52 Ancestors: Quite the Character - Sig in Costume

When I first saw this prompt, I couldn't help but think of the photos I have of Sig Levy, my paternal grandfather, in costume.  Sig died shortly before my 14th birthday and I have no memories of him in anything other than business clothes.  Usually a suit and tie and maybe once in awhile in what we would call "business attire" but certainly never shorts, sweatpants, or a swim suit.  

Here he is in his typical attire.  

Sig Levy, February, 1929

He even dressed like this on weekends and while visiting our home.  Even little brother had a jacket on so I'll cut him some slack that they were going to a special dress-up event.

But in his younger days, Sig seemed to be quite a character.  It wasn't until I started sorting through family photos that I discovered his wild side.

He let loose a little here and added a lei - nice!  But still his character is in check.

Whoa - he really let loose here and switched out the jacket/tie for a sweater and bolo tie!  He's living on the edge!

Along the way he even got MORE dressed up.  What a handsome couple they were!

Sig Levy, Loraine Gunzendorfer

Sig liked to play around with crazy hats.  Wait, that's his Flying Cadet hat which I still have today!

Sig Levy, 1957

But let's go back a bit and see more of his really wild side.  In 1966 the cruise ship had a costume contest and Sig won best costume!

Sig Levy, 1966

As a young man he rocked his swimsuit!  That's him on the right.

I wish I knew the story about the costume here.  We are accustomed to seeing earrings on men these days but I'm sure in the early 1900's it was quite an oddity.  But he didn't fool anyone with his shoes!

While I love the photo of Sig by himself, I find this group photo even more entertaining.  I wish I'd seen this photo years ago so I could have asked someone - anyone - what the story was.  The whole gang seemed to be quite the characters.

So even though I didn't see it, it seems that Sig Levy was quite a character.

On a more serious note, I'm not planning to post many of my blogs on Facebook anymore as there is too much negativity there and I want to stay away from it for the foreseeable future.  If you'd like to continue to follow my blog (and I hope that you will), you can sign up using your e-mail address and it will come straight into your mailbox.  You can find that on the right side of this page, about halfway down. 

If you don't care to do that, thanks for following along with me over the years.

52 Ancestors: Newest - More Letters

This weeks' blog prompt, Newest, immediately brought to mind the newest project I have to get started on - more letters to sort, organize, and transcribe.  And what I'm reminded of is that while my dad had the packrat gene, my mom, apparently, did not.  As evidenced by the stack of letters I'm starting on.

My dad, Gordon Levy, graduated from Fresno High School on June 9, 1944 - just three days after D-Day.  I can imagine the school and town was buzzing with news from Europe but I hope people were able to pause for a minute to recognize those graduating or with other special events going on in their lives.  

Gordon Levy, c. 1944

Dad must have left to start his college life sometime before July 8, 1944.  I'm not sure why he moved to college so early - did he take summer school classes or just want to arrive early so he could settle in before classes started?

This is where the letters come in - just like his parents, he saved everything - letters, letters and more letters!

Of course those closest to my heart (and probably his) were letters from his future wife and my mother, Geraldine Martin.  Mom graduated in 1946 so I know she must have been devastated when he went away to college.  But she filled her time by writing letters.

I've got the letters sorted by sender or receiver and all put into date order.  Now the task is to transcribe them all.  Just like with the letters between my grandparents, I feel a little bit like I'm "spying" but in my heart I know they held on to these letters so that one day someone would find them and enjoy them.  If only Mom had saved the letters that Dad wrote.  Don't worry, she got the packrat gene later in life but didn't seem to have it in 1944.

Here's the first letter she wrote to him.

Mr. Gordon Levy

Box 1431

Stanford University

California

Saturday, July 8, 1944

Dearest Gordon –

Boy was I glad to know where I could write to you.  I wasn’t expecting to know before Monday but am sure glad I can write before that.  I hope you’re as glad to get my letter as I am to write it.  I don’t write very interesting or exciting letters but I’ll try my best.  I wish I could write things the way you can.  For instance, I could never have written anything as nice as what you’d written in my owl.  If I’d known what you’d written maybe I wouldn’t have written the dumb stuff I did.  I wish I hadn’t but it can’t be helped.

Yesterday I got the car and Marty, Kathy, Jackie, Norma, Gwen, her cousin and I went out to the El Rancho swimming.  I got all nice and brown – but still hope to get browner!!  We had a lot of fun – at least I did!

Last night we went out to dinner with a friend of Shel’s.  I nearly hit the roof when I heard about it ‘cause I was dead tired but that’s all the good it did me!  Anyway we had a good dinner and no dishes to wash!!!

Tonight Susanne Atinger is having a party.  We’re all going to have dinner over there and should really have fun.  After the party all the gals are going to Norma’s to stay all night.  Norma got three watermelons for us to have a midnight snak [sic] around two-thirty!!!!  Tomorrow we want to go swimming – hope we can.

All kinds of awful things are happening to my friends – at least I think they’re awful.  First of all Phil and Bob broke up again, which doesn’t really worry anyone, then Norma and Bob are sort of made at each other.  And to top it all off with Marty simply hates Bud.  As if that isn’t enough to worry about I have to miss you so darn much I don’t even care what happens to them.  Darling I miss you so darn much the only person who could possibly interest me would be the postman but today even he couldn’t.

Well from the way I look at it Norma and I should really have fun at Santa Cruz.  Marty, Ann, Phil and maybe Kathy will be there at the same time.  Then too Norma and I are going to have a room all to ourselves.  I can hardly wait til August!!  Long time away though!!!

I wish I knew what and how to write to you.  I guess there isn’t much anyone can say when they feel the way I do.  I can’t write very sweet letters – I’ve never had anyone to write them to before.  About the only thing I can write is what I have – and to tell you (whether you like it or not I don’t know) that even though I act awfully silly at times I really do love you.  For some reason I don’t think you’re going to appreciate that!  You think I’m too young I know but I wonder if when you were as old as I am you felt you were too young?  I’m sorry but that is the way I feel.  I hope you don’t mind me saying so too much.

Well guess I’d better start getting cleaned up.  It’s almost six now and I’ll have to dash if I expect to be at her house at six-thirty.  Please try and write fairly often.

All my love –

Gerry

P.S.  Could you please send me John’s address?  I’d love to write to him if it’s alright with you.

Not too much news, especially since I'm not sure who any of those friends she mentioned are.  This is the second time I've heard her mention him thinking she was "too young".

And then there's a box of letters from his parents and brother, Rob.  

Here's the first letter from his mother.

July 9, 1944

My dear Gord,

We were so happy to hear from you that you had arrived in Palo Alto O.K.  I phoned Mr. Combs to tell him.  Am anxious to receive a letter from you telling all details.  If you do sleep on a porch hope you have adequate covers; if not use your overcoat.  Am wondering just what your room is like and if it is satisfactory for your requirements.

Shall send your shirts and coat hangers tomorrow.  I found a new undershirt in your drawer.  I’ll enclose it in package as you might want it.  Am enclosing two $5 bills in this letter.

It certainly is lonesome without you and now the phone never rings.  The weather was hot Friday but today it is very cool.

I just wrote a letter to Rob.  Don’t forget to write to him occasionally.

Grandma says to tell you she misses you “awful”.  She leaves for S.F. Wed – then we will be alone. 

Last night the Pollack's and Bruckner's were here for a game and it seemed so funny for you not to come in at 1 or 1:30. Tonight we are going out to Uncle Leon’s for a little while so Grandma can tell them good-bye.  Dad worked most of the day today out in the yard.  Bet you are glad you don’t have to set the table, wipe the dishes or work in the yard.

Hope you passed the English A test satisfactorily.

Let us hear from you real soon.

Bushels of love from Daddy and your Loving Mother.

Sunday aft.

Remember you can phone us whenever you feel like it.  If we don’t answer a little after six remember we may be out to dinner and will be home a little later.

I remember when my first daughter started college and she joined a sorority.  She talked about the "sleeping porch" and I was confused as to how or why girls would sleep on a "porch".  Apparently, my grandmother was confused, as well, and I laugh that she reminded him to use his overcoat.  

My grandfather worked in the yard?  In all the years we visited their home I never, ever saw him work in the yard.  And, apparently, my dad also spent some time working in the yard which was something he didn't do much of as we were growing up.  He liked to plant flowers but other than that, we always had a gardener (Tom and his son, Kyoshi) to maintain the yard.

And then Sig sent a very business-like letter.  In fact, it was typed on Levy Bros. stationery and had the familiar notes at the bottom showing Sig dictated the letter, someone else typed it.

July 10, 1944

Dear Gordon:

Enclosed herewith please find signature cards for your bank deposits.

You can sign your name above mine on both cards and take them to your bank unless you have signed them properly up there.

You understand if you get your account below $100.00, I believe, you pay a service charge and also if you draw too many checks you will have to pay a service charge.

Sorry you did not receive your bike, but it was sent out O.K. and you should have it by now.

No doubt you are getting well settled and I hope you are enjoying it.

Love from all

Dad

SL:mm

Enc. 2

Dad was a good son and wrote letters to his parents.  The first letter I found from him was August 12, 1944 sent to them at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.  My hunch is that for the first month he was away he phoned and then wrote letters while they were on vacation.

August 12^th, 1944

Dear Folks:

The mail service is still good.  I received the letter you wrote Thursday night yesterday (Saturday) morning.  It sure brought back the memories…The Grove…eating at Lindy’s….taking in a show at Hollywood…waiting on pins and needles for Rob who was supposed to come at 8 but never got there until 10:30 (that’s Rob)….sitting all afternoon watching the clock, waiting for a room….breakfasting in the Coffee Shop…trudging down to Magnin’s, Mom to look, Dad to smell the perfume…making the next stop at Bullock’s so Pop can say “hello” to the floor-walker…trying to get a free peek at the pretty girls in the swimming pool…getting write-ups in the LA Times…going down to see the Civilian Defense chief.  Yes, there all a part of the vacations of the past, and they’ll be a part of the vacations of the future.

Spent a quiet week-end…taking in a show and resting with the boys.  Found out that somehow I got a B on the Western Civilization exam and I know that I got 73% on the Poly Sci test.  Considering that the highest grade was 88% out of a class of 110, it might be worth a B…I really don’t know.

Got a letter from Sheldon Lewis…he’ll have a commission in about three months.  That lucky guy!!  Oh yes – I bought a sweater at Roos Bros. and charged it…just so you’ll know who’s corrupting the account in Palo Alto.

I suppose you and the younger set had quite a nice time…and how was the blonde??  You’re getting me all excited…tell me all.  If you see Rob again…tell him that I’ve given up all hope of ever hearing from him…also tell him that “We’ve got the axe.”

Here’s hoping your vacation continues to keep in the traditional form… Pop, don’t play too much golf on the pee-wee course!!  It’s too bad Louie Slater isn’t there to show you the town.

I wish I could have a Lindy’s steak…but the Stanford Bowl in Paly is the best I can do…

Love, Gord

POP:  I got a notice from the President’s office about the college program for air corps men like me.  I talked to the professor in charge here who sent me to the Colonel in command of the troops here.  The colonel said that the only benefit would be to become orientated with the army and men with the same goal as myself.  The courses are just the average freshman course….and I wouldn’t stay at Stanford.  I think I’d just as soon stay here and enjoy myself while I can.  There’s no reason to go before I have to.  Agree?

POP?  He called him POP?  I had to laugh that even back then, Rob was late.  It seemed like we experienced that a lot as we were growing up.  

And then there is a box of letters from various people, most of the names of which I don't recognize.  Those will be last in line for transcribing.

I'm excited to spend some time with these letters - I'm glad winter is approaching so I can type away during the long, dark days.

I have so many projects to complete but this is the newest and I'm excited to get started.

52 Ancestors: On the Map - Stanford University

This week's blog prompt is On the Map.  Last week I wrote about my dad attending Stanford University - you can read it HERE.  As I was preparing the post, I scanned a map of Stanford in 1941 that I found in his things and intended to include it but - I forgot.  Was it that damn age thing or did I 'intentionally' forget so I could put it in the blog this week?  I like to think it was the latter.

Here's the map from 1941.  It was folded neatly so not sure if this was just some sort of memento or if he actually used it.

I'm pretty sure my dad lived in Buchanan Hall when he first arrived in 1944 but I don't see it on this map.  I found a map for the present day but I don't see it here, either.

From Buchanan Hall, he went to Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity.  I remember him telling me that people suggested he not join that fraternity because it was too "Jewish".  I don't see it on either map but I did find a photo of it from the 1949 yearbook.

During the 1944-1945 academic year, Dad was an Associate Sports Editor for the Stanford Daily.  That's him on the left with the crazy sweater.

1947 Stanford Daily Staff

He stayed a member of Phi Sigma Kappa until he completed his MBA studies but I'm guessing once he graduated in 1949 he no longer lived in the house.  But he was the first-term president, a role he must have loved because he was always serving in one way or another throughout his life.

Here's the portion of the page showing some members of Phi Sigma Kappa in 1949.  I remember as kids my sister and I would pour over the pages looking for missing students and scream with delight when we'd find the Indian (they were the Stanford Indians in those days).  Poor Norman Miller must have been sick the day photos were taken but the Indian was only too happy to take his place.

Dad always liked to be on the Debate team and in 1947, he was a member of the Delta Sigma Rho team.  Here he is, second from right.  

1947 Stanford Debate Team - Delta Sigma Rho
H. Hawkes, M. Gray, Professor Emerson, J. Soares, G. Levy, M. Thompson

Dad may not have been "on the map" but he did have the map!

52 Ancestors: Back to School - Gordon goes to Stanford

As I've been organizing the ephemera that my family saved, I ran across some interesting things related to my dad's college experience at Stanford University.  One item I come across nearly every day is this Stanford jacket that hangs in my closet - it prompts a smile even though I wonder why I keep it and how much more dust it can collect.

Dad was a proud Stanford grad

Dad graduated from Fresno High School in June, 1944 and by July was off to start the next phase of his life at Stanford University.  I found MANY letters that Mom wrote to him beginning July 8, 1944 but I don't know why he moved onto campus so early.  And there are also lots of letters to him from his parents.  What's interesting, though, is that Mom apparently didn't have the "save everything" gene because I haven't found one letter that he wrote to her.

Dad received a scholarship of $400 for his freshman year.   That equates to about $6,000 in today's dollars and with tuition now over $50,000 per year, that would still leave a lot for a family to manage.  

After about six weeks, Dad apparently discussed joining the Army Reserve Corps.  It's interesting to note that based on his military records, he enlisted on 1 July, 1944 and entered into the Army Air Force on 16 June, 1945.  I hope he let G.F. Sensabaugh know that he would not be joining them.

After 18 months in the Army Air Force, Dad was back at Stanford to finish his studies.  

Dad was a member of Phi Sigma Kappa Fraternity and even saved a statement from June, 1948.  As our first grandchild heads off to college this week, I'm sure her parents would love to see the first housing statement look like this.  Look at that - 35 cents extra for a towel!

On 5 February, 1948, the College Entrance Examination Board mailed him a "ticket" to take the Law School Admission Test on 28 February, 1948.  I vaguely remember hearing about him wanting to go into law but I would have buried that in my mind if I hadn't found this.

And just a month later, his results were in the mail.  Law School 617 was Stanford University which, apparently, was the only school he had his results sent to.  Thankfully, there was an interpretation of scores on the back so I could figure out how he'd done on the exam.

It's hard to read but with a score of 451, it looks like only 32% of candidates received a lower score for that testing period.  I'm guessing that's why we never heard much about Law School and why he decided to obtain a MBA from Stanford, graduating in 1951.

He also obtained his college transcript, which may have been used to gain entrance into the Business Administration program.  It's hard to read but I see a few "C's" there, proof that he wasn't always perfect.  But boy did he strive to be and instilled that in us during our school years.

Way down on the right side it says Advanced Standing, 3/47: Allowed 6 q.u. for military service which is why he had no classes/grades for 1945-1946 or the fall quarter of 1946.  

And here's his diploma to prove that he successfully completed the program.  I remember this hanging on the wall for years - he must have been very proud.

It never occurred to me that while my parents were married in September, 1950, he didn't complete his MBA until April, 1951.  I knew they stayed in Palo Alto for the first year or so after they were married so this must be why.  

Stanford will always hold a very special place in my heart since both Mom and Dad graduated from there.  And we spent many, many Saturday afternoons watching their beloved team (Indians at the time) play football.  I'm so glad I came across these things!

Gordon Levy
Stanford grad 1949

52 Ancestors: Labor - Abe's Photos

Until I started this journey, I had no idea that my great grandfather, Abraham Gunzendorfer, was a photographer.  What I still don't know is if he did this as a paying job or just a LABOR of love.  I do know that he took lots of photos, many of which I have in my private stash, which makes it difficult, at times, to know if the subject is an ancestor or, rather, someone who might have paid Abe to take their photo.

One of the first 'Abe' photos I discovered is one of my favorites - the interior of the family store in Pacific Grove.  At one point, there were two stores - one on Alvarado Street in Monterey and the one photographed here.

The White House, Pacific Grove
prior to 1896

But the store in Pacific Grove failed and closed in 1896.

San Francisco Chronicle
5 January, 1896
page 20

What's interesting about the date of the article is that my grandmother, Loraine Gunzendorfer, was born just two weeks later on 20 January 1896.  I know that during the course of her teen years she worked at "the store" so I now know that she worked at the store on Alvarado Street in Monterey.

Abe was on hand when President McKinley visited Monterey on 11 May 1901.  I'm fairly certain that the first building, with Beeman's on the side, is The White House.

And then he captured the President on a stroll in San Francisco a few days later.

It seemed that Abe liked to photograph parades.  This must be downtown Monterey.

And another parade - not sure if this is Monterey or maybe San Francisco.  

Back of photo reads
Photo by A.B. Gunzendorfer
2040 Sutter Street
San Francisco, Cal.

I know next to nothing about Palo Corona Ranch, which was the property of Alonzo E. Allen.  Was this an important place to Abe or was he merely taking photographs for Mr. Allen or someone else?

Abe wrote on the back of this photo "A sample of my first photographs".  Wonder what/where it is?

This is an interesting shot.  Seems too large of a city to be Monterey?  The photo is clearly sepia in person but it looks colorized here.

One of the many things I remember about my grandmother was her love of abalone.  Whenever possible, she'd order abalone when we went to a restaurant.  It seems that Abe also shared that love, at least when it came to the process of fishing for them.

The back of the photo is interesting since it says "compliments of Ad. Sept 18/1900" yet has a marking of a Photographic Supplies company in Los Angeles.  "Ad" was how is brother, Adolph, was referred to at times so maybe Adolph gave the photo to Abe.  But the writing at the bottom is Abe's.  

Abe's mother-in-law, my 2x great grandmother, was Rebecca (Steen) Schwartz.  Many of the Steen family resided in Monterey so I found this photo very interesting.  Based on this, there was a reason he photographed Palo Corona Ranch.  Thank you, Abe, for labeling so many of your photos.

Abe did take photos of his children as seen here in the photo of his son, Wilton Louis Gunzendorfer, in 1900.

What makes this photo so special is the inscription on the back.

Wilton Louis Gunzendorfer
July 8th 1900
This photo property of his dad

I have so many of Abe's photos and, perhaps, photos that he took that have no marking on it.  I am forever grateful that he labeled so many of his photos.

Thanks to this blog prompt, it's caused me to bring out the box of Abe photos to scan some more and get into archival boxes.

52 Ancestors: Unforgettable - Cut Out Faces

This week's blog prompt - Unforgettable - brought so many memories to mind of unforgettable events in my life.  I couldn't nail down what I wanted to write about so I took a tour of the slides my dad took that I recently discovered and had copied - surely that would bring some great memories to mind.  And it was then that I noticed a theme - cut out faces.  You know, those 'props' you see at amusement parks and other places with a background painted and the face is cut out so people can put their face in and pose for a photo.  I don't know if they have a 'real' name but I'm calling them cut out faces.  

As kids we used to make the drive from San Jose to Disneyland - about 400 miles - and we always made a stop at Andersen's Split Pea Restaurant in Buellton.  Dad captured our visit in 1959 and took a few photos.

Sister and me

Mom

Dad - must have let someone else use the camera

This must have been a few years later and might have been at Knott's Berry Farm.  I guess this is technically a 'cut out legs' photo.  Sister is rocking the sun glasses!

We also used to spend some time at Frontier Village, a western themed park near our home in San Jose.  Little brother got into the act!

Brother - c. 1964

We might have taken our oldest daughter for a visit as I'm not sure where else this might have been.  Hands up!

c. 1979

In 1987, we made a trip from Washington to San Jose to Disneyland and then drove north to get back home to Washington.  I seem to remember some sort of Cabbage Patch Kid museum or park - of course we had to have a cut out faces photo of our daughters in the cabbage patch.

And then grandchildren got into the act at a nearby pumpkin farm.

Thomasson Family Farm, c. 2009

Oops, a big kid made it into the picture.

I'm sure I have many more cut out faces but this was a fun start.  It's given me a nudge to get back to organizing photos.