An Obituary of Jerry Ornstein 1933-2012

Jerry Ornstein was one of my mum's American cousins. He was Leah's youngest child, brother to Melvin who died many years before (in the late 1960s or early 1970s) and Rosalyn who passed away on 4th February 2011. Their mother was Leah, who was born in London at the turn of the 20th century. She married a G.I., Harry Ornstein (who was a distant cousin) in 1922, and the couple lived in Boston, Massachusetts. Leah died in 2002, aged 99. Her husband Harry had been wounded in a mustard gas attack during the First World War, possibly the battle of Ypres, suffering for the rest if his life from breathing problems. Leah had been a nurse back in England during the latter years of the conflict. She had helped Harry to convalesce, and subsequently married and emigrated to the United States with her new husband. Their daughter Rosalyn would go onto marry David Charter, a veteran of the Second World War. The Charters are a family with a strong military tradition, with members of each generation serving their county, whether it is the U.S. or Israel.

The following obituary comes from http://www.mvtimes.com/2012/10/17/jerome-ornstein-12944/

Jerome Ornstein, 79, died in the early hours of October 2 when a full moon and balmy breeze gently escorted him from his loving family and his devoted caregivers at Windemere. Shedding the burdens of diabetes and Parkinson’s, then softly drawing his last earthly breath, he gently and comfortably sailed on ahead, ready to cast his line into eternity’s most secretive fishing spot.

“Jerry” was the youngest of three children born to Harry and Leah Ornstein on March 17, 1933. He graduated from Boston Latin School and completed his degree at Boston University. Enlisting in the Army, he was sent to France.

After the Army, he resided with his mother in Maine. Later, they moved to Mattapan and West Roxbury. He began his career in the emerging field of computers. As the head of the data processing center at Salem State College in Salem, he earned the respect of many colleagues and students alike. When co-workers started a weekly bowling club Jerry eagerly joined.

Later, he worked at Digital. His desk always displayed the most unique collection of tchotchkes. He loved opera, classical music, museums, art and most of all fishing at Quabbin Reservoir and Jamaica Pond. Despite his strong determination, he would return home more often than not with stories of the “big ones” that got away. Jerry was highly motivated to “get photographic evidence” when the fishing gods smiled his way.

Remaining single for his entire life, he devotingly cared for Leah, his mother, until she entered assisted living. Simultaneously, Jerry shined in his exceptional role as the best uncle any kid could ever have by mentoring all his nieces and nephews. His sister Rosalyn and her husband David Charter had four sons — Harvey, Edward, Michael and Steven. His brother, Melvin Ornstein, and his wife, Leona, had a son, Eric, and a daughter, Beth. Soon numerous grand nephews and nieces came under his wing.

Jerry never missed any family event, be it a Seder, bar mitzvah, holiday, birthday, or wedding. He relished all of the finer aspects of life. The first thing he would order when dining out was “Chivas on the rocks.” His love of food was obvious to all. His mood was always upbeat. He drove out to Tanglewood concerts and picnicked at many state parks. He traveled to family events in Chicago, Texas, Israel, and New York. He loved the ocean but detested sand.

When diabetes and Parkinson’s tried to dictate his life, Jerry happily accepted a chance to live on the Vineyard with his nephew, Ed Charter, and his wife, Eileen, and their sons Gabriel, Zachary, and Seth. Jerry lived for a while in a small apartment and even rescued a spunky junkyard cat he named Butch in honor of his childhood pet.

After Jerry experienced more serious health setbacks, Ed was able to get him into the assisted living wing of the newly opened Windemere. Through the attentive and exceptional care of the staff, Jerry enjoyed several great years there. Always a charmer, Jerry flirted with many female admirers. He painted, played bridge, went on outings, learned a little piano, and participated in numerous activities. Despite enjoying mealtimes to the fullest, he sometimes could be found raiding the snack closet. He especially loved going out for ice cream or French fries with Ed. Jerry would often remark that he was “as pleased as punch” and would often tease certain family members about their physical attributes. He jokingly described them as possessing “a face only a mother could love.” He was an avid Patriots and Red Sox fan. Always wearing his team’s jackets or hats, he would never miss watching a game.

Illness prompted a switch to the second floor of Windemere where Jerry forged additional new bonds with his skilled caregivers. Jerry truly loved all of the staff there. It was obvious to anyone who visited that his love was returned many times over by the dedicated, compassionate team of professionals looking out for his welfare. As his health declined, Jerry’s lack of mobility kept him in his wheel chair. The basics of daily living became very difficult. Observing this, Ed sought to improve things where he could. Jerry held the distinction of being one of the few Windemere residents who had doctor’s orders for a nightly hot fudge sundae or a Chivas cocktail.

Gradually, it became evident to Ed that it would soon be Jerry’s “time.”

On September 24, Ed spoke with the dedicated caregivers at Windemere and Hospice. After visiting Jerry daily, Ed began a vigil on September 29. Jerry was made as comfortable as possible. The caring staff at Windemere went above and beyond the call of duty to make Jerry calm, peaceful, and well cared for around the clock. They graciously preserved his dignity. As classical music played in the background and Eileen held his hand, Ed re-assured Jerry “that everything was taken care off” and on October 2, Jerry gently drifted off peacefully.

On the warm, sunny morning of Friday, October 5, 2012, Jerry was laid to rest in the Ornstein family plot at Liberty Progressive Cemetery in Everett. A single monarch butterfly danced amongst family members as they spoke fondly of Jerry. They listened as Rabbi/Cantor Hallie sang melodic prayers and read an upbeat, poetic homage. Everyone took his or her turn to complete the final mitzvah task. As if on cue, the butterfly soared upwards catching the passing breeze.

Donations in Jerry’s memory may be made to Windemere Nursing Home or to Hospice. Other suggestions: raising a toast of Chivas, enjoying a hot fudge sundae or French fries, naming your next cat Butch or by enjoying your favorite piece of art or by visiting a museum. Jerry would “be pleased as punch!”

The Stanetsky Memorial Chapel handled the arrangements assisted by the Chapman, Cole and Gleason Funeral Home of Oak Bluffs. Please visit Stanetsky Memorial Chapels Stanetsky.com for online guest book info.

The Ornstein, Charter, Taylor, and Ostrer families graciously extend their thanks to the many kind expressions of sympathy from all who knew Jerry. They send a special thank you to the Windemere Nursing Home team of caregivers for their exceptional devotion.

Letter from Frank Austin's daughter Shirley Korner of Lewes, East Sussex

Transcription of original letter, circa July 2011.

Dear Ben
It was nice to talk to you. Forgive my handwriting; I really can't cope with computers!
You want to know about Hannah Moser, the "old Booka" as we used to call her, as opposed to "Booka", who was Dora/Dobbie, mother of Leah, Harry, Frank, Sam, Nat, Lew and Kitty. She was a very important figure in the bringing up of the seven children after Mordecai / Mark died when Kitty was six months old and Dora used to go out to work as a midwife's (sic) assistant to help families where mothers had just give (sic) birth.
The "old Booka" was very strict and dominating, but quite helpful. My father Frank remembered (going) with her to sell Charasett at Pesach in Petticoat Lane, and he often lived in her flat with her after her husband died.

Later on she said she was going to get married again and one day she disappeared but came back the next day- "But Booka, what happened?"...."Oof, he was a dirty old man," (in Yiddish) and that was the end of that.
She and Dora lived together with the grown up children until they all left to get married. I remember (aged 6) visiting their flat in Stoke Newington and hearing my uncle Lew singing very beautifully as he showered. We used to always to have a Seder together there until she was too frail, and then they all came to our house.
Hannah used to wear an ornately curled black shteitel (wig). When I was about five I gave her a hug and to my horror her head came off; and I cried in shock! Everyone laughed, especially Booka.
She did not speak English but she did read Yiddish and Hebrew, which her daughter Dora did not. I used to feel very sorry for her later on, when she sat alone at home waiting for her children to call; or 'phone her. She used to visit us every week and we had a lot of family gatherings before the war.
Hannah died in 1938 I think- and then the family was evacuated and the uncles all did war-time work.
I think she was a great character, as were all that generation of immigrants. It is hard to imagine the hardship and persistence - but I always think of refugees and asylum seekers and modern immigrants with great respect, and really try to help them.
Incidentally, although my family are not at all attached to Jewish rituals etc, I am still called Booka by the eight grandchildren!
Best wishes to your parents and to Amanda and your little children.

Good luck with the research.

Love
Shirley

More English than the English: Ornsteins become Austins

6734 THE LONDON GAZETTE, 20 OCTOBER, 1936Re HEINRICH ARNOLD THAULOWKNUTSEN, Deceased.Pursuant to the Trustee Act, 1925.ALL persons having any claim against theestate of Heinrich Arnold Thaulow Knutsen, lateof Majorstuyeien 15, Oslo, Norway, Civil Engineer,who died on the 24th April, 1936, intestate,and letters of administration to whose estate weregranted by the Principal Probate Registry onthe 10th October, 1936, to Lloyds Bank Limited,the lawful Attorney of Fredrik Lpoft, the personentrusted with administration (with Will) of theestate of the said deceased by the Oslo ProbateCourt, are hereby required to send particularsthereof to the Executor and Trustee Department,Lloyds Bank Limited, 39, Threadneedle Street,London, E.G.2, or to the undersigned, on orbefore the 21st day of December, 1936, afterwhich date the administrators will proceed todistribute the said estate, having regard only-tothe claims then notified.—Dated the 16th day ofOctober, 1936.CAMERON KEMM and CO., GreshamHouse, 24, Old Broad Street, London,(061) E.C.2, Solicitors for the said Administrators.Re JOSEPHINE ROSE WEBSTER, Deceased.Pursuant to the Trustee Act, 1925.ALL persons having claims against the estate ofJosephine Rose Webster, late of 21, Ayoca Street,South Yarra, in the State of Victoria Spinster(who died on the 10th day of November, 1934,intestate, and letters of administration to whoseestate were granted by the Supreme Court ofVictoria on the llth day of February, 1935, toRichard Raleigh Webster and were resealed in thePrincipal Probate Registry on the 1st day ofOctober, 1936), are required to send particularsthereof, in writing, to the undersigned, on orbefore the 21st day of December next, after whichdate the administrator will proceed to distributethe assets, having regard only to the claims ofwhich he shall then have had notice.—Dated thisseventeenth day of October, 1936.STEPHENS and SON, 41, Railway Street,Chatham, Kent, Solicitors for the PublicTrustee, the lawful Attorney of the said(208) Administrator.Re the Estate of ALFRED SEARLES, Deceased.Pursuant to the Trustee Act, 1925, section 27.NOTICE is hereby given that all creditors andother persons having any claims or demandsagainst the estate of Alfred Searles, late of ChapelEnd, Broxted, in the county of Essex, Smallholder,who died on the 6th day of August, 1936,and whose Will was proved at the Principal ProbateRegistry on the 12th day of October, 1936,by Alfred Reynolds, the Elder, of Browns EndRoad, Broxted, Horsekeeper, and Herbert HarveyTyrrell, of Mole Hill Green, Takeley, in thesaidcounty of Essex, Rating Officer, the executorsnamed in the said Will, are hereby requiredto send the particulars, in writing, of their claimsand demands to the undersigned, the Solicitor forthe said executors, on or before the 24th day ofDecember, 1936, after which date the said executorswill proceed to distribute the assets of thesaid deceased amongst the persons entitled thereto,having regard only to the claims and demandsof which they shall then have had notice; andwill not be liable for the assets of the deceased,or any part thereof, so distributed, to any personsof whose claims or demands they shall not thenhave had notice.—Dated this 15th day of October,1936.A. E. FLOYD, Dunmow, Essex, Solicitor to(151) the said Executors.I, HERSCHEL LEWIS AUSTIN, of 13, MountPleasant Mansions, Clapton, in the county ofLondon, Commercial Traveller, a natural bornBritish subject, heretofore called, and known bythe names of Herschell Lewis Ornstein, hereby givenotice that I have renounced and abandoned theChristian name of Herschell and surname ofOrnstein and that I have assumed and intendhenceforth on all occasions whatsoever and at alltimes to sign and use and to be called and knownby the names of Herschel Lewis Austin in lieuof and in substitution for my former names ofHerschell Lewis Ornstein- and I also hereby givenotice that such change of name is formally declaredand evidenced by a deed poll under myhand and seal dated the fifth day of October, 1936, :and duly executed and attested, and that such !deed poll was enrolled in the Central Office of the \Supreme Court of Judicature on the fourteenth \day of October, 1936.—Dated this 15th day ofOctober, 1936.HERSCHEL LEWIS AUSTIN, formerly(092) Herschell Lewis Ornstein.I, MORRIS MOSS, of 57, Moresