to a port such as Danzig, or into Germany to Hamburg. They
sailed first to England, as in the case of the many of the Finegolds. From
England they would often embark from Southampton, Northampton, or
Liverpool and make their way to an East Coast port such as New York,
Philadelphia or Boston. The author recalls that his mother, Ruth Fisher
Gelbard, stated that some of her family (the Fishers and/or the Finegolds)
had difficulty entering the United States, so they first legally entered
Canada. There is no evidence, however, that the Finegolds first entered
Canada.
Most of the Finegold family not only focused their new life in the city of
Malden, Massachusetts, just north of Boston, but in a particular Jewish
neighborhood in the southeast part of town in Ward 7, south of the Saugus
Branch train tracks, and referred to as Suffolk Square.
Author Richard Klayman describes the Suffolk Square neighborhood of the
early 20th century in his 1985 study of the political and social trends of the
Jews of Malden, The First Jew, Prejudice and Politics in an American
Community 1900-1932:
…the city (Malden) became home to what would be one of the largest
concentrations of Jews north of Boston. Ward 7 and particularly the
Suffolk Square section of the ward became the focal point of a politically
active and socially concerned Jewish community. (p. 9)
…Malden’s Jewish population approached over 9,000 residents by 1921, and
would swell to nearly 15,000 Jews through the 1940’s. (p.9)
Suffolk Square was the center of Ward 7, located at a small intersection of
three winding thoroughfares used by horses and buggies and, later, the
electrified trolleys of the Boston Elevated System. Whatever the means of
transportation to and from the Square, the purpose for going there
remained very much the same for decades. Numerous Jewish food stores
existed in one convenient location. Specialty stores contained barrels of
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pickles in assorted concoctions of spices or garlic. The large window of a
Jewish fish market displayed their fish on a bed of ice, fish eyes fascinating
the children who gazed at them. There, at the corner fishmarket was also
the local gathering spot for the old and young or just those looking for
conversation. (p. 25)
The ancestral delicacies of Russian Jewry versus those of Lithuanian Jewry
were debated and boasted of in a good natured rivalry. In butcher store
windows, one observed a clothesline of chickens hanging by their wings, with
their feathers unplucked, amid trays of sliced or cut meats, other trays of
chopped liver, cartons of eggs piled high, weighing scales atop meat chests
and densely packed showcases, and the lingering smell of the daily cleansed
butcher’s block. Their heads covered by a kerchief, a yamaka, or a hat,
Yiddish speaking men conversed with their neighbors and their customers.
(p. 26)
Six synagogues served the Jews of Ward 7.
Five were Orthodox
congregation and one was more Conservative in tone. Each held morning and
afternoon minyans; each possessed a men’s and women’s auxiliary served by
elected officers who oversaw the financial responsibility of each
congregation, provided relief for the local poor, provided for proper burials
for the destitute, and generally served as a religious body whose very
existence testified that an observantly practiced Judaism remained the
essence of a still new American existence. (p. 27)
…it would be incorrect to believe that Suffolk Square was anything but the
pulse of Jewish life in Malden. Clearly it was on the pavements and in the
apartments of the many side streets and courts that surrounded the Square
which was the heart of Malden Jewry. In tenements, duplexes, threedeckers, two-families, and within the boarding houses of Ward 7, Jewish
family life was re-rooted from the villages and towns of Eastern Europe. (p.
28)
Of interest in the 1914 copy of the Malden City Directory are social and
labor groups that are apparently of Jewish origin and membership:



Independent Order of United Hebrews
- Faulkner Lodge, organized September 22, 1912
Pride of Malden Lodge, organized 1909
Independent Order of Zion
Carmel Lodge #82, organized 1912
National Labor Alliance
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
Labor League #9
Klayman’s description of the Suffolk Square neighborhood and other
resources give us a vivid picture of the world in which the Finegolds lived.
While the Lower East Side of New York City has received much attention
for the scale, intensity and richness of the large Jewish immigrant
community’s life there, the Malden neighborhood was a fascinating place
with its own strong cultural qualities and unique community attributes.
The Family Name
Ruth Fisher Gelbard, the granddaughter of Bella and Frank Finegold, stated
and wrote that the name Finegold had been changed to Fine. Finegold is a
name with several English spellings including Fingold, Feingold, Fajngold, and
Faingold.
The names Fine, Fingold, Finegold and Feingold appear on
documents related to the family. A search of a Hamburg, Germany
immigration website database yielded no “Fine,” “Fingold,” or “Finegold”
names. Yet, there were 144 names under “Feingold,” four “Faingolds,” and
three “Fajngolds.” This is not the case at a receiving port, New York’s Ellis
Island, where there are 293 entries for “Fine,” 474 for “Feingold,” 24
“Faingolds,” nine “Fajngolds, and six “Fingolds.” While the database at
Hamburg cannot be directly compared to the entries at Ellis Island for
several reasons, it is obvious that some immigrants shortened their name to
Fine. Ruth Darr, one of Frank Fine’s grand daughters, recalled that family
members had chosen “Fine” because they were not familiar with the English
alphabet and that “Fine” was easy to write because it contained only straight
lines. In Kathleen Housely’s biography of Perle Fine, the story is told that
cousins who had previously come to New York counseled Sarah Finegold and
her husband Samuel Hyamovitch to use Sarah’s maiden name. To make it
easier in English, however, the name was shortened to Fine. It was
recounted that “one of the cousins broke matchsticks in half and positioned
them in straight lines on the kitchen table, forming block letters” – FINE.
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Documentary Evidence
Some comments are needed concerning the documents that the Finegolds
and their neighbors left. Today, the documentation of our existence is
significant, both on paper and in computer database files. However, the
“paper trail” left by immigrants at the beginning of the 20th Century was
quite minimal. They lived in a world with less bureaucracy and fewer forms.
Also, they were new immigrants and were not yet fully a part of the business
and social fabric of the established communities in which they chose to live.
And finally, they left less documentary evidence because many of these new
immigrants often had shortened lives due to illness, particularly
tuberculosis, influenza and infections that would be easily treated today.
This family, however, multiplied and prospered (see Finegold Family Tree,
Appendix A).
The relevant United States census documents (1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930)
show that not many Russian Jews were in the Suffolk Square neighborhood
in 1900. By 1910, however, and certainly in the next several years, many
families chose this neighborhood as their destination probably for the
growing Russian Jewish community support it offered.
One only has to review the information in the census documents to develop a
picture of their world – their names, ages, family sizes, immigration dates,
and professions. Census documents from 1910, 1920 and 1930, only available
72 years after they were generated, show that Ward 7 had many Jewish
families with surnames and given names that are common to this group of
Russian Jews. The census documents, however, serve historians and
genealogical researchers well. They freeze that moment in time, and while
we wish that the enumerators had been able to ask more questions and had
written more clearly, these records are invaluable.
City directories of the time period for Malden and Quincy provide us with
information about where the Finegolds lived on an almost annual basis. While
not as detailed as the census documents, these directories list addresses
and professions for the head of the household as well as other community
information. Wives’ names began to appear in some directories about 1917
but minor children were not listed.
9
Other significant sources of documentary evidence include vital records
(birth, marriage and death records), draft registrations, immigration
manifests, and naturalization papers (see References).
When the immigrant Finegold family members did complete documents, we
must consider that Yiddish was their first language. Certainly their English
language speaking and writing skills were initially non-existent or only
emerging. The Finegolds may have used family or friends as interpreters
when dealing with government offices. They sometimes didn’t remember
information accurately, or in some cases it seems, they chose not to
accurately record information. Names change, birth and immigration dates
wander about, and places of birth that are seemingly static, change as the
demands of an immigration situation may require. Also, it is probable that
immigration and other officials who were writing down information made
errors in translation and in simple copying. Documents (and photographs)
that may have been in the possession of the immigrants and their children
such as naturalization papers have been lost or this researcher is unaware of
their existence.
All this creates a great challenge in presenting a somewhat thorough picture
of the Finegold family life for succeeding generations. When this research
started in 2000, seven grand children of Bella and Frank Fine were alive. As
of 2005, only two are still alive and they have no direct memories of their
grandparents.
One additional note regarding research: the resources of the author have
not been extended to what information may be in existence in archives or
collections from Russia, England or Canada. While many have assumed that
World War II and the Nazis destroyed all records in Europe and Russia,
some significant information has survived. Some of this data has been
catalogued and indexed, especially since the break-up of the Soviet Union in
1989.
Historical Events of the Time
It is important to first place the Finegolds’ migration and resettlement in its
historical context. The pogroms and repression of the late 19th and early
20th centuries have already been cited. Certainly, the Jews of the Pale of
10
Settlement (see Appendix B) had reason to leave their homes due to
persecution, poverty and lack of opportunity. We must also look, however, at
other events occurring in Russia at the beginning of the 20th Century.
Russia’s defeat in the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905 and the Revolution
of 1905 further exposed the weaknesses of the Romanoff tsarist
governments. Tsar Nicholas II had been forced to sign the “October
Manifesto” in 1905, guaranteeing some new civil rights to Russians and
establishing a legislative body called the Duma. These concessions, however,
came with brutal reaction against the alleged perpetrators of the unrest.
There was backlash from the conservative elements of society, notably in
anti-Jewish attacks. The tsar himself claimed that 90% of revolutionaries
were Jews. The Jews of Russia were falling further out of favor with the
government. These were the years of the Finegold family immigration.
Russia After the Immigration
The political and social situation in Russia was very unstable at the turn of
the 20th Century. But the future for the Russian people, including the Jews,
would be even worse. The Finegold family’s decision to leave Russia meant
that they directly avoided the three most catastrophic events of the 20 th
Century – World War I, World War II, and The Holocaust. During World
War I, Russia was on the side of England and France who were opposed to
Germany, Austria and Turkey. The economic burden of the war, the
conscription of men, and the huge number of casualties, as well as the
ongoing tsarist repression of the Russian people, all prompted the Russian
Revolution of 1917. The instability and violence associated with this history
continued past the destruction of the tsarist government well into the 1930s
and 1940s when Joseph Stalin forced the collectivization of property and
inflicted unprecedented atrocities upon his own people. Although Stalin and
Hitler agreed to a non-aggression pact in 1940, Hitler attacked Russia in
1941, leading to many millions of casualties among combatants as well as
innocent Russian non-combatants. The war raged across the area formally
known as the Pale of Settlement.
The Finegolds who came to the United States missed the persecution and
near annihilation of their race in Eastern Europe and Russia by the Nazis
before and during World War II. Appendix C is a brief recounting of some
events of the Holocaust as they occurred in the Berdichev region, home to
11
some of the Finegold family. The immigration of which the Finegolds were a
part included over two million Jews coming to the United States. This was a
blessing as it is logical that most or all of our Finegold family ancestors (and
people from related families) who remained behind were killed and their
culture certainly destroyed. Fishel and Bella, their children, and succeeding
generations in America, were all very fortunate that this immigration took
place.
Earliest Ancestors
Documentation exists for a few ancestors who predate Frank and Bella.
Only their names are known and other information about them is nonexistent. Louis Rodman is listed on Bella’s death certificate as her father.
It is not even certain that Bella’s maiden name was Rodman (see discussion
below). The earliest Finegold names found are Selig and Ida Fine. They are
listed as Frank’s parents on his Massachusetts death certificate. Their
birthplaces are shown to be “Padal,” which is likely Podolia (just southwest of
Kiev), a gubernia (or province) in Russia before World War I.
As of 2005, descendants of Louis Rodman and Selig and Ida Fine(gold) who
are the grandchildren of the author’s generation, can identify these people
as their great great great great grandparents!
Bella Rodman and Frank Fine
Origins and Immigration
Frank, Bella, and their children were all born in Russia. They lived in the
shtetls and towns of Russia, in or near Berdichev in modern day Ukraine.
The Fines, as they called themselves in America, came to the United States
from Russia to the United States between 1902 and 1905 although Bella’s
date of immigration appears to be 1890 on the 1910 Census. Some may have
traveled to Hamburg, Germany first and then to England although one of the
Fine family members stated (in Perle Fine’s biography) that they embarked
from Danzig, now Gdansk in modern day Poland. Minnie Fine Darr sailed from
12
Antwerp directly to New York. More often, the Fines departed from
Liverpool (this journey was recounted by Melvin Fine). It is not known who
traveled together although Harry Fine returned to the United States
(Philadelphia) separately after being rejected initially (in Boston or New
York) due to a rash according to his daughter Phyllis Fine Weinberg. As of
2005, this researcher cannot locate any immigration manifests for the
Finegold family although references of immigration appear on naturalization
documents when they can be located. Ruth Fisher Gelbard had written in
her Finegold family list that the family came from the town of Berdichev
(93.1 miles WSW of Kiev, coordinates 4954 2835). This town was named as
the birthplace of Sarah Fine in 1882 on her naturalization documents.
Melvin Fine told the author in March 2000 that the family had come from a
shtetl called Alanev and this shtetl name is written on Pearl Fine Kuznitz’s
naturalization papers (written as “Alanev Padolia Russia”). The name Alanev
cannot be found in common references. The one place in modern day Ukraine
that is relatively near to Berdichev and that is close to the name Alanev is
Ulanov (117.1 miles WSW of Kiev, coordinates 4942 2808). Other place
names on family documents include Padal (birthplaces of Frank’s parents that
could be any one of several places including referring to Podolia, Veronovitz
(Harry Fine’s birthplace, and also one of many) and Kamenetz, (probably
Kamenech'ye, 117.7 miles south of Kiev, coordinates 4844 3042; or
“Kamenitsa (Podluzhe)” 212.1 miles west of Kiev, coordinates 5021 2542),
Anna Fine’s birthplace.
Minnie Fine Darr’s naturalization documents state that she was born in
Odessa, the same city as her husband Alexander. Odessa is approximately
240 miles away from Berdichev. This researcher questions whether this is
accurate information written expeditiously when the naturalization
document was completed.
Ruth Fisher Gelbard’s list stated that Frank was a farmer and a miller in
Russia and that he arrived in London in 1898 and came to the United States
in 1902. Ethel Darr stated that Frank had a “bar room” by a mill pond (in
Russia).
Frank Fine apparently also changed his first name for easier cultural
assimilation in the United States. Ruth Fisher Gelbard stated that his first
name was Fishel. This is listed on Bella’s death certificate and on their
13
daughter Pearl’s marriage record (as “Fisher” Finegold). Fishel apparently
translates to Phillip as one of his grand daughter’s, Phyllis Fine Weinberg,
said that she was named after him.
Bella’s first name does not appear to change much over time although there
is a one instance of her being identified as Bell, one indicating Belle, and one
where she is called Bailie. Her maiden name, however, is somewhat of a
mystery. Ruth Fisher Gelbard wrote her grandmother’s maiden name as
“Hirshenson” on a family list. No other record of that name (associated with
this family) can be found although the name exists among other Russian
Jews. Bella’s Massachusetts death certificate lists Louis Rodman as her
father’s name. Bella’s death was reported by Jack ”Gershinvitz” (Jack
Gersinovitch), Bella’s daughter Anna’s husband who (both) lived with Bella at
the time of her death. Earlier, on her own application for Social Security in
1952, Anna had written her mother’s maiden name as “Roitman,” a variation
of Rodman. The 1936 application for Social Security by Bella’s son Harry
lists his mother’s maiden name as Frankel athough his 1921 marriage
certificate lists his mother as “Bella Roteman.” No other reference to the
name Frankel can be found. Finally, the marriage record of Frank and Bella’s
daughter Pearl lists Esther Attell as Pearl’s mother’s name.
