“Heya, Walt!” That’s how I remember people greeting my paternal grandfather, Walter. Whether downtown, in church, at the Elks Club, or in his store and always smiling with hand extended and an equally warm greeting in return . . . . that was grandpa.
Walter was born at the beginning of the 20th century, the 16th of March 1900. Like so many people born at that time, he saw so many changes in his lifetime, from horse-drawn carriages to refrigerated ice-boxes to the man on the moon. He sold the newspapers that broadcasted all these events in his store, jointly owned by him and his brother, Harry, and then by him and his second wife, Clara (my grandmother). Walter sold lots of ice-cream, too, Breyer’s, and you could get fountain service in the ’50’s soda-jerked by none other than my own father!
Walter’s father was direct from Stuttgart in the 1870’s and established his own successful shoemaker’s business once landed in the U.S. , first in New York City and later, upstate. Perhaps, this sense of independent entreprenurialship is another genetic (or learned) family trait as AVI Family Trees is the 4th generation of self-owned business ventures in the family. Before opening up shop with his brother, Walter worked as an accountant with the Erie Railroad. We’re all good with numbers, too!
One of my favorite memories of my grandfather was snuggling next to him almost every Sunday during the sermon in church. He always had wintergreen Lifesavers in his suit breast pocket next to his neatly-pressed handkerchief and gave me one as the church lights dimmed and the minister began. I was 8 or 9 or 10 at the time and I suppose this ritual reminded him of being in church with his own daughters. It made me feel very safe and secure and loved.
As a kid, it was excellent having grandparents who owned their own store! We got free comic books, ice-cream bars or cones, and the occasional toy. Grandpa always let us choose our own Easter candy from the myriad of choices in the glass cases – I loved the dark chocolate covered marshmallow eggs and crosses. And the white-chocolate mini-binks! How lucky were we.
Grandpa taught me a lot about community service, especially dedication as a member of your church. Walter was a trustee of St. Peter’s Lutheran, one of several men who signed the mortgage papers, putting his business as collateral on the loan. The day the mortgage papers were burned in celebration of paying it off was due to his hard work as a member and as the church treasurer (remember, we’re good with numbers!).
Walter and Clara traveled a lot once grandpa sold his store to retire. They shared several years together before he passed away in 1974. His was the first family death that I truly understood the meaning of and it greatly impacted the life of this then twelve-year old. I still miss his warm hugs and kisses and his smile. Walter’s smile under the straw hat in this photo dates to the 1920’s.
Avi 