No other
record of this name can be found either. Therefore, it is a somewhat
subjective decision by the researcher to assign Rodman as Bella’s maiden
name.
The mystery of Bella’s maiden name is unsolved. During a visit with Ruth
Darr in 2000, she was asked about the names Hirshenson and Rodman. She
could not say what her grandmother’s maiden name was but stated that “we
had Rodman relatives in Lynn” and “one had tobacco and cigar store in Lynn
Square.” The Rodmans lived in Stoneham and were related to Bella (Ruth
Darr). During the conversation, she remembered a Becky Hirschensen saying
“Throw another cup of water in the soup,” meaning that there was always
room for (newly immigrated) family members. She vaguely remembered
“there was a cousin Mima (and also a Bella), Mima being Yiddish for aunt.”
It is possible that Bella was Frank’s second wife but there is no confirmation
of this in any record found or through any interview.
14
1910 United States Census
Frank and Bella Fine were listed on the 1910 United States Census (taken on
May 5) in Malden, Massachusetts. Frank, age 55, was listed as the head of
the family. Based on his age, his approximate year of birth was 1855. He
and Bella, age 52 (approximate year of birth 1858), had been married for 35
years, making their year of marriage about 1875. They were living in a house
they owned that had a mortgage at 7 Bowdoin Street in Malden. Living with
them were their children: Annie, age 19, and their son, Harry, age 17. A
border named Tony Green was also living in the house. Frank’s citizenship
status was listed as “alien.” The census stated that all four Fines were born
in Russia (and that their parents were born in Russia) and that their native
language was Yiddish. Frank, Harry and Annie came to the United States in
1904; Bella’s date of immigration is indistinct and could be 1890 (this seems
unlikely). Bella had nine children, five of whom were still alive. It is likely
that these five children were Miriam (Minnie), Sarah, Pearl, Anna (listed)
and Harry (listed).
All four in the household in 1910 were listed as being able to read and write.
Frank and Bella could speak English. Frank’s occupation was dairy farmer and
Anna was a forewoman in a shirtwaist factory. Anna was employed on April
15, 1910 and all throughout 1909.
1920 United States Census
Frank and Bella were also listed on the 1920 United States Census (taken on
January 22), now at 135 Bowdoin Street. Based on a comparison of the
names listed on Bowdoin Street in the Malden city directories of the period,
this change of address appears to be a change in house numbering, not an
actual move. They owned this house and it had a mortgage. Frank was 68
and Bella 66 years old. These ages are not consistent with the 1910 ages. It
is possible that the dates have been misread. Also living in the house were
their daughter Annie, age 24, and Annie’s husband, Jacob Gersinovitz (Jack
Gersinovitch), age 27. Frank and Bella were listed as “aliens” and Annie’s
status is “Na” meaning she was a naturalized citizen and attained this in
1918. Jack’s place of birth was listed as Massachusetts. Frank and Bella
(and their parents) were born in Russia and their native language was
15
Yiddish. Frank, Bella and Annie immigrated to the United States in 1904.
All four members of the household could read and write. Frank and Bella
could not speak English. Frank’s occupation was dairy farmer; Jacob was a
driver for a laundry.
1930 United States Census
Bella was listed as living with her daughter Anna and son-in-law Jacob
Gersinovitch at 120 Lyme Street in the 1930 Census. She owned the house
valued at $5500 and had a radio. She was 69 and widowed. Her immigration
status is “Al” (alien) and her year of immigration to the United States is
listed as 1903.
Malden City Directories
The Malden city directories show that Frank and Bella lived at 7 Bowdoin
Street (and later 135 Bowdoin) from 1908 to 1921 and Bella lived at 120
Lyme Street from 1925 (when Frank died) until the last directory listing in
1936 which stated her date of death as February 4, 1935. Interestingly,
Bella’s last name is listed as Finegold in the 1932-33, 1934-36 and 1935-36
editions. In this last edition, she is listed as the widow of “Fishel” rather
than of “Frank.”
Frank’s profession in the directories is consistent – he is a milkman in all of
the editions from 1908 to 1921. Maps of Malden in these directories show
that Bowdoin Street was at the edge of development (no other street was
parallel to it to the east), allowing for fields for livestock grazing.
Frank’s Death
According to Frank’s Massachusetts’ death certificate, he died on April 2,
1925 at home in Malden at 120 Lyme Street (they apparently moved from
Bowdoin Street between 1921 and 1925). The cause of death was a cerebral
hemorrhage. His age was listed at 74, placing his year of birth at
approximately 1851. Frank’s occupation was listed as “milk dealer” and that
he had lived in Malden for 18 years (since about 1907). Thomas M. Durell
certified the death and Max Quint was the undertaker. His burial was on
April 2 at one of the Woburn Jewish cemeteries (probably Anshe Poland).
16
Frank’s death was reported by his son-in-law, “Siman” Fine (Simon or Samuel
Fine, husband of Sarah Fine).
Ruth Darr remembered that her grandfather Frank was just like Tevya from
“Fiddler on the Roof,” an old-world dairy farmer from the shtetl.
Ruth Darr told the author that Bella was “treated like a queen” as a widow.
She would sit in the parlor of her house with a “frankly fake reddish-brown
wig.” Jewish women who followed the religion’s and culture’s rules wore long
sleeves and wigs to not make themselves attractive to men other than their
husbands, so wearing a wig would have been traditional for Bella, even though
she was a widow. Ruth Darr remembers Bella, her grandmother, as stating
that she was from Vilna Guberniya. This province is in modern day Lithuania
and quite a distance from the Berdichev region. Berdichev is in the former
Volhynia Guberniya, a name that could have been confused with Vilna.
Bella’s Death
Bella’s death certificate states that she died at home at 120 Lyme Street in
Malden on February 4, 1935 of a coronary embolism with arteriosclerosis as
a contributory cause of death. She had lived in Malden for 28 years and had
been in the United States for 30 years, placing her date of immigration as
about 1905. Bella’s age was listed as 82, placing her date of birth at
approximately 1853. Her deceased husband was Fishel “Fingold.” Under
“profession,” she had done “housework” for 62 years, ending in January,
1933. S. Hoberman was the physician present and Morris Schwartz was the
undertaker. Bella’s father’s name was listed as Louis Rodman and “unable to
obtain” is listed instead of her mother’s maiden name. Melvin Fine and
Phyllis Fine Weinberg confirmed that Bella had lived with Anna and Jack
Gersonovitch after Frank died.
The Massachusetts death certificate states that Bella was buried in the
“Anshey Polin” cemetery in Woburn on February 5, 1935.
17
Chapter 2
The Immigrant Finegold Children
The Children of Bella and Frank Fine
Unknown Children of Bella and Fishel
The 1910 Census states that Bella had nine children, five of whom were living
in 1910. The five living children were apparently Miriam (Minnie), Sarah,
Pearl, Anna and Harry. Lewis Feingold is a sibling who died in 1906. Phyllis
Weinberg stated that her father Harry had two older brothers who died
early. Records of the remaining three children’s names cannot be located.
Sarah Fine
Origins and Immigration
Sarah Fine, the first or second oldest child of Frank and Bella (about who
information can be found), stated on her Petition for Naturalization form
that her birth date was June 15, 1882 in Berdichev, Russia. Information on
the 1920 and 1930 census documents indicates birth closer to 1884 in
Russia. Melvin Fine, Sarah’s son, told the author that the family came from
a shtetl named Alanev.
On the 1920 Census, the name “Podolia” is lined through and “Russia” is left
as the country of origin. As stated above, Podolia is a gubernia (province).
Sarah immigrated to the United States about 1905 (1910, 1920 Census),
1907 (1930 Census) or on her Petition for Naturalization, December 14,
1904. She came from Liverpool on the SS Cymric to Boston.
Sarah married to Sholom (then Simon and/or Samuel) Hyamovitch (also
Chamowitz and other spellings; born March 17, 1879, date of death unknown)
on September 10, 1900 in Berdichev, Russia. Samuel took Sarah’s maiden
name Fine as their married name. Richard Justin Fields, the grandson of
18
Sarah and Simon, recalls hearing that his grandparents had never met until
the day of their wedding but didn’t object to the arrangement. Based on
documentation, Sarah and Simon had nine children, although there is
information for six.: Amy, Perle (originally Pearl), Rose, Israel (Leo, later
Zeke), Melvin and Robert.
1910 United States Census
The 1910 Census, conducted on May 4, lists Sarah and Samuel, here called
Sadie and Simon, were living in Malden at 13 Alden Street. They owned the
house and it had a mortgage. Simon was listed as being 30 years old (born in
approximately 1880) but Sadie’s age was indistinctly written. They had
been married for 11 years, placing their year of marriage in about 1899,
which would have been before their immigration to the United States. This
was noted to be 1905 for both of them. Living with them were their three
living children: Amy (age seven), Pearl (age four), and Rose (age is fraction of
a year). While Sadie had three children living, she had given birth to six. It
is not know if these children died in Russia, England or in Massachusetts.
Simon, Sadie and Amy were born in Russia and spoke Yiddish. Pearl and Rose
were born in Massachusetts. Simon’s and Sadie’s parents were born in
Russia and spoke Yiddish. Simon’s immigration status was listed as “Pa”
(papers – had applied). Both Simon and Sadie spoke English and could read
and write. Simon was a farmer at a “milk farm” listed as “OO” (owneroperator?). Amy was the only family member in school.
1920 United States Census
On January 22, 1920, the 1920 Census listed Simon and Sarah as owning a
house at 48 Alden Street in Malden, Massachusetts. They had a mortgage.
Simon’s age was unreadable (41 or 45?); Sarah was 36 years old. Also living
in the home were their daughters Amy (age 17), Pearl (age 14), Rose (age 11)
and sons Israel (age nine) and Melvin (2 ½).
Sarah and Amy’s citizenship status is listed as “Al” (alien), Simon as “Pa” and
the others were born in Massachusetts. Simon, Sarah, and Amy were (and
their parents) were born in Russia. All of their native languages were
Yiddish. Simon, Sarah and Amy emigrated to the US in 1905. All the
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children except Melvin attended school. Amy, Pearl, and Rose could read and
write; so could Simon and Sarah. All the family members could speak English
except Israel and Melvin. Simon was listed as a dairy farmer (selfemployed).
1930 United States Census
The 1930 Census, taken on April 8 of that year, listed Samuel and Sarah as
owning a house at 48 Alden Street in Malden, Massachusetts. The house was
valued at $4000. They owned a radio set. Samuel’s age was 51; Sarah was
46 years old. Also living in the home were their daughters Amy (age 23),
Pearl (age 21), Rose (age 19), and sons Israel (age 18), Melvin (age 13) and
Robert (age eight).
Samuel was first married at age 26, Sarah at age 21. Pearl, Melvin and
Robert were attending school. Samuel, Sarah and Amy were born in Russia.
Samuel and Sarah’s parents were born in Russia. They spoke Yiddish before
coming to the United States. The others were all born in Massachusetts.
Samuel, Sarah and Amy emigrated to the US in 1907 (a change from the two
previous census information). Samuel was a naturalized citizen; Sarah and
Amy were listed as aliens. All family members except Robert were listed as
being able to speak English or read and write.
Samuel was the proprietor of a laundry. Amy was a bookkeeper at a
furniture office. Rose was a bookkeeper in a clothing office. Israel was a
chauffeur for a laundry.
Malden City Directories
Samuel and Sadie (Sarah) appear in every (available) Malden city directory
from 1909 to 1935-36. The first listed addresses were 9 Bowdoin Street
(1909), 13 Alden Street (1910), 96 Lyme Street (1911-12), and then 118 Lyme
Street in 1913 and 1914. They lived at 48 Alden Street from 1915 until the
final directory listing in the 1935-36 edition. The directory for 1929 lists
“49”Alden; this is likely an error. Sarah was first listed in the 1917
directory.
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Samuel’s profession varied from being a “milkman” or simply “milk” (1909,
1910, 1911-12, 1913 and 1914) to “driver” (1915, 1916) to “barrels” (1924) and
finally to operating a laundry called the "Service Wet Wash Laundry" (1925,
1927, 1929). In 1927, the laundry was located at 103 Lyme Street and
Samuel’s position was listed as “sec and treas.” Finally, in the 1933-34 and
1935-36 directories, he was listed only as “mgr” with no specific business.
Samuel’s World War I Draft Registration
Simon Fine registered for the World War I draft in Malden on September
12, 1918. He listed his age as 39 and his birth date as “February ?, 1879.”
Simon’s address is 48 Alden Street. He was in the “milk business” and his
nearest relative was Sarah Fine. Simon described himself as being of
medium height and build with brown eyes and black hair.
Naturalization Information
Some information from Sarah’s Petition for Naturalization, completed on
November 15, 1951, has already been referenced above.
Additional
information includes her physical description:
69 years old, medium
complexion, 160 pounds, 5’3”, brown eyes and brown-gray hair.
She and
Samuel came to Boston together in 1904, she under the name Sare
Chamowitz. He, too, was born in Berdichev. Sarah listed her four living
children, their birth dates and where they were living then. Amy and Rose
had died prior to 1951. Sarah made her mark “X” to sign the form – a
notation was made: “Petitioner physically unable to sign. Witness to mark:”
Her husband Samuel and her son Melvin came with her to attest to the
accuracy of the information and Sarah’s good character. Sarah became a
citizen on April 28, 1952.
Interviews
The author met with Melvin and Dorothy Fine in 2001. Melvin stated that
Samuel’s original name was Hyamovitch and that he took his wife’s last name.
Samuel had cows, Sarah milked. They also had wet laundry. Sam belonged to
Anshe Poland synagogue. They had ten children originally; at least one baby
had died in Russia. Sarah was nicknamed Sutzie (Ruth Darr); Samuel’s
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Hebrew name was Sholam. Melvin said that Sarah and Samuel came to Ellis
Island from Germany to Liverpool but that record cannot be located.
Sarah Fine died on August 13, 1968 at the Forest Street Nursing Home.
The name on her Massachusetts death certificate was “Sarah Fine
(Finegold).” She had been a resident of Salem Towers in Malden (housing for
low to middle income seniors developed by Temple Beth Israel of Malden)
for two years. The cause of death was aterioscleratic heart disease due to
coronary thrombosis. She was 90 years old and had been widowed. Her son
Leo Fine was the informant – he reported that her father was Frank
Finegold and her mother “Bella (CBL).” This last abbreviation is likely
“cannot be learned.” Sarah was buried in the Anshe Poland Cemetery in
Woburn on August 14.
Miriam "Minnie" Fine Darr
Origins and Immigration
Miriam “Minnie” Fine is likely the oldest (or second oldest) child of Frank and
Bella about whom information could be found. Minnie stated (on her Petition
for Naturalization) that she had been born in Odessa, Russia on September
27, 1883. Minnie was married to Alexander Darr (Alek or Alec; born July 4,
1877, died about 1957). They had three children: Ethel (born in Quincy,
Massachusetts on March 30, 1907), Leo (born in Quincy, Massachusetts on
March 14, 1910), and Ruth (born in Quincy, Massachusetts on August 14,
1915).
Minnie stated that she came to the United States from Odessa, Russia in
1903 on the SS Zeeland although her name cannot be found on the ship’s
immigration manifest. Minnie stated that she left Odessa on October 15.
The ship embarked from Antwerp, Belgium on October 17, 1903 (manifest)
and arrived at Ellis Island, New York on October 22 (re Minnie, but probably
October 26-27, from the ship’s manifest).
Ethel Darr Sloane recalled the following about her mother: Minnie was about
15 or 16 when she left her mother and father in Russia to come to the
22
United States with an aunt and uncle. They opened a food store in Roxbury.
Minnie was skinny but she ate grapes and got plump.
1910 United States Census
The 1910 Census, taken on April 15 of that year, lists the Darr family (Alec,
Minnie, Ethel and Leo) living at 17 Pine Street (formerly Water Street re
the census page notation) in Quincy, Massachusetts, the first city south of
Boston along the ocean. Another family also lived at this address. Living
with the Darrs was a border named Michael Bangerud. Minnie was the first
of the Fines to move away from Malden.
Minnie was listed as 23 years old, Alec was 37, Ethel was three and Leo was
“1/12”. They had been married for four years, placing their approximate
year of marriage as 1906 (no record can be found at the Massachusetts
State Archive). Minnie had given birth to two children and two were alive.
Alec and Minnie were both from Russia (and “Yiddish” is listed as well) with
their mothers and fathers both being Russian. Alec immigrated to the
United States in 1904 (more likely, 1903 re his naturalization papers) and his
immigration is “Al” (alien). There was no immigration or citizenship status
listed for Minnie. Both adults spoke Russian. Alec’s profession was listed as
being milk peddling, a business which he owned. He was not out of work on
April 15 and had not been out of work in 1909. Alec could read and write but
Minnie could not.
1920 United States Census
The Darrs were listed on the 1920 Census (taken on January 5), still in
Quincy, but now at 24 Walnut Street. Alexander, Minnie, Ethel and Leo
were joined by a new child, Ruth, who is listed as “4 3/12” years old. Minnie’s
age was 33, Alex was 45, Ethel was 12, and Leo was nine. Minnie’s and
Alexander’s dates of immigration were both 1901 and their immigration
status was both “Al” (alien). Both were able to read and write.
The place of birth and “mother tongue” for both Minnie and Alexander was
listed as “Russia” and “Jewish” as well for both their parents. Both adults
spoke English. Alexander’s profession was indistinctly written (perhaps
“teaming”) but it is clear that he was an employee for a contractor.
23
1930 United States Census
Alex (age 54) and Minnie (age 46) Darr were enumerated on the 1930 Census
on April 8 of that year. The census states that the family lived at 85
Quincy Shore Drive (worth $10,000) in Quincy and that they had a
mortgage. They had a radio set. Living with their parents in 1930 were
their three children: Ethel, age 23, Leo, age 20, and Ruth, age 14. All were
born in Massachusetts and none of them were married. All family members
could read and write. Leo and Ruth had attended school since September 1,
1929. Minnie and Alek spoke “Jewish” in their home before coming to the
United States. Minnie and Alek were naturalized citizens.
Alek and Minnie had been married for 24 years (and therefore in
approximately 1906). Their ages at their first marriage were 30 (Alec) and
22 (Minnie). Their immigration to Massachusetts was 1903 for Minnie and
1904 for Alek. They were naturalized citizens. Alek’s profession was listed
as mason in the building industry as an employer. Ethel’s profession (as an
employee) was listed as stenographer in a law office. Both Alek and Ethel
had worked the previous day (or on their last scheduled work day). Alek was
listed as not being a veteran of military service.
Quincy City Directories
Quincy City directories show “Aleck Tarrakoff,” a milkman, living at 17 River
Avenue in the 1909/10 edition. The next year’s listing has Alexander Darr at
28 Walnut Street where they lived until the 1930-31 listing at 85 Quincy
Shore Road. Minnie G. was first listed in 1924 and the adult children in
1930/31, 1934, and 1935. Alex was a contractor as of the 1924 listing.
Ethel (secretary) and Leo (student) are listed at the same address. The
1945 Quincy City Directory lists Alek and Minnie G. living at 69 Quincy
Shore Boulevard. He was in real estate. Also living with them was their
daughter Ruth who is listed as director of social service for “QC Hospital”
(Quincy Community Hospital?).
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Naturalization Information
Minnie’s Petition for Naturalization in the Massachusetts Superior Court in
Quincy was dated June 26, 1929. She was 46 years old, a housewife, and
lived at 85 Quincy Shore Boulevard in the Atlantic neighborhood of Quincy.
Besides immigration information listed above, she detailed the names and
birth dates of her three children. These dates, the ones Alexander had
listed, on his citizenship information, and the records from Massachusetts,
are all different. Also written on the petition is “omitted under provisions
of qt of Sept. 22, 1922.” This may be a reference to a quota but there is
another “omitted” comment that Minnie’s “Husband naturalized on May 25,
1925 at Boston, Mass.” Minnie renounced her “allegiance and fidelity to any
foreign prince, potentate, state or sovereignty, and particularly to the State
of Russia.” The witnesses were Richard J. Barry and Ralph W. Prout, both
of Quincy. Minnie was administered the Oath of Allegiance to become a
citizen by R. B. Worthington on February 24, 1930.
Interviews
In taped interviews in the 1990s, Leo and Ethel stated that “Darr” was the
name written by some authority in Massachusetts when Alexander applied
for a license (driving or business). Alexander had been using the name
“Tarr,” a name derived from Tarakoff and before that, Tarakoffsky. Minnie
married in 1905. A couple who were cousins introduced Minnie to Alek. He
worked in a shoe factory.
Leo and Ethel stated that Odessa was Alexander’s point of origin in Russia.
Leo said that the Jews were a minority and that it was “a tough place for
Jewish people to live.”
Interviews, both taped and in person, stated that Minnie’s Yiddish nickname
was Muntzya (Melvin) or Muntzie (Ruth Darr). Alexander’s nickname was
Nunya (Ruth Darr). Someone also attributed the name “Gittle” to Minnie.
Some Quincy city directories listed her as “Minnie G. Darr.” Leo described
his mother as “kind and concerned” and that she would “do anything in the
world” for someone if needed. Minnie and Alek were observant of the
holidays but not religiously.
25
Alek rented a dairy barn in Quincy and sold milk. He did not drive a milk
wagon but went to Dorchester and Roxbury on Sundays to collect payments.
He sometimes took Leo and Ethel. Leo stated that after his father had
liquidated the dairy business, he went into construction.
Ruth Darr said that her father Alexander had worked in a shoe factory in
Lynn and lived in Chelsea. Ethel (or Leo) said that Alexander was so
productive, he was paid for his own work and again under the name of a
fictitious worker.
In 1931, when Minnie’s sister Pearl Fine Kuznitz was in Plymouth State Prison
(see details below), Minnie would visit her every Wednesday (Ruth Darr).
Minnie had learned to drive at age 45. Minnie kept a kosher household until
Bella died in 1935. Minnie would regularly visit her mother in Malden in the
morning on Sundays and bring her eggs and produce from her garden. Ruth
stated that her mother had worked in a shirtwaist factory for $3 a week
and had been promoted to be a forelady at $6 a week. Minnie also had told
Ruth that there were cousins who came over to the US from Russia when
they turned 18 to take care of younger children – but no names were
identified.
Ethel Darr Sloane recounts that Minnie was climbing down a ladder in the
barn one day while holding baby Leo. She fell, protected Leo, but broke her
arm - it never healed correctly. They lived in a two bedroom house. Alek
and Leo were in one bedroom, Minnie and Ruth in the other. Ethel slept on
an enclosed porch. “Mujiks” (Russian peasants, especially prior to 1917)
worked in the dairy. When World War I came, the mujiks stopped coming
and Alek went out of the milk business. According to Ethel, she didn’t see
her parents be affectionate with each other. When Ethel was 18, her
father bought her a car. Then she had to share it with Leo when he was old
enough to drive. Minnie could read the newspaper and sign her name. Leo
Darr stated that his mother Minnie wrote in “Jewish” and played cards for
fun.
Minnie died in a hospital in Quincy on September 11, 1956 of a mycardial
infarction with complications from coronary thrombosis. She had been living
at 69 William T. Morrisey Boulevard. Leo stated that she had previously had
a heart attack. Minnie’s death was reported by her daughter Ethel Darr
Sloane. Minnie’s parents’ names on her death certificate were Frank
26
Finegold and Bella (no last name). Minnie was buried at Sharon Memorial
Park on September 12. She was 72 years old.
Pearl Fine Fisher/Kuznitz
Pearl Fine was born July 19, 1887 in Russia (from her death certificate)
although she stated that her birthday was May 12, 1889 on her Petition for
Naturalization in 1950. Pearl also listed “Alanev, Padolia, Russia” as her place
of birth. No village or town with the name Alanev can be located although
there is a shtetl named Ulanov near Berdichev.
Pearl’s Yiddish nickname was Pitzie and her name was also translated to
Pauline. She is referred to as “Lena” in some Malden city directories and
“Polly” on some documents. Pearl may have come to the United States with
her parents, Bella and Frank Fine, in about 1904 or 1905. As an adult later in
life, Pearl’s daughter, Ruth Fisher Gelbard, told the author that his
grandmother drank tea with milk and sugar, a habit she had acquired in
England where they had lived before emigrating to Massachusetts.
Pearl’s naturalization information lists her date of arrival in the United
States as April 15, 1907 in New York. The name of the ship was unknown;
any confirmation of this information cannot be located at this time. Pearl
described herself on her Petition for Naturalization (in 1950) as being 61
years old, 136 pounds, 5’1”, of medium complexion, with brown hair and brown
eyes. It is noted that she referred to her maiden name as being spelled
“Feingold.” When she went to complete the citizenship process on November
6, 1950, she brought two friends to testify to the accuracy of her
information and good character. They were Ida Cohen of 5 Leston Street
and Dora Shaer of 78 Woolson Street, both of Mattapan. Pearl was granted
citizenship on December 18, 1950.
The earliest document found regarding Pearl is her marriage record in the
Massachusetts Vital Records office. It states that she married Barnet
Fisher in Boston on December 14, 1909. The marriage was performed by
Justice of the Peace D. Rosenthal, and recorded as of February 8, 1910. She
was 20 years old and worked as a bookkeeper. She is listed as being born in
Russia and this was her first marriage. Her father is listed as “Fisher”
27
Finegold and her mother as Esther Attel. It has been assumed that her
mother was Bella Rodman Fine. The name Esther Attel is not known by any
relative. Barnet was a tailor with his father’s name listed as Joseph Fisher
and his mother listed as Rebecca Kusinkofsky. This last name is also a
mystery as Joseph’s wife Rebecca’s death certificate states that her
maiden name was Verchik.
1910 United States Census
The 1910 Census provides information about Pearl and her new husband
Barnet, whose name is spelled “Barnard.” An examination of Enumeration
District #908, shows Pearl and Barnet living at 352 Eastern Avenue, a block
south of the railroad tracks at the edge of the Suffolk Square neighborhood
in Malden. Pearl’s parents, Frank and Bella, are living just a few blocks away
at #7 Bowdoin Street. And on the very same street, Barnet’s parents,
Joseph and Rebecca Fisher, are living at #1 Bowdoin! It appears that Pearl
and Barnet may have been the proverbial “girl and boy next door” with a
limited number of houses in between their family dwellings.
Barnet is listed as the “head of the family.” They rented the house that
they shared with another family, the Silvermans. Barnet was 23 years old
(making his approximate year of birth 1887) and Pearl was 22 (giving her the
approximate year of birth of 1888). They had been married “0” years and
had no children. Barnet was a naturalized citizen; no designation was listed
for Pearl. Both were born in Russia and their native languages were listed as
Yiddish. The same is true for each of their parents. The year of
immigration for each is indistinct, but Barnet’s appears to be 1899. He
would have only been 12 years old and his immigration would have preceded
that of other family members. He was working in a tailor shop. No
profession is listed for Pearl. Both could read and write and neither were in
school.
Barnet and Pearl had four children, all born in Malden: Saul (born December
29, 1910), Fred (born August 28, 1912), Ruth (born June 28, 1914) and
Sidney (born February 12, 1917).
28
1920 United States Census
When the 1920 Census was taken, Pearl was a widow, living with her three
surviving children, Saul age 9, Rosie (Ruth, age 5) and Sidney (age 3½). Pearl
was 32 years old. Saul and Rosie were in school. Barnet had died in 1919 at
the age of 33 from tuberculosis. He had been in the Rutland State
Santarium when he registered for the draft with the help of another
person. It is possible that he died there.
On the census, it was stated that Pearl could read and write English. The
family lived at 90 Suffolk Street and had a mortgage. A young couple,
Michael and Annie Jacobson were also living at this address. Information
from this census enumeration includes Pearl’s date of immigration to the US
in 1904. No trade or profession was listed for her.
Pearl’s Marriage to Harry Kuznitz
Melvin Fine stated that Rebecca Fisher, Joseph Fisher’s wife, thought it
would be a good idea if Harry Kuznitz married Pearl as she was a widow with
three children. Harry had been married to Sarah Fisher, Barnet’s sister,
but she died in 1927. Now that Barnet was gone, it seemed that Harry and
Pearl would be a good match. Harry was a tailor and Pearl had a house.
Pearl and Harry were married on January 27, 1928 in Providence, Rhode
Island, even though they obtained a Massachusetts marriage certificate.
Harry was listed a tailor and Pearl was “at home.” Harry’s parents were
listed as Joseph Kuznitz” and “Bella (not known).” Pearl’s parents are Frank
Finegold and “Bertha (not known). The author guesses that Harry applied
for the license as Pearl would have known her mother’s maiden name. The
ceremony was performed by Rabbi David H. Bachrach of 515 North Main
Street in Providence. Both the bride and the groom listed Malden as their
residences and both were widowed. Ruth Fisher Gelbard remembered that a
miniature tea set, now in the author’s possession, was purchased by her
mother on her honeymoon in Montreal.
29
1930 United States Census
The 1930 Census shows a considerably different household than in 1920.
Pearl and Harry Kuznitz were married and living at 90 Suffolk Street with
their combined families. Besides Harry and Pearl were Pearl’s three
children, Saul, Ruth and Sidney. Also in the household were Harry’s three
boys from his marriage to Sarah Fisher: Irving, Louis and Rubin. Rebecca
Fisher was living with them, too. And finally, Pearl and Harry had a new
baby, Evelyn, born in 1929.
According to Ruth Fisher Gelbard, Pearl worked hard after Barnet’s death
to make ends meet. Pearl began to be involved in the bootlegging business,
making alcohol in her attic. Patricia Darr remembered that Malden was a
“hotbed” of bootleggers and they were involved in buying sugar to make
alcohol. Leo Darr mentioned the term “alchie splits.” The Malden Evening
News of the late 1920s and early 1930s has articles about the activities of
police “liquor squads” and various arrests of those manufacturing or selling
illegal alcohol. In one edition, the sometimes controversial police chief of
Malden, Commissioner Sweezey, stated that “Malden will be dry as a bone.”
Pearl continued to make alcohol. The neighborhood police, who had looked
the other way when Pearl was a widow, arrested her about 1929. Ruth saw
the moonshine being poured out of the attic window when she was coming
home from school one day. She was thrown out of sorority at school and
shamed. Pearl was convicted and sentenced to a year in prison. Evelyn and
Ruth went to live with Auntie Annie Gersinovich. Pearl served a one year
term (as told to the author by Ruth Fisher Gelbard). She was listed on the
1930 Census in Malden (as noted above) but she is also has a second census
listing as a “prisoner” as Pearl “Kusnitz”) in the Plymouth County Jail and
House of Correction in Plymouth, Massachusetts. This enumeration listed
her age as 45, her age at her first marriage at 21, that she was from Russia
(as were here parents), and that she was a “mender” in jail (although one
family member said that she became the cook for the warden). She also
stated that she could not read and write. “MP” was listed under her
classification of worker (Massachusetts Prisoner?) and she had been at work
the day before. This enumeration was conducted on April 9, 1930, the
Malden enumeration being on April 8. The Plymouth County Jail does not
have records from 1930 - the original jail building in which Pearl spent her
time was only torn down about 2003.
30
The author remembers that his mother, Ruth Fisher Gelbard, spoke fondly
of her mother Pearl. Some of the stories included waiting up at night for
her mother to come home from work – she always brought Ruth an Eskimo
Pie. Pearl made gefilte fish and keep the ingredients swimming in the
bathtub until they were ready to participate.
Rebecca Fisher apparently had moved to Revere shortly after the 1930
Census was taken. Ruth moved to New York as soon as she graduated from
high school in 1932. Saul married Shirley Grinker and presumably moved out
by 1936, Sidney went to the Middlesex Sanitarium and died there in 1941.
It is not known when the Kuznitz boys would have moved.
A letter from Sidney Fisher to his sister Ruth in January, 1941, stated that
the family was moving to 10 Leston Street in Dorchester. Boston city
directories show Pearl and Harry living with Evelyn in at 10 Leston Street
(Mattapan) in the years 1947-52. By 1957 and through the mid 1960s, Pearl
and Harry lived in a three decker at 664 Morton Street in Dorchester.
Harry and Pearl moved to Florida in the mid 1960s. Harry died there in
1968. Pearl died in June, 1971 in Tampa, Florida. Her death was reported by
her son, Saul Fisher. He listed Frank Finegold and Bella “unobt” as her
parents. The cause of death was coronary thrombosis due to heart disease.
Pearl was buried next to her second husband Harry in the Lord Rothschild
Cemetery in West Roxbury, Massachsuetts. She was 83 years old.
Lewis Feingold
Lewis Feingold’s death certificate (“Return of a Death – 1906”) from
Massachusetts is the only reference to him although Ruth Darr knew that
one of her mother’s brothers had died in a city hospital in Boston. Lewis
died on October 25, 1906 at the Boston City Hospital at 25 Kirkland Street.
He had been admitted on October 22. Lewis’ age was 16, placing his year of
birth at approximately 1890. The cause of death was “strangulated hernia”
with “mesenteric thrombosis” listed as a contributory cause. Lewis’ father
was Frank Feingold and his mother was Bailie Rotman. The author has made
the assumption that these are Frank and Bella Fine. Lewis was born in Russia
31
and he was a peddler. Lewis was buried in the Montvale section of the
Woburn Jewish cemeteries, Morris Stanetsky being the undertaker.
The certificate also notes that Lewis’ usual residence was Boston (not
Malden) but no address is listed.
Anna Fine Gersinovitch
Origins and Immigration
Anna Fine, the third child (to survive to adulthood) of Frank and Bella, was
born on April 29, 1893 in Kamenetz, Russia. She immigrated to the United
States about 1903 or 1904.
Anna married Jacob (Jack) Gersinovitch on April 30, 1918 in Lynnfield,
Massachusetts. Her last name was spelled “Fingold” on the marriage
registration. Jacob was 25 years old, was a farmer, and this was his first
marriage. He had been born in Boston. Annie had been born in Russia and
lived at 135 Bowdoin Street in Malden. She was a dressmaker. She listed
her father as Frank Fingold and her mother as “Ella Ropeman (Bella
Rodman?). Jack and Anna never had children. They had been married by
Rabbi B. Boruchoff of Malden, the most prominent rabbi in the Suffolk
Square community.
Census Information
Anna (also called Annie) lived with her parents at 7 Bowdoin Street in
Malden in 1910. She was 19 years old and was employed as a forewoman in a
shirtwaist factory. Annie had worked on April 15 and all through 1909.
In the 1920 Census, Annie was now married to Jacob “Gersinovitz.” She was
24, he was 27 years old. They were still living with Annie’s parents but the
address was changed to 135 Bowdoin Street (likely the same house but
renumbered). Annie’s year of immigration was listed as 1904 and her year of
naturalization as 1918.
32
Annie lived with Bella and Jack during the 1930 Census: she was 36, he was
37, she had been first married at age 24. In 1930, they had a radio. Jack
was manager (employee) of a laundry. Annie came to the US in 1903 and she
was a naturalized citizen. It is apparent that the ages recorded for Annie
are inconsistent with the 10 year intervals of the 1910 and 1920 census
enumerations relative to her birth date in 1893.
City Directories
Annie and Jack were living at 108 Lyme Street in Malden as noted in the
1924, 1925 and 1927 Malden city directories. They moved to 120 Lyme
Street (to live with Bella) as of the 1929 Malden directory and had this
address for several years (1932-33, 1934-35, 1935-36). Jack was listed as
a milkman in all of these directories.
The 1945 Quincy City Directory listed Annie and Jack living at 81 Appleton
Street. Jack was the proprietor of a delicatessen at 259-63 Beale Street
in Wollaston.
Interviews
Melvin Fine recalled that Annie was called Channa and that Jack had candy
machines. He also stated that Jack had helped Samuel Fine in the dairy
business.
Ruth Darr recalled that that Jack was a bootlegger at one time. She also
said that when Pearl Fisher went to prison, that Ruth Fisher and her sister
Evelyn went to live with Annie and Jack. Annie had a “mean streak; “ and
made Ruth wash Evelyn’s diapers – but also that she was good about caring
for Evelyn.
Annie lived at 81 Appleton Street in Quincy, MA in 1952 (SS-5)
The author and his wife visited with Annie in 1973 in Quincy. She died in
Quincy in February, 1976.
33
Harry Fine
Origins and Immigration
Harry Fine was the first male child of Frank and Bella to survive to
adulthood. His date of birth in Russia varies but he wrote January 1, 1894
on his World War I draft registration and January 1, 1895 on his Social
Security application in 1936. His daughter, Phyllis Fine Weinberg, stated
that he did not know his birthday so Harry decided that it would be January
1. He also recorded that he was born in Veronovitz, Russia.
Harry’s
grandson, Daniel Weinberg, related that Harry’s name was originally Enoch.
Phyllis recounted that he emigrated from Russia about 1902 but that it was
not easy. When Harry landed (at Ellis Island) he was detained at Castle
Garden (at about age six) because of a skin disease (chicken pox re Ruth
Darr). A network of immigrants in Liverpool helped Harry get back to the
United States but he landed in Philadelphia (at age 7 or 8), not in Boston.
Harry had lost his train ticket but through the kindness of a stranger, he
made way to Massachusetts to rejoin family. Harry’s immigration record
cannot be located through the Ellis Island website.
Census and Draft Registration Information
Harry lived with his parents, Frank and Bella, as listed on the 1910 Census.
He was 17 years old, could read and write as well as speak English. His
immigration date is listed as 1904.
Harry cannot be located on a 1920 Census enumeration as is true of his
mother, father, and several other family members. It is known, however,
that Harry registered for the World War I draft on June 17, 1917. At that
time, he worked for “Standard Machine Products Inclusive, Wappingers
Falls, N.Y” although he considered his address to be 135 Bowdoin Street in
Malden. He graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
that year and his draft registration states that he was in the “Mass.
Institute Technology Military Co.” His profession was listed as being a
chemical engineer, that he supported his mother and father, and that he was
single. He is described on this document as medium in height, medium of
build, with black hair and brown eyes.
34
Records at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology indicate that Harry
graduated in 1917 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering degree.
His daughter Phyllis stated that he was one of only three Jews in his class.
Roy Fine, Harry’s son, recalled that Harry had paid for college with
scholarships and through work he performed. During World War I, Harry
helped make bomb heads for Russia.
Harry and Esther were married on December 4, 1921, in Boston. He was 28
years old, a chemical engineer, and was living in Nashua, New Hampshire.
Esther was 24 and had been living at 8 Glenville Avenue in Boston. Harry had
been born in Russia; Esther in Boston. They were married by Rabbi Louis
Epstein of Boston. Harry listed his father as Fishel Fine and his mother as
Bella “Roteman.” This last entry is of interest because Harry later wrote (in
1936 on his Social Security application) that his mother’s last name was
“Frankel.”
It appears that the Fines were living in New Hampshire in 1922 (August 14),
as that is when Harry and Esther son Roy was born (1930 Census). Nashua
city directories list Harry and Esther living at 31 Chester in that city in
1923 and 1925. An additional address of 44 Franklin was listed, probably his
place of business. Harry’s vocation was listed as a chemist.
Harry, Esther, and his two children, Roy S. and Phyllis were listed on the
1930 Census enumeration that was taken on April 19. Harry was 34 years
old, Esther is 32, Roy is seven and Phyllis is “3 11/12.” Harry was first
married at age 26 and Phyllis at age 24. They owned their house worth
$13,000 and have a radio set. Harry was born in Russia, Esther in
Massachusetts, Roy in New Hampshire, and Phyllis in Rhode Island. This
census document clearly states that Harry immigrated to the United States
in 1920 and that he had filed papers for citizenship. This date may be an
enumerator’s error or that is when he last entered the country, perhaps
visiting Canada. Harry’s profession is listed as being a chemical engineer at a
paper mill and that he had been employed the previous day. Esther, whose
parents were both born in Russia, was the manager of a stationery store.
Roy Fine recalls that his father continued to work through the Great
Depression as the Superintendent of the American Coated Paper Company in
Pawtucket. His salary of $75 per week, which enabled the family to live
quite comfortably, was raised to $100 in about 1940.
35
Harry’s Social Security application in 1936 stated that he lived in Pawtucket,
Rhode Island and worked for American Coated Paper Company. He lived at
32 Paris Street. On this document, Harry lists his father as Frank Fine and
his mother as Belle Frankel.
Harry (or Harry and Esther) were listed in a number of Pawtucket/Central
Falls (Rhode Island) directories (1925 to 1946, not published every year).
Their address in 1925 was 105 Oak Hill Avenue in Pawtucket but all the rest
show 32 Paris Street in Pawtucket as their home. He was always listed
there as the superintendent of the American Coated Paper Company.
Interviews
Ruth Darr said that Harry’s Yiddish name was Ainesu. He had tuberculosis
and went to Jack Gersinovitch to get fresh eggs to drink to help (Ruthie
Darr). She also stated that Harry road his bike from MIT to visit Ruth’s
parents (Alec and Minnie) in North Quincy.
Roy Fine wrote the following about his father:
During this period, I observed him as a very nice person who allowed Mother
(Esther) to make just about all family decisions, especially those concerning
we children. He often said he would not interfere with small decisions, but
certainly would put his foot down and control major ones. There were no
major decisions to be made in my lifetime with him.
Also during this period, every other Sunday or so, he packed the family into
the car for the 1½ hour ride to the Boston area to visit his siblings; Minnie in
Quincy, Sarah and Annie in Malden, Pearl in ??? (Malden).
The family had a summer home on a beautiful lake in Greenville, RI and in
about 1965 converted it to a year round house where Harry and Esther
moved after both had retired. They made annual trips to Florida and
eventually moved there where they lived until Harry died in 1983. Shortly
afterwards Esther moved back to Providence where she died in 1987.
Harry was living in Sarasota, Florida when he died on October 4, 1983.
Records show that Esther died in July, 1987 in Providence, Rhode Island.
36
Chapter 3
The First American Finegold Generation
Of the known 16 grandchildren of Frank and Bella Fine, only Amy Fine was
born in Russia. All of the others were born in Massachusetts. They grew up
with Yiddish at home and in the neighborhood, but spoke English in school
and when they traveled outside of the Suffolk Square community. They
were the transitional generation from Old World ways and traditions to
future generations whose memories of old Malden, Quincy and Boston would
be based on stories they heard not on their own experiences.
The Children of Minnie and Alexander Darr
Ethel Darr
Ethel Darr, the first child of Minnie and Alexander Darr was born on March
30, 1907 in Massachusetts. She was likely the second Fine descendant born
in the United States (Perle Fine was the first in 1905). Ethel married
Samuel Sloane (originally Schlomovitz) and had two daughters, Barbara and
Linda (born September 2, 1939)
Census Information
Ethel was listed on the 1910 Census, taken on April 15 of that year. She was
three years old and the family, which now includes a baby brother Leo, was
living at a two family house at 17 Pine Street (formerly Water Street) in
Quincy.
The 1920 Census, taken on January 5, includes the Darrs, now at 24 Walnut
Street in Quincy. Ethel is 12 years old.
Ethel was living with her parents, Leo, and Ruth on April 8, 1930 in their
house at 85 Quincy Shore Drive. She was 23 years old and her profession
37
(as an employee) was listed as being a stenographer in a law office. Ethel had
worked the previous day (or on her last scheduled work day).
City Directories
Ethel is listed in two Quincy city directories: 1932, living at 85 Quincy Shore
Boulevard (with her parents) and in 1945 with her husband Sam at 121
Presidents Lane in Quincy.
Interviews
In 1998, Alexander Brown, the grandson of Linda Sloane Brown, interviewed
his grandmother Ethel. The following information was taken from those
interviews:
Ethel took a commercial course in high school but then worked on math to
get into Simmons College. She graduated from Simmons. Ethel was working
as a legal aide when she met Samuel G. Sloane, a lawyer. They married in
August 1934, in Brookline. Ethel and Sam lived with Minnie and Alexander
for a time (Leo).
Ethel recounted that she “never believed in fairy tales.” She never had to
wash a floor on her hands and knees. Sam got up with the babies with
bottle. She remembered him as being a kind and sweet person. Sam’s
brother Murray (Maishe) Sloane lived with them for a time. She had one
cousin who “was in leather” – perhaps from the Darr side. Ethel worked for
a female cousin in an office after the war for a time.
Sam Sloane died on March 27, 1978 in Boston. Ethel passed away on
February 8, 2001 when she was living near her sister Ruth in Belmont,
Massachusetts.
Leo Darr
Leo Darr, the second child of Minnie and Alexander Darr, was born March
14, 1910 in Malden, Massachusetts under the name Leo Tarr. His parents
registered the birth in both Malden and in Quincy. His father is listed as
38
“Allec” and his mother as Minnie Feingold. Allec was a milkman. Of interest
is that the very next birth registered on that day is for one Louis Tartikoff,
one of the names from which Darr was derived. The address is 7 Bowdoin
Street in Malden (no street address was listed for “Leo’s” birth), the home
of Minnie’s parents, Frank and Bella! Moreover, Louis’ father is listed as
Alexander and his mother as Minnie Feingold. It appears that Leo Darr was
also Louis Tartikoff. Leo’s birth was only registered once in Quincy with the
address of 17 Water Street.
Leo married Patricia J. Collins in October, 1935. Leo and Patricia had three
children: Suzanne (born March 26, 1941, Steven, and Richard (born June 7,
1938).
Census Information
Leo appears on the 1910 Census as a brand new baby. He also is listed on the
1920 Census as being nine years old and being in school. Leo is 20 years old
on the 1930 Census, is a student, and living with his parents, Ethel and Ruth.
Quincy City Directories
In 1938, Leo and Patricia were listed in the Quincy city directory as living at
74 Terrill. In the 1943 and 1945 directories they lived at 82 Russell Street.
Leo worked for BS Company in 1945. In 1949 and 1951 they lived at 85
Quincy Shore Drive. Leo and Patricia were living in Hanover when she died in
2002.
Interviews
In 1998, Ethel Darr Sloane’s grandson, Alexander Brown, interviewed Leo
and Patricia in their home.
Leo said that he had been bar mitzvahed in Dorchester. He had graduated
from Quincy High School and took civil engineering at Northeastern
University. Leo got into auto business after college at a Chevy dealer until
1942. Leo met Patricia when he sold her a Chevrolet. Pat’s mother
suggested Leo as the escort and he took her to a social event. They were
married in Weymouth in October, 1935. She was 22, he was 24.
39
Leo did not serve in World War II but he was a rate setter at a shipyard.
He worked at the Quincy Motor Company as a salesman from 1945 to 1955.
Then, he had Pontiac dealership for 27 months. Leo bought a Ford
dealership in 1957. Leo and Pat lived in Milton at one time.
Leo spoke about his relationship with Ethel – he didn’t socialize with her
much. Apparently there was an issue about a car dealership that came
between them.
Leo converted to Roman Catholicism in 1970s – he liked the priest, Father
Connelly. Patricia passed away on July 20, 2002. As of July, 2004 Leo was
living in Marshfield, Massachusetts, but he was unable to communicate due
to illness.
Leo died on December 2, 2004, in Marshfield, Massachusetts.
buried in the Blue Hill Cemetery in Braintree.
He was
Ruth Darr
The author met Ruth Darr and her grand niece Amy Rappeport in March,
2001 in Ruth’s apartment in Belmont, Massachusetts.
She was also
videotaped by her grand nephew, Alexander Brown in the mid 1990s. Her
brother Leo and her sister Ethel were also videotaped. Information from
those interviews is included below.
Ruth was born August 14, 1915 in Malden. She graduated from Simmons
College and became a social worker specializing in working with children. She
worked for the Quincy Community Hospital and for the Massachusetts State
Health Department. Another position was with the New England Medical
Center as their director of social services. Ruth volunteered late in life at
school with students whose first language was not English
Ruth stayed with her parents at 69 Quincy Shore Blvd until she was 40,
especially after her father got sick. Ruth said that she was hypnotized by
the “Mad Russian” in Brookline to quit smoking.
40
Ruth remembered going to visit her Aunt Pearl when she went to prison in
the late 1920s. She remembered going with Saul Fisher and Zeke Fine.
Because Leo had married Particia Collins who was Catholic, Ruth went to
seder at Pitzie’s (Pearl’s) and then Easter dinner with Leo and Pat.
The author’s impression of Ruth, both from their meeting and from the
video interviews, was that she was a person of intelligence with a
sophisticated wit.
Ruth never married. She died February 8, 2001 in Belmont, Massachusetts.
The Children of Sarah & Samuel (or Simon) Fine
Unknown Children of Sarah and Samuel Fine
The 1910 United States Census records that Sarah Fine had given birth to
six children, three of whom (Amy, Pearl and Rose) were living. It is not
known what these children’s names were or where they died.
Amy Fine
Amy Lois Fine was born about 1904, likely in Russia. The 1910 Census lists
her age as seven, 17 in the 1920 Census, and age 23 in the 1930 Census.
Amy died on February 22, 1932 at Massachusetts General Hospital of
multiple lung abscesses with empyema and broncho pnemonia as contributory
factors. She was 28 years old. Her residence had been at 48 Alden Street
in Malden, with her parents. Jacob Gersinovitch was the informant. He
listed Sarah Finegold and Samuel Fine as her parents. Amy had been
employed as a private secretary in a furniture company for seven years. She
was buried in the Anshe Poland Cemetery in Woburn, J. H. Levine being the
undertaker.
41
Perle Fine (born Pearl)
Perle Fine (originally Pearl), the first child of Sarah and Samuel Fine
(originally Hyamovitch or Chaimovitch), was born on April 30, 1905, likely in
Malden. She is likely the first grandchild of Bella and Frank Fine to be born
in the United States. In 1930, Perle married Maurice K. Berezov (born
November 2, 1902; died October, 1989). They did not have children.
Perle was a painter who reached prominence in the art world through her
abstract impressionistic work. An extensive biography of Perle, Tranquil
Power, was written by Kathleen L. Housely in 2005. This author strongly
recommends that any who wish to know much more than can be related here
obtain the book. Here are some excerpts paraphrased (by this author) from
Housley’s book:
- Perle’s parents encouraged her interest in art from a very early age. She
covered surfaces in her bedroom with colorful crayon drawings that
remained there until the family home was sold in the 1940s. Regarding
growing up on a dairy farm, Perle is quoted, “I worked like a man, like a boy,
every day before and after school just as long as I had to.” There was a
large barn right next to the house and everyone knew her father as “Fine
the Milkman.” The cows were likely to be spoken to in Russian, English,
Hebrew or Yiddish, depending on who was doing the milking.
- Perle had piano lessons but favored art. She entered poster contests and
won small prizes including a 2nd prize from the International Milk Dealers’
Association at Malden High School. Perle left high school before graduating,
an unusual step, but one made with the certainty that she wanted to pursue a
career in art. She enrolled in the School of Practical Art in Boston and
worked part time there, too. Perle then moved to New York City in 1927 or
1928 to further her studies and career. Greenwich Village was the center of
the art scene and Perle found an apartment at 113 West 13th Street. The
New York art scene, including exhibits at the newly opened Museum of
Modern Art, greatly inspired Perle.
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- Perle enrolled at the Grand Central School of Art in New York and met
Maurice Berezov, a fellow artist who would become her husband in 1930 in a
ceremony at Temple Emanuel on Fifth Avenue.
- Perle’s career – her artistic growth, her exhibits, and her professional
associations were extensive and rich. She worked at a time of great change
in the art world as a student and/or peer of artists with better known
reputations such as Hans Hoffman, Jackson Pollack, Willem DeKooning and
Lee Krasner.
Additional information can be found on a website that is focused on Perle’s
life and art (www.perlefine.com/biography/index.html).
As part of her
biography on this site, a ten part artist statement includes the following:
In my commitment to the world of abstract art, I propose to push forward
beyond the known boundaries of art that evokes, rather than defines.
Perle died of pneumonia in East Hampton, New York, on May 31, 1988, at the
age of 83.
Rose Fine Kirle
Rose Fine was born June 11, 1908 under the name Rachel Fine at 3 Bowdoin
Street in Malden. Her parents were listed as Sadie and Simon Fine. He was
a farmer.
Rose was living with her parents at 48 Alden Street in Malden in 1930 when
the census was conducted. Her age was listed as 19. She was not attending
school but could read and write. She was a bookkeeper in a clothing office
and had been at work the last scheduled work day.
Rose had been a buyer for a mens’ clothing store – Benson’s. She married
Benjamin Z. Kirle.
An obituary for Rose was published in the January 10, 1946 edition of the
Boston Jewish Advocate. It stated that she was 37 years old and lived at 11
Carol Avenue in Brighton, Massachusetts. She passed away on January 9 at
the Bent Brigham Hospital.
Services were held at the Levine Chapel in
43
Brookline the next day. Rose had graduated from Malden High School. She
was survived by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Simon Fine as well as her
daughter, Amy. Rose was buried in the Anshe Poland Cemetery in Woburn,
Rabbi Joseph H. Margolis officiating.
Israel Leo “Zeke” Fine
Israel L. Fine was born on November 3, 1910 at 13 Alden Street in Malden.
As listed on the birth record, her father was Simon and his mother Sadie
Finegold. Simon was a milkman. Leo married Charlotte Fisher. They had
three children: Eleanor (born November 6, 1938, and twins, Amy and Carole,
(born November 2, 1942).
Leo’s death is noted in an obituary in the October 3, 1996 edition of the
Boston Jewish Advocate. He died on September 20 at Malden Hospital
after a short illness. He was 85 years old. It was also noted that he had
been educated in the Malden schools and had lived in Revere for the past 13
years. Leo had been a sales manager in the industrial supplies business. He
had been active in the community, having involvement with North Suburban
Health Care, was a member of the Temple Ezrath Israel Brotherhood and
the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for the Aged in Roslindale. He was
survived by his wife of 61 years, Charlotte (Fisher), his brothers Melvin and
Robert as well as children Carole Raymond and Amy O’Brien, grandchildren
and great grandchildren. Leo was buried in Everett on September 22.
Melvin Fine
Melvin Fine was born March 1, 1917 in Malden. His parents were listed as
Simon Fine and Sarah Feingold. The name under which his birth was
recorded was “Michael.” This was amended to be “Melvin” on March 16,
1954. Melvin was first married to Harriet Mogel in 1941. They did not have
children. He married Dorothy Grant in April, 1960. They had two daughters,
Stephanie Grant Fine Maroun (born December 22, 1966) and Tania Elizabeth
Fine Helhoski (born July 5, 1968).
44
The author met Melvin and his wife Dorothy in the spring 2001 in Malden.
Melvin spoke of his life and of his family. Some of that information is
recounted here.
Melvin had been an optometrist since 1941. He went into army in World War
II as an officer. He served in Italy – and was stationed at Caserta near
Naples; he went to opera there. Melvin remembered being in the boy scouts
with Louis Kuznitz – they built model airplanes. Melvin recalled that his
mother had come from a shtetl called Alanov (spelling not certain) in the
Ukraine region of Russia. The family had traveled to Germany and then to
Liverpool before coming to Massachusetts.
Melvin’s death on June 24, 2002 was noted in the July 18 edition of the
Boston Jewish Advocate. The following information is taken from that
obituary:
Melvin Fine passed away in the Salem Hospital at the age of 85 after a short
illness (on July 1, 2002). He graduated from Malden High School and the
Massachusetts College of Optometry. He served as a 1st lieutenant in the
United States Army in Italy during World War II. He was a former
Commander of the Jewish War Veterans. He practiced optometry for 57
years in Malden. Melvin had been a Trustee of the Malden Hospital, past
president of the Malden Lions Club and Malden Rotary. Melvin was an avid
golfer and belonged to the Indian Ridge Club in Andover and Meadowbrook in
Reading. He was devoted to his many golden retrievers. Melvin was survived
by his wife of 42 years, Dorothy (Grant), and their daughters Stephanie
Maroun and Tania Helhoski, both of Wakefield, and grandchildren. Melvin
was interred at the Temple Emanuel Cemetery at Wakefield.
Robert J. Fields (born Robert George Fine)
Robert George Fine was born January 26, 1922.
Robert lived at 168 Bryant Street in Malden in 1942. He was unemployed at
the time. He changed his name to Robert J. Fields and joined a Unitarian
church.
45
Robert was married more than once. One marriage was to Lorraine Roth of
St. Paul, Minnesota (born July 9, 1925, died May 8, 2002). They were
married in 1950 at the Faith Evangelical Church in St. Paul and they
honeymooned at the Camelback Inn near Phoenix, Arizona. After their
marriage, Robert and Lorraine moved to Kansas City, Missouri. They had
three children: Dana, Richard Justin, and Rebecca.
Robert died on March 30, 1998 in Reading, Massachusetts.
The Children of Harry and Esther Fine
Roy Fine
Roy Fine provided this informative biographical review in 2005:
Roy S. Fine 1922 - 20??
Early Life:
I was born in Nashua, NH (August 14, 1922), grew up in Pawtucket RI, doing
all the normal things like going to school, etc. On just about every other
Sunday the family was piled into the car and spent the day, via Route 1, in
the Boston area – Malden, Quincy, and other suburbs visiting my father’s
(Harry’s) family, Minnie, the Darrs, the Sloanes, Annie, Pearl, and others.
In my youth I got into my share of trouble, much of which was not reported
to my family, some of which was. The details of the trouble are classified.
However, I spent no time in jail.
For much of this early life I was a Sunday paper boy, getting up at 4:00 am
and ending at noon after delivering several wagon loads of various papers in
the Oak Hill section of Pawtucket come rain, snow or shine. This job kept me
close to home for just about all the weekends of my Junior and Senior High
school life.
High school was great and I was quite active in student activities, becoming
the class photographer for part of the Senior Year Book, a hobby that
stayed with me until the present. This all started because my father
46
(Harry) was interested in photography and gave me several older cameras
for a start; also teaching me and encouraging me to embark on darkroom
work. I was voted Class Clown in the popularity polling for seniors.
All in all, a quite uneventful early life.
Mature Early Life
I was accepted by Brown University, majored in Engineering, with emphasis
on electronics, then in its early stages of university curricula. There were
no Electronics degrees at the time, so the degree of Bachelor of Science in
Engineering had to do. I entered the Army Signal Corps Reserve during
college, enabling me to finish in three years as was common during World
War II. Upon graduation in 1943 (Class of ‘44) I started active duty with
the Signal Corps, becoming a Radar Operator. I developed much of my
electronics capabilities during this service, much more than at Brown. As a
competent Radar Operator I received orders in April 1945 to ship out to the
European Theater. However, the Germans got wind of this and surrendered,
resulting in a cancellation of orders. Soon a replacement order was
generated transferring me to the Pacific Theater. Again, once the Japanese
heard of this they surrendered. I then was sent to the Radiation
Laboratory at MIT (an Army facility) and finished out the war there
disposing of electronics equipment no longer needed by the military. So I
stayed on US soil, earning decorations for Good Conduct and the American
Theater and am recognized to this day as a hardened veteran of World War
II.
Early Mid-life
After my discharge from the Army, I started work at RCA in Camden, NJ as
a “Student Engineer”, an entry-level position. After a year of experiencing
monthly stints in a number of different operations I permanently joined the
Advanced Development Section of the Home Instruments Department
working on new ideas for phonographs. It was here that color television as
we know it today was developed. Although I was not part of that team, my
closest friend, who worked next to me, was a vital part of the historic
project. Then on to the Radio Engineering Section where I designed small
table radios, then High Fidelity radio-phonograph sets. Interspersed in
these activities, I was responsible for the Engineering Liaison of an aircraft
intercommunication system which was designed by the Air Corps during the
Korean War and being built by the Home Instruments Department because
of its mass production capabilities. The engineering was in Cherry Hill, NJ
but the actual production was at the RCA plant in Indianapolis, IN,
47
necessitating many trips back and forth with a good bit of time spent in
Indianapolis.
In 1960, the company decided to move it’s Home Instruments Engineering
(Radio and Television) to Indianapolis and planned to transfer many of the
New Jersey engineers to Indiana. Having a good bit of experience in
Indianapolis, I knew that my family and I were incompatible with that area
and refused the transfer, the first one at RCA to indulge in such a refusal
and not get fired. RCA had recently started an Industrial Process Control
Computer operation in Natick, MA, and a friend there hired me as its
Production Manager which, of course, meant a move to Massachusetts and a
need to learn how to be such a manager.
In those early years, RCA in Camden had a function in the Personnel
Department that listed local people who had rooms they were interested in
renting to the young engineers. In 1948 I needed such a room and was given
the name of a Mrs. Johnson. I applied and met Mrs. Johnson who had a
lovely room in her attic. I agreed to rent it and enjoyed my stay there so
much that I married Mrs. Johnson (Ruth Klosterman) a couple of years later
(January 7, 1950 in Ft. Washington, PA). She had a son, David, whom I
adopted and love very much, and is as much my son as the others who came
along later. The other two who do appear on the genealogy are Dick and
Eric.
Mid and later life:
In Massachusetts, RCA had a marketing relationship with the Foxboro
Company, the world leader in Process Control Instrumentation. Foxboro
manufactured the instruments and RCA the computers. This small industrial
computer business was an adjunct to the RCA’s main management information
computer business which competed with IBM, Honeywell and other giants.
It was not too long before the company realized that its distant marketing
standing against the giants of the industry did not bode well for the future
and decided to leave the computer design, manufacture and marketing arena
and to close its computer business. The process control computer business
in Natick was given (literally) to the Foxboro Company along with a number
of employees, I and my friend among them. So I changed employers without
changing my office and became the engineering manager of the new Foxboro
Digital Systems Division, later followed by promotion to General Manager of
the combined digital and analog business of the company. In 1969, I was
recruited by General Electric to head its Advanced Development Operation
of the Process Measurement and Control Division in Lynn, Massachusetts. In
1972, GE decided that it was too small an entity in that market and left the
48
business. As a result, I was recruited by the American Chain and Cable
Company in Bridgeport, Connecticut to head up its Industrial Process Control
business, the heart of which was located in Waterbury. I continued as
President of that business, Bristol Babcock, Inc. until my retirement in 1986.
General Aspects of My Life
In Connecticut we lived in the town of Trumbull until 1995 when we moved to
a condominium in Huntington, next to Trumbull, where we still live. The boys,
of course have their own careers; Dave publishes a newspaper in Florida for
people in recovery, Dick is a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University
in Richmond and Eric is a firefighter in Westport. They, of course have
their own families.
During my business life, I had many opportunities for travel and visited most
of the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, England, Scotland, Ireland,
France and Switzerland where I had subsidiaries or associated companies.
Ruth was able to accompany me on many of these trips so we saw part of the
world together. The highlight of our traveling was a two week trip to Israel
in 1992 as part of an interfaith mission sponsored by the Jewish Federation
of Fairfield County and the government of Israel. We saw many things that
not on the itinerary of most tourists and visited Arab homes as well as a
number of kibbutz. What an educational trip!
Along the way in this “life history”, we had the usual relationships with my
parents, Harry and Esther, seeing them often when they lived in the North
and then more sporadically after they moved to Sarasota, Florida. Many a
trip was made to Sarasota to handle the typical family health and other
crises of an aging couple. Again because of this experience and familiarity
with Florida we knew we did not want to retire there and will stay here in
Connecticut for the rest of our lives.
In 1951 Ruth and I joined the Unitarian Fellowship of South Jersey, partially
because of our mixed marriage but mostly because we believe it is the right
religion for us. We have been extremely active for all these years, helping
the Fellowship morph into a church and my being treasurer while living there.
In Massachusetts we became active in the Wayland church where Ruth
served on the Board of Trustees and I did what I could while finding myself
quite busy with my job. I also found time to serve as Chairman of the
Wayland Personnel Board, a volunteer organization the performed the Human
Relations function for the town. In Connecticut we continued our Unitarian
activities where I served on the Board of Trustees of the Unitarian Church
in Westport, supplemented by many more functional positions in the church,
49
mostly financial. I am also in charge of all the church computer operations
which goes along with my present computer hobby. Ruth also continues to be
active in the church on a volunteer basis as well as other local organizations:
the Connecticut Against Gun Violence group, the Bridgeport School
Volunteer Association, and the Greater Bridgeport Coalition for Choice.
Throughout my life I have had an interest in railroading and have
implemented that interest with visits to museums around this country and
others, train rides, and in building model railroads in each house. My present
layout is about 40 feet long and is still under construction, as it will be for
the rest of my life. My main interest in modeling has been to build
locomotives and rolling stock from scratch and I have a somewhat elaborate
workshop for doing so, including a spray painting area. It’s big and I’m
fortunate enough to have a huge basement to house it.
The other hobby of my life is, as I have said, photography. I like most
people have converted to digital photography which goes along with my
computer interest. It keeps me busy.
So, all in all I have had a pretty good life and am still very happily married
after 55 years. We are in good health (as of this writing, April, 2005), and
we’ll see what the rest of our lives bring.
Phyllis Fine Weinberg
Phyllis Fine Weinberg, the second child of Harry and Esther Fine, was born
in Rhode Island on May 26, 1926. She graduated from Brown University in
1948. She married Walter H. Weinberg on September 7, 1952. He was in
the furniture business. Phyllis and Walter had three children: Daniel (born
September 7, 1952), Ruth (born October 1, 1955), and Jane.
Providence city directories list Phyllis and her family living at 430 Angell
Street in 1953 and 70 Everett Street starting in 1960. The family furniture
business was located at 680 North Main Street in the 1950s.
When the author met Phyllis in 2001, she remembered her father Harry
fondly. She recounted that he had been returned to Liverpool, England when
he had emigrated to Ellis Island (mentioned earlier above). Phyllis was proud
of the fact that he had been one of only three Jews to graduated from MIT
50
in 1917. Phyllis also remembered visiting Minnie Darr in Quincy and that
Bella Fine lived with Jack and Annie Gersinovitch after Frank died.
The Children of Pearl and Barnet Fisher
Saul Fisher
Saul Fisher was born September 29, 1910, in Malden, Massachusetts, the
first child of Barnet and Pearl Fisher. He was listed on the 1920 Census as a
four-year-old in what appears to be an error as his age on the 1930 Census
was listed as 19, more in line with his date of birth. Saul contracted
tuberculosis and learned to fix watches during his rehabilitation. He
married Shirley Grinker in July 1936 and they adopted a son, Bruce Fisher in
the 1940s. They lived in Wakefield, Massachusetts and started a jewelry
and gift store. Saul and Shirley expanded their business to a much larger
store in the 1960s. Shirley became ill in the 1960s and Saul cared for her as
well as attending to their retail business. He was active in civic affairs in
Wakefield. Saul died suddenly on October 12, 1975. Shirley passed away on
July 19, 1984.
Fred Fisher
Fred Fisher was the second child of Barnet and Pearl Fisher. He was born on
August 28, 1912 in Malden at 104 Mills Street. His mother was listed as
Pearl “Fingold” and his father as Barney Fisher.
Fred died from injuries caused by an automobile when visiting the beach at
Revere on August 1, 1916, just before his fourth birthday. As told to the
author by Ruth Fisher Gelbard, a young friend of Fred’s was with them and
as they crossed the street to the beach, Fred’s mother Pearl reached for
the friend to pull him back but was unable to stop Fred from going into the
street where he was hit by the car.
The event of Fred’s death was on the first page of the Malden Evening News
edition of August 2, 1916. The article stated that “Freddie” had slipped out
51
of his mother’s grasp and “darted” in front of the car of John B. Parker of
Winthrop who was arrested an given bail. Fred was described as a “bright
youngster.” This was second fatal automobile accident involving a Malden
child at this location in three weeks.
Ruth Fisher Gelbard
Ruth Fisher Gelbard, the third child of Barnet and Pearl Fisher, was born in
Malden, Massachusetts, on June 28, 1914, the very day that World War I
started. Her mother used to remind her of this fact. Ruth was built more
like her father, short in height and slender in build. She did not talk about
her father during her adulthood – she couldn’t have had many memories as
Barnet was in a sanitarium in 1917 and he died in 1919 when Ruth was only
five years old. At that time, Pearl had two other children, Saul and Sidney.
Fred had died in an accident in 1916. In the 1920 Census, Pearl and the
three children were living in a house they owned (and which had a mortgage)
at 90 Suffolk Street in Malden. Ruth, age 5, was listed as “Rosie.” Saul was
four and “Sydney” was three and a half. Ruth was in school although she was
rather young by the usual standards.
The years between Barnet’s death and Pearl’s second marriage to Harry
Kuznitz in 1928 (the same Harry who been married to Sarah Fisher), must
have been difficult as Pearl was a widow and probably worked very hard to
make a living. One method of making money is known. In 1929, Pearl was
arrested for making illegal whiskey in her attic. Ruth was coming home from
high school and she saw the police pouring the illegal material out of the
attic window. Pearl had been remarried for two or three years, and the
neighborhood policemen who had turned the other way when Pearl was a
widow, could no longer do so. Pearl had a new baby, Ruth’s half-sister Evelyn,
but despite this, Pearl was convicted and sentenced to one year at the
Plymouth Jail and House of Correction.
The family was temporarily
dispersed, with Ruth and Evelyn moving in with Pearl’s sister Annie and her
husband Jack Gersinovitch. Ruth had diaper duty with Evelyn. Meanwhile,
Pearl became the cook for the warden. Ruth was very embarrassed and was
asked to leave her sorority at Malden High School. Unlike many of her
classmates, she had to work after school at the local W.T. Grant store.
52
Ruth found herself living in a much more crowded household after Pearl
married Harry. The 1930 Census entry shows 10 people in the house at 90W
Suffolk Street: Pearl (who was actually in the Plymouth Jail) and Harry,
Harry’s three sons: Rubin, Louis and Israel, Ruth, Sidney and Saul, the new
baby Evelyn, and finally, Rebecca Fisher, widowed since 1923.
(A note of interest about the W.T. Grant Company, a significantly large
variety store chain that had stores all over the country: a review of the
1930 and 1931 editions of the Malden Evening News, found an article that
reported W.T. Grant’s visit to the local store in Malden and to his mother.
W.T., apparently, was a native of Malden.)
It is no wonder that Ruth decided to leave home as soon as she could. She
graduated from Malden High School in January, 1932. The Malden Evening
News edition that reported the event documented details of the occasion of
119 students graduating. The printed list of graduates showed “Rose Ruth
Fisher” to have received a “General” diploma and to have been promoted five
times with “honor or credit,” the most of any graduate listed.
Ruth had pre-arranged for a position employee in the personnel department
at the W.T. Grant offices near Times Square in New York City. It may be
that she decided to go to New York with the encouragement of her 1st cousin
Perle Fine, the artist who lived there. Ruth first lived near Times Square
and then on the upper west side of Manhattan at 245 West 75th Street,
between Riverside Park and Central Park. Her roommates, at least for a
time, were Florence (now Novick) and Lydia. Her supervisor at W.T. Grant
was a man named Sherwood Stanley. While Grant’s would not hire Jews at
that time, Mr. Stanley figured it out that Ruth was Jewish as she was
absent from work on the High Holy Days. This did not concern him as Ruth
was an excellent. While in New York, Ruth regularly attended the opera and
the symphony.
The 1934-35 Malden city directory lists Ruth as living at 90 Suffolk Street
and working at 90 Pleasant Street (Grant’s). It is probable that this listing
reflects the time during or immediately after high school.
Ruth met Charles Gelbard in New York in the late 1930s. They were
introduced by Harry Dickstein. The bombing of Pearl Harbor was announced
at her engagement party. They were married December 24, 1941 in the
53
rabbi’s study in Temple Emanuel in Manhattan on Fifth Avenue and went to
Lake Placid for their honeymoon. Charles was a salesman for a wholesaler of
hardware and housewares - the Goldenbloom company. They moved to
Brooklyn in an attached brick house at 2048 East 16th Street between
Avenue T and Avenue U and lived there from 1941 to 1952. Their landlady, a
Mrs. Gilman who lived upstairs, was not a particularly pleasant person and
the Brighton train regularly roared past the children’s bedroom window
about 20 feet away. During this time, Ruth continued to work at Grant’s
until her son, Robert Sidney Gelbard, was born on March 6, 1944.
Three
years later, a second son (the author), Nicholas Carl Gelbard, was born at
Brooklyn Jewish Hospital (now Maimonides Hospital) on November 20, 1947.
During at least one summer, Ruth and Charles rented a vacation cottage at
Lake Oskawana near Peekskill. Later in the 1950s, they joined the Brighton
Baths and would take the trolley down Coney Island Avenue to the beach.
There was a group of friends there with whom they socialized.
Ruth and her family moved to 10 Westminster Road in Brooklyn, at the
corner of Caton Avenue across from the Parade Grounds. They lived there
from 1952 to 1963 on the 5th floor of five-story building without an
elevator. The landlord was Mr. Trewster and superintendent was Bennie
Butler. His son Floyd taught Nick to ride a two-wheel bike. The apartment
had a great view of the Parade Grounds and Prospect Park.
The neighborhood on Westminster Road was full of families, generally of
Jewish or Irish descent. Some of the other neighbors in the 21 unit
apartment house were Jeanne and Mike Kelly, George and Elaine Cook, Ed
and Eleanor Loeber, three Cloonan brothers and their families, Rosie Berg
and husband, Mrs. Albert, Mrs. Postelnick, the Riley family, Sylvia and Joanie
Muehlfelder, another Muehlfelder family, Mrs. Foster, and Mrs. Duran. Ruth
and Charlie first belonged to a conservative synagogue, Share Torah, on East
21st Street, but then became a member of the reform synagogue Temple
Beth Emeth at Malborough Road and Church Avenue for several years. The
boys were bar mitzvahed there and were active in the temple sponsored Boy
Scout troop activities. Ruth and Charlie helped their sons go to Ten Mile
River Scout Camp in the summer and to be members of the Brooklyn Botanic
Garden. Tired of those five flights of stairs, the Gelbards moved to 855
Ocean Avenue in 1963, just two blocks from Flatbush Avenue at the corner
of Dorchester Road. The building superintendent was Kasimer Maryan – he
and his wife were nice people.
54
Ruth had grown up in a Yiddish household. Yet, as she mastered “the King’s
English” as she called it, she retained the language of her parents. Ruth’s
sons regularly heard her speak Yiddish to their father (for confidentiality)
and use some other Yiddish expressions and words to communicate with
them. These included:
Oy vey iz mir! (Woe is me!)
Sheina boyala (beautiful boy)
Meshugass (insanity, big deal)
Missle zon va dir (it should hurt me instead of you)
Keniner horrah! (literally, no bad eye – it’s a compliment)
Gai shlog dein kup in vant! (Go bang your head against the wall!)
During the mid 1950s, Ruth returned to working outside the home as the
family needed money for the boys’ college. Charlie had started his own
business but was also working several other jobs during this time. Ruth first
became an office temporary but landed a position as a secretary at an
accountants’ office (Markell, Schnee and Hauer, later Schnee, Hauer and
Schwartz) in lower Manhattan on Broadway. When it was time to go home at
5:00 PM, Ruth boarded the BMT local to Brooklyn that stopped at the
Whitehall Street station. The train was already full and a reasonable person
would not be able to imagine how the crowds on the station platform could
possibly fit inside. She worked there for several years, and in the mid
1960s, worked in the Brooklyn office of Congressman Bertram Podell. In
1974, Podell was convicted of taking a bribe for his campaign (the prosecutor
was a young and ambitious Rudolph Guiliani) and Ruth became unemployed for
a time. In the 1970s, she found employment working for the chairman of the
Brooklyn Democratic Party, Meade Esposito, at the party’s Court Street
office. She enjoyed 10 years there as his administrative assistant until he
stepped down due to legal problems. Ruth loved this political work and years
after leaving, she was invited to return as a volunteer by Clarence Norman,
Jr., the party chair at the time. She worked there, generally two days a
week, helping the office staff with the skills she had acquired during her
years of experience, especially in fund raising. While computers were now in
common use, Ruth was highly organized in her work using index cards, yellow
legal pads, and an accurate memory. Ruth received a special recognition at
the Democratic Party fund raising dinner held in April, 2000. Ruth had been
a key organizer of that dinner over the years. She worked for the party
until she became terminally ill in December, 1999, at age 85.
55
Ruth was a devoted and attentive mother to her sons. Robert graduated
from Erasmus Hall High School in 1960. He then attended and graduated
from Colby College in Waterville, Maine, in 1964. Nick attended Erasmus but
graduated in 1966 from a private high school in Manhattan, Rhodes School.
He graduated from the University of Kansas in 1974. Ruth and Charlie
always supported educational opportunities for their sons.
In 1977, with Bob and Nick now married and living elsewhere, Ruth and
Charlie moved to a smaller apartment in Bay Ridge at 9201 Shore Road.
When the building became a coop, they purchased their apartment. They
had also purchased a lot (and eventually three more adjoining lots) in Gold
Key Lake, Milford, Pennsylvania, in 1973. They built a house there and
enjoyed the peace and quiet of the country, especially in the summer.
Charlie had a heart attack in 1982, and he recovered. He had fatal heart
attack October 4, 1989 in the Bay Ridge apartment. Ruth died of lung
cancer on May 4, 2000, also in their apartment. She was buried next to
Charlie at Mt. Lebanon Cemetery in Glendale, New York on May 7, 2000.
Ruth was a very bright, self-educated person. She loved classical music and
knew its history. Mahler made her cry and she knew many classical works by
heart. Ruth told her niece Alexandra that Brahms’ Alto Rhapsody was her
favorite piece of music. She read many classic novels, and later in life,
romance novels. Ruth knew poetry and famous verse. She became a master
of the Sunday New York Times crossword puzzle and had piles of completed
double-acrostic puzzle books. She knew etiquette, wrote thank you notes in
a beautiful handwriting, and was quick to correct a grammatical error, at last
with the author. Ruth resisted her sons’ acquisition of New York accents.
Ruth lit the Sabbath candles on Friday and considered herself a devout Jew.
Through hard times and good times, Ruth loved her husband, her sons and
their wives, Alene and Karen, and her three grandchildren, Nathan,
Alexandra and Anna.
56
Sidney Ephraim Fisher (born Ephraim Zelic Fisher)
Sidney (also spelled Sydney) Ephraim Fisher was born in Malden,
Massachusetts on February 12, 1917. His birth was registered in Malden
with his father being Barnet Fisher, a tailor from Russia, and his mother as
Pearl Feingold. His name was originally Ephraim Zelic Fisher.
Sidney lived with his widowed mother as noted in the 1920 Census. His age
was listed as three and one half. He attended Malden High School and
graduated in 1938. Sidney’s yearbook, “The Maldonian,” has his photograph
and an entry that states that he was called “Sid.” His address is listed as
90a Suffolk Street. He obtained a general diploma, was in the Biology Club,
wanted to be a CPA, and collected stamps as a hobby. In the space where
students designate their post high school plans, the name “Bentley” is
written, likely Bentley College in Waltham. Also written was “Winthrop
Senior High” indicating that Sidney may have gone there, too. It is possible
that Winthrop Senior High School served students in the Revere area where
Sidney’s grandmother lived through most of the 1930s. The quote in the
yearbook by his picture reads, Good sense and good nature walk arm in arm
with “Sid.” It may be that Sidney’s time at Malden High School was limited
by having contracted tuberculosis. Sidney’s yearbook contains an entry in
the “Class History of 1938” that three students who won awards for their
essays on the subject of “Water, Its Significance in Health and Disease.”
This contest was sponsored by the Malden Tuberculosis Society.
Sidney was a patient at the Middlesex Sanitarium on Trapelo Road in
Waltham, Massachusetts at the beginning of 1938. He wrote to his sister,
Ruth (in New York) on January 14, 1941. Sidney had undergone several
operations in the previous six weeks and was recovering from the surgeries.
Sidney said that he had regained his appetite but that he couldn’t cough. He
had withheld the news of the operations from Ruth so she would not worry.
Sidney reported that the family was about to move to 10 Leston Street in
Dorchester. Finally, he stated that he was looking forward to his sister’s
visit the next month. Sidney had never married.
Sidney died on May 22, 1941 in the Middlesex County Sanitarium on Trapelo
Road in Waltham after a stay of two years and 11 months. His mother and
father were listed as Barney Fisher and Pearl Feingold. Sidney’s profession
57
was listed as being a grocery clerk. He died of pulmonary tuberculosis with
complications from amyloid disease.
Sidney was buried in the Lord
Rothschild Cemetery in West Roxbury. He was 24 years old.
Child of Pearl and Harry Kuznitz
Evelyn Kuznitz
Evelyn Kuznitz was the only child of Pearl and Harry Kuznitz. She was born
in Massachusetts on July 8, 1929. Evelyn was by far the youngest child in
the household, her five half-brothers and half-sister were from 11 to 19
years older than she was.
Evelyn was no more than nine months when her mother Pearl went to prison
for making moonshine. She went to live with her Aunt Annie Gersinovitch
along with Ruth Fisher. Ruth and Annie took care of Evelyn until Pearl was
released from prison.
The Kuznitz family moved to 10 Leston Street in Dorchester/Mattapan in
1941. City directories show Evelyn living with her mother and father there
in 1951. She was a clerk at Grove Hall Savings Bank (1951 Boston City
Directory).
Evelyn married Albert Mayer in 1951. They eventually moved to Stratford,
Connecticut and had four children: Jeffrey (born February 19, 1953), June
(born June 25, 1956), Bruce (born September 22, 1958) and Harlan (born
August 22, 1968). In the 1960s, the family moved to Tampa, Florida.
Albert’s business was selling chemicals and supplies to golf courses. Evelyn
and her family lived near Pearl and Harry who had also moved to Tampa.
Evelyn helped her parents until each died – Harry in 1968 and Pearl in 1971.
Albert died in 2001. Evelyn briefly moved to the east coast of Florida but
returned to Tampa.
58
Chapter 4
Multiply and Prosper
(under development)
59
Appendix A
Finegold Family Tree
(under development)
60
Appendix B
The Pale of Settlement
The following was written by Terryn Barill:
The Pale of Settlement was created by a decree of Czar Nicholas I in April
1835 and with minor modifications remained Russian policy until 1917 when
the Bolshevik revolution removed it from the statute books. It included
present day Lithuania, Belarus, Poland, Ukraine, Moldavia, and other regions
west of Russia. According to the census of 1897, there were 4,899,300
Jews lived in the Pale, forming approximately 11.6% of the total population.
When the commonwealth of Poland-Lithuania was partitioned in
the late 1700s, the Russian Empire suddenly was home to almost
a million Jews, speaking their own language (Yiddish), attending
their own schools and observing their own religion. Prior to this
time, Russia’s czars had striven to keep Jews out of their
country. Even Peter the Great, famous for his friendliness to
foreigners, inviting them to settle in Russia in the thousands,
drew the line at Jews, saying “I prefer to see in our midst
nations professing Islam and paganism rather than Jews. It is
my endeavor to eradicate evil, not multiply it.”
As Peter’s ‘mission to eradicate evil’ took hold in Russia, condemning Jews to
a stagnate existence within the Pale of Settlement, an area delineated by
the boundaries of the former Polish kingdom, the Enlightenment was
sweeping the Continent, liberating the Jews of Western Europe from the
bonds of the ghetto, beginning the process of assimilation. In contrast, the
Jews of Russia were, as the foreign journalist, Harold Fredric, wrote near
the end of the 19th century, “a people that dwells apart.”
When Czar Nicholas I created the Pale of Settlement by decree in April
1835, he was following a long tradition of keeping the Jews away from the
main cities of the Russian Empire, as well as using them as a “buffer zone”
between Russia and potential enemy armies. The policies of the Russian
61
Empire towards Jews changed with the Czar/Czarina. Sometimes they would
be allowed to settle in cities and/or purchase land, other times they would
be prohibited from settling in either Russia’s main cities or her rural
townships. To make matters worse, the government’s manufactured hysteria
over Jewish economic exploitation and revolutionary activity culminated in
three major waves of pogroms against the Jews between 1881 and 1921.
Despite repression by the authorities, Russia’s Jewish population grew to
over five million by the end of the 1880s. Half of those Jews lived in towns
and cities, while the rest inhabited the traditional shtetls, or small, isolated
Jewish villages.
After the assassination of Czar Alexander II of Russia, Russia began to
enter a period of chaos, disorder, anarchy, poverty, and violence. The Jews
were given the blame for much of the latter, despite the fact that they
were just as poor as their Russian countrymen. A series of pogroms was
visited upon the Jews particularly in the southern Russia/Ukraine portion of
the Pale. Cossacks, groups of Czar loyalists, often attacked the shtetls and
massacred Jewish communities. The Russian government under Czar
Alexander III and Czar Nicholas II did nothing to stop these pogroms, and
often sponsored them.
“The number of these attacks is estimated to have been
approximately 200 in one year with some forty Jews killed, many
times that number wounded and hundreds of women raped. Thousands
of Jews were rendered homeless and penniless. The local authorities
were particularly slow to intervene and those brought before the
courts generally received very light sentences. To add to their sense
of despair, the new Czar, Alexander III passed The May Laws
(‘Temporary Edicts,’) which returned the Jews to the Pale. The
consequent deterioration of their economic situation led many Jews to
leave Russia. By 1914, over two and one half million Jews had left the
Pale, the vast majority for the United States although a small
minority made their way to Eretz-Israel.” (Jewish Chronicle (London)
describing pogroms in Russia, May 1881)
By 1900, 40% of Russian Jewry was dependent on international Jewish
charity. Over two million Jews emigrated from the Russian Empire
from 1890 to 1914, forming the first massive wave of Jewish
62
emigration to the United States. Beginning in 1907 or 1908, Jewish
organizations or clubs called landsmanschaften were formed by
emigrants to raise funds and help those who stayed in the “Old
Country”.
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~vladimirets/paleof.htm – Copyright 1998, Terryn
Barill, all rights reserved.
63
Appendix C
Berdichev – The Holocaust
As the Finegold family came from the geographic region known as the Pale of
Settlement and specifically the Berdichev region, it is important to comment
about the extermination of the Jews by the Germans during World War II.
Thorough historical writings and extensive lists of victims are available
through Vad Yashim, the (American) Holocaust Museum and other sources.
Connecting our Finegolds or Rodmans (or other named persons) to Holocaust
victims is extremely difficult as documentation from Russia is either nonexistent or is beyond the resources of the researcher at this time.
There is no known primary source documentation of our Finegolds living in
the Berdichev area. The whole region, however, was under the control of
the Germans during much of World War II. The names of Finegolds,
Rodmans, and others associated with this family are listed as Holocaust
victims.
Berdichev is a city that was once a major center of Jewish life and the
birthplace of Hasidism. In fact, the Baal Shem Tov is buried in nearby
Medzhibus. A small Jewish community survives which includes a synagogue,
Jewish school, Jewish cemetery and other historical markers.
The German Occupation
Berdichev is a town in Zhitomir Oblast (district), (of the
former Ukrainian SSR), known to have been in existence since
the fourteenth century. Jews lived in Berdichev from the
sixteenth century. The town became a center of Hasidism, the
seat of the renowned rabbi Levi Yitzhak of Berdichev, and, in
the nineteenth century, a center of Haskalah (Jewish
Enlightenment).
Immediately prior to World War II, Berdichev had a Jewish
population of over 30,000, out of a total population of 66,306.
When the town was taken by the Germans on July 7, 1941, the
64
Jewish population numbered 20,000. Three days later the
military governor imposed a collective fine on the Jews of
100,000 rubles, in cash and valuables. Jews were harassed,
some were murdered in groups, and synagogues were set on fire
with the congregants inside at prayer.
The Establishment of a Ghetto and the First Slaughter
On August 25, the Jews of Berdichev were ordered to move
into a ghetto that had been set up in the poorest part of the
town (if they did not live there already), which thus became
unbearably congested. On September 4, on orders of the
Hoherer SS – und Polizeifuhrer (Higher SS and Police Leader)
of the Ukraine, 1,500 young Jews were seized and taken out of
town to be shot to death. A force of German and Ukrainian
police surrounded the ghetto on September 15. Four hundred
skilled craftsmen and their families, a total of 2,000 people,
were set aside, and the rest, 18,600 persons, were taken out of
town to pits that had been prepared in advance, to be shot to
death.
The Liquidation of the Jews of Berdichev
Two thousand more Jews were murdered on November 3, 1941,
leaving only 150 craftsmen alive. The following spring, on April
7, 1942, 70 Jewish women, who were married to non – Jews and
lived outside the ghetto, were murdered together with their
children. On June 16, the number of craftsmen was reduced to
60; and at the end of October 1943, when Soviet forces were
approaching, those Jews who were still left alive were also
murdered. When Berdichev was liberated, on January 15, 1944,
15 Jews were found in the town.
Courtesy of:
“Encyclopedia of the Holocaust”
©1990 Macmillan Publishing Company
New York, NY 10022
http://motlc.wiesenthal.com/text/x03/xr0321.html
65
REFERENCES
References by Person
While not always referenced, significant information about the Finegold
family was provided by family members. The author appreciates their help
and interest, for without their participation and encouragement, this family
history would be substantially less in breadth and depth.
The following references support the information contained in the
narratives about each family member. References are not only cited when
the document is for the listed individual such as their own death certificate,
but on other’s documents that list their name and relationship. This may
include the names of parents or informants on a death certificate. If
possible, specific citation information is provided so any future researcher
can find a document.
Birth, marriage and death records are moved from the Massachusetts Vital
Records office to the Massachusetts Archive in blocks of five years. At the
time of this initial document (2005), all records from 1910 and prior are in
the Massachusetts Archive.
Census images were viewed on Ancestry.Com. The image number is used in
conjunction with the city, state and enumeration district (ED) to locate the
page in question. The census page number (such as 4A or 23B) may also be
of assistance.
The “FHL” numbers (often seven digits) from the Family History Library in
Salt Lake City, Utah, are their catalog numbers and are usually microfilm.
For a small fee, they can be ordered and viewed at any Latter Day Saints
church in the country.
“NARA” stands for National Archive and Records Administration.
The information in the documents listed below are in the public record
including Social Security numbers.
66
Louis Rodman
1. Bella Fine’s death certificate, 1935, Malden, MA Vital Records, vol.
55, pg. 398
Selig and Ida Fine(gold)
1. Frank Fine’s death certificate, 1925, MA Vital Records
Frank Fine (Fishel Finegold)
1. Lewis Feingold death certificate, 1906, MA Archives, vol. 18, pg.
541
2. 1910 Census, Malden, MA, ED 908, page 46A, (image 92
Ancestry.Com)
3. 1920 Census, Malden, MA, ED 293, page 5B (image 10
Ancestry.Com)
4. Death certificate, 1925, MA Vital Records
5. Malden City directories for 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1919,
1921, 1927, 1929, 1932-33, 1934-35 1935-36 – Family History
Library, Salt Lake City, UT, FHL 2309057-62
6. Minnie Darr’s death certificate, 1956, MA Vital Records, vol. 84,
pg. 54
7. Sarah Fine’s death certificate, 1968, MA Vital Records, vol. 69, pg.
420
8. Pearl Kuznitz’s death certificate, 1971, North Miami Beach, Florida
Office of Vital Statistics
Bella Rodman Fine(gold)
1. 1910 Census, Malden, MA, ED 908, page 46A, (image 92
Ancestry.Com)
2. Death certificate, 1916, MA Archives, vol. 18, pg. 541
3. 1920 Census, Malden, MA, ED 293, page 5B (image 10
Ancestry.Com)
4. Frank Fine’s death certificate, 1925, MA Vital Records
5. “Persons Listed and Polled” – Malden, MA, 1926, The Harwell Press,
Exhange Street, Malden, MA
6. 1930 Census, Malden, MA, ED 293, page 8B, (image 16
Ancestry.Com)
67
7. Malden City directories for 1917, 1919, 1921, 1927, 1929, 1932-33,
1934-35 1935-36 – Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT, FHL
2309059-62
8. Death certificate, 1935, Malden, MA Vital Records, vol. 55, pg. 398
9. Minnie Darr’s death certificate, 1956, MA Vital Records, vol. 84,
pg. 54
10. Sarah Fine’s death certificate, 1968, MA Vital Records, vol. 69, pg.
420
11. Pearl Kuznitz’s death certificate, 1971, North Miami Beach, Florida
Office of Vital Statistics
Bella Hirschenson
1. Ruth Fisher Gelbard’s family list
Bella Frankel
1. Harry Fine’s application for Social Security (SS-5), 1936
Esther Attell
1. Pearl Fine and Barnet Fisher’s marriage record, recorded in Malden
and Boston, 1909, MA Archives
Miriam “Minnie” Fine Darr
1. 1910 Census, Quincy, MA, ED 1150, page 1A (image 1 Ancestry.Com)
2. 1920 Census, Quincy, MA, ED 256, page 4B (image not available on
Ancestry.Com), Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT
3. Alec Darr’s Declaration of Intention, 1922, NARA, New England
Region, Waltham, MA
4. Alec Darr’s Petition for Naturalization, 1925, NARA, New England
Region, Waltham, MA
5. Citizenship Index, February 24, 1930 in the Superior Court of
Massachusetts, Quincy, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT,
FHL #1902578
6. Petition for Naturalization, February 24, 1930, Massachusetts
Superior Court, Quincy (now in Dedham) MA
7. Quincy city directories, 1932, 1945, Ancestry.Com
8. Quincy city directories 1909/10 to 1935 Family History Library,
Salt Lake City, UT, FHL 2309113,14,15,16,17
68
9. 1930 Census, Quincy, MA, ED 112, page 5B (image 11 Ancestry.Com)
10. Death certificate, 1956, MA Vital Records, vol. 84, pg. 54
Sarah Fine
1. 1910 Census, Malden, MA, ED 908, page 44B (image 88,
Ancestry.Com)
2. 1920 Census, Malden, MA, ED 293, page 5A (image 9,
Ancestry.Com)
3. Frank Fine’s death certificate, April 2, 1925, MA Vital Records
4. “Persons Listed and Polled” – Malden, MA, 1926, The Harwell Press,
Exhange Street, Malden, MA
5. 1930 Census, Malden, MA, ED 293, 14A (image 27, Ancestry.Com)
6. Simon Fine World War I Draft Registration, Malden, MA,
September 12, 1918 (Ancestry.Com)
7. Malden City directories for 1909, 1910, 1911-12, 1913, 1914, 1915,
1916, 1917, 1919, 1921, 1924, 1927, 1929, 1932-33, 1934-35, 193536; Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT, FHL 2309057-62
8. Petition for Naturalization, 1951, NARA, New England Region,
Waltham, MA
9. Death certificate, 1968, MA Vital Records, vol. 69, pg. 420
Lewis Finegold (Feingold)
1. Death certificate, 1906, MA Archives, vol. 18, pg. 541
Anna Fine Gersonovitch
1. 1910 Census, Malden, MA, ED 908, page 46A, (image 92
Ancestry.Com)
2. Marriage certificate with Jacob Gersinovitch, 1918, MA Vital
Records, vol. 20, pg. 522 (listed under his name)
3. 1920 Census, Malden, MA, ED 293, page 5B (image 10
Ancestry.Com)
4. “Persons Listed and Polled” – Malden, MA, 1926, The Harwell Press,
Exhange Street, Malden, MA
5. 1930 Census, Malden, MA, ED 293, page 8B, (image 16
Ancestry.Com)
6. Malden City directories for 1924, 1927, 1929, 1932-33, 1934-35,
1935-36; Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT, FHL
2309060-62
69
7. Quincy City Directory, 1945
8. Application for Social Security (SS-5), 1952
9. Death listed on Social Security Death Index (023-28-5218), 1976
Harry Fine
1. 1910 Census, Malden, MA, ED 908, page 46A, (image 92
Ancestry.Com)
2. Alumni records (1917), Massachusetts Institute of Technology
3. World War I Draft Registration, 1917, Family History Library, Salt
Lake City, UT, FHL #1674359
4. Harry Fine and Esther Feldman marriage record, MA Vital Records,
1921, vol. 2, page 130
5. Nashua, NH city directories for 1923 and 1925, Family History
Library, Salt Lake City, UT, FHL #1759928
6. 1930 Census, Pawtucket, RI, ED 251, page 12B (image 24
Ancestry.Com)
7. Application for Social Security (SS-5), 1936
8. Pawtucket - Central Falls, RI directories, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933,
1934, 1935, 1938, 1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1946 (Ancestry.Com)
9. Death listed on Social Security Death Index (038-10-6277), 1983
Pearl Fine Fisher/Kuznitz
1. Certificate of Arrival #A-1 880 674 in 1907, dated 1950, NARA,
New England Region, Waltham, MA
2. Marriage to Barnet Fisher, recorded in Malden and Boston, 1909,
MA Archives.
3. 1910 Census, Malden, MA, ED 908, page 241A (image 101,
Ancestry.Com)
4. Saul Fisher’s birth record, 1910, registered in Malden, MA
Archives
5. Ruth Fisher’s birth record, 1914 registered in Malden, MA Vital
records
6. Fred Fisher’s birth record, 1912, Malden, MA Vital Records, vol.
609, pg. 650
7. Malden City directories for 1913, 1914, 1915, 1916, 1917, 1919,
1921, 1924, 1927, 1929, 1932-33, 1934-35 – Family History
Library, Salt Lake City, UT, FHL 2309057-62
8. Fred Fisher’s death certificate, MA Vital Records, August 1, 1916
70
9. News Fred Fisher’s death, Malden Evening News, August 2, 1916,
Boston Public Library
10. Sidney Fisher’s birth record (“Ephraim Zelic Fisher”), 1917, MA
Vital Records, vol. 641, pg. 726
11. 1920 Census, Malden, MA, ED 293, page 2B, (image 4
Ancestry.Com)
12. Marriage certificate with Harry Kuznitz, 1928, vol. 29, pg. 461
13. 1930 Census, Malden, MA, ED 293, page 12B (image 24
Ancestry.Com)
14. 1930 Census (2nd listing), Plymouth, MA, ED 90, pg. 15A (image 29
Ancestry.Com)
15. Letter from Sidney Fisher to Ruth Fisher Gelbard, 1941
16. Harry Kuznitz’s Declaration of Intention #306530, 1941, NARA,
New England Region, Waltham, MA
17. Harry Kuznitz’s Petition for Naturalization #274514, 1944, NARA,
New England Region, Waltham, MA
18. Petition for Naturalization #306413, 1950, NARA, New England
Region, Waltham, MA
19. Polk’s Boston city directories – 1949, 1952, 1957, MA Archives
20. Harry Kuznitz’s listing on Social Security Death Index (013-076901), 1968
21. Death certificate, 1971, North Miami Beach, Florida Office of
Vital Statistics
Ethel Darr Sloane
1. Birth date on Social Security Death Index, March 30, 1907
2. 1910 Census, Quincy, MA, ED 1150, page 1A (image 1 Ancestry.Com)
3. 1920 Census, Quincy, MA, ED 256, page 4B (image not available on
Ancestry.Com), Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT
4. 1930 Census, Quincy, MA, ED 112, page 5B (image 11 Ancestry.Com)
5. Quincy city directories, 1932, 1945, Ancestry.Com
6. Quincy city directories 1909/10 to 1935 Family History Library,
Salt Lake City, UT, FHL 2309113
7. Minnie Darr’s death certificate, 1956, MA Vital Records, vol. 84,
pg. 54
8. Samuel Sloane’s listing on the Social Security Death Index (02922-8209), 1978
9. Listing on the Social Security Death Index (029-22-8219), 2001
71
Leo Darr
1. Birth record, MA Archives, 1910, registered in Quincy (under
Tarr); also registered in Malden as Louis Tartikoff
2. 1910 Census, Quincy, MA, ED 1150, page 1A (image 1 Ancestry.Com)
3. 1920 Census, Quincy, MA, ED 256, page 4B (image not available on
Ancestry.Com), Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT
4. 1930 Census, Quincy, MA, ED 112, page 5B (image 11 Ancestry.Com)
5. Quincy city directories 1909/10 to 1935 Family History Library,
Salt Lake City, UT, FHL 2309113
6. Quincy City directories, 1932, 1945, Ancestry.Com
7. Death listed on Social Security Death Index (023-05-8010), 2004
Ruth Darr
1. Birth date on Social Security Death Index, August 14, 1915
2. 1920 Census, Quincy, MA, ED 256, page 4B (image not available on
Ancestry.Com), Family History Library, Salt Lake City, UT
3. 1930 Census, Quincy, MA, ED 112, page 5B (image 11 Ancestry.Com)
4. Quincy City Directory, 1945, Ancestry.Com
5. Polk’s Boston City Directory, 1968, MA Archives
6. Death listed on Social Security Death Index (025-26-8239), 2002
Amy Fine
1. 1910 Census, Malden, MA, ED 908, page 44B (image 88,
Ancestry.Com)
2. 1920 Census, Malden, MA, ED 293, page 5A (image 9,
Ancestry.Com)
3. 1930 Census, Malden, MA, ED 293, 14A (image 27, Ancestry.Com)
4. Death certificate, 1932, MA Vital Records, vol. 9, pg. 1
Perle (Pearl) Fine
1. Birth date on Social Security Death Index, April 30, 1905
2. 1910 Census, Malden, MA, ED 908, page 44B (image 88,
Ancestry.Com)
3. 1920 Census, Malden, MA, ED 293, page 5A (image 9,
Ancestry.Com)
72
4. Malden City directories for 1924, 1925, 1927, 1929 – Family
History Library, Salt Lake City, UT, FHL 2309060-61
5. 1930 Census, Malden, MA, ED 293, 14A (image 27, Ancestry.Com)
6. Sarah Fine’s Petition for Naturalization, 1951, NARA, New England
Region, Waltham, MA
7. Oral history interview conducted by Dorothy Seckler for the
Smithsonian Archives of American Art (23 pages), July 19, 1968
(http://archives of americanart.si.edu/oralhist/fine68.htm)
8. Listing on Ask Art (www.askart.com/theartist.asp?id=80715)
9. Housely, Kathleen L. Tranquil Power, New York City, Midmarch
Press, 2005 (ISBN 1-877675-55-5)
10. Website www.perlefine.com/biography/index.html
11. Death listed on Social Security Death Index (118-28-0470), 1988
Rose Fine Kirle
1. Birth registration, 1908, Malden, MA Archives (listed as “Rachel
Fine”)
2. 1910 Census, Malden, MA, ED 908, page 44B (image 88,
Ancestry.Com)
3. 1920 Census, Malden, MA, ED 293, page 5A (image 9,
Ancestry.Com)
4. 1930 Census, Malden, MA, ED 293, 14A (image 27, Ancestry.Com)
5. Obituary, Boston Jewish Advocate, January 10, 1946
Israel Leo (“Zeke”) Fine
1. Birth record, 1910, MA Archives, registered in Malden
2. 1920 Census, Malden, MA, ED 293, page 5A (image 9,
Ancestry.Com)
3. 1930 Census, Malden, MA, ED 293, 14A (image 27, Ancestry.Com)
4. Sarah Fine’s Petition for Naturalization, 1951, NARA, New England
Region, Waltham, MA
5. Obituary, Boston Jewish Advocate, October 3, 1996
Melvin (Michael) Fine
1. Birth record, MA Vital Records, 1917, Vol. 641, page 727 (listed
under “Michael Fine”)
2. 1920 Census, Malden, MA, ED 293, page 5A (image 9,
Ancestry.Com)
73
3. 1930 Census, Malden, MA, ED 293, 14A (image 27, Ancestry.Com)
4. Marriage certificate with Harriet Mogel, 1942, MA Vital Records,
vol. 19, page 537
5. Sarah Fine’s Petition for Naturalization, 1951, NARA, New England
Region, Waltham, MA
6. Obituary, Boston Jewish Advocate, July 18, 2002
Robert George Fields (Robert Joseph Fine)
1.
2.
3.
4.
Birth registration, 1922, MA Vital Records, vol. 72, page 533
Birth date on Social Security Death Index, January 26, 1922
1930 Census, Malden, MA, ED 293, 14A (image 27, Ancestry.Com)
Sarah Fine’s Petition for Naturalization, 1951, NARA, New England
Region, Waltham, MA
5. Death listed on Social Security Death Index (033-16-8668), 1998
Roy S. Fine
1. 1930 Census, Pawtucket, RI, ED 251, page 12B (image 24
Ancestry.Com)
Phyllis Fine Weinberg
1.
1930 Census, Pawtucket, RI, ED 251, page 12B (image 24
Ancestry.Com)
Saul Fisher
1. Birth record, registered in 1910, Malden, MA Archives
2. 1920 Census, Malden, MA, ED 293, page 2B, (image 4
Ancestry.Com)
3. 1930 Census, Malden, MA, ED 293, page 12B (image 24
Ancestry.Com)
4. Marriage announcement, Boston Jewish Advocate, June 19, 1936
5. Malden City directories for 1932-33, 1934-35 – Family History
Library, Salt Lake City, UT, FHL 2309062
6. Pearl Kuznitz’s death certificate, 1971, Florida Office of Vital
Statistics
7. Obituary, Boston Jewish Advocate, October 23, 1975
74
Fred Fisher
1. Birth registration, 1912, Malden, MA Vital Records, vol. 609, pg.
650
2. News of death, Malden Evening News, August 2, 1916, Boston
Public Library
3. Death certificate, 1916, Revere, MA Vital Records
Sidney Ephraim Fisher
1. Birth record (“Ephraim Zelic Fisher”), 1917, MA Vital Records, vol.
641, pg. 726
2. 1920 Census, Malden, MA, ED 293, page 2B, (image 4
Ancestry,Com)
3. 1930 Census, Malden, MA, ED 293, page 12B (image 24
Ancestry,Com)
4. “Maldonian” high school yearbook, 1938
5. Letter to Ruth Fisher Gelbard, 1941
6. Death certificate, 1941, MA Vital Records, vol. 85, pg. 118
Ruth Fisher Gelbard
1. Birth certificate, 1914, MA Vital Records, vol. 623, pg. 689
2. 1920 Census, Malden, MA, ED 293, page 2B, (image 4
Ancestry,Com)
3. 1930 Census, Malden, MA, ED 293, page 12B (image 24
Ancestry,Com)
4. News of graduation, Malden Evening News, January 30, 1932,
Boston Public Library
5. Death certificate, NY Dept. of Health, 2000
Evelyn Kuznitz Mayer
1. 1930 Census, Malden, MA, ED 293, page 12B (image 24
Ancestry,Com)
2. Boston City directories, 1949, 1952, MA Archives
75
Significant References & Sources
Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com)
Boston Public Library, Copley Square, Boston, MA 02117
Family History Library, 35 North West Temple Street, Salt Lake City, Utah,
84150-3400
Howe, Irving - World of Our Fathers, Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1976
Klayman, Richard – The First Jew, Prejudice and Politics in a Small American
City, Old Suffolk Square Press, 1985
Jewish Cemetery Association of Massachusetts, 1320 Centre Street, Suite
#306, Newton Centre, MA 02159
JewishGen, Inc. (www.Jewishgen.com)
Jewish Genealogy Society of Montreal (www.gtrdata.com/jgs-montreal/)
Massachusetts State Archive, 220 Morrissey Boulevard, Boston, MA 02125
Massachusetts State Library, State House, Boston, MA 02133
Massachusetts Registry of Vital Records and Statistics, 150 Mt. Vernon
Street, Boston, MA 02125-3105
National Archives and Records Administration, New England Region, 380
Trapelo Road, Waltham, MA 02452-6399
Statue of Liberty – Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. (www.ellisisland.org)
(http://www.bethisraelmalden.com/history.php#history) history of
synagogue
76
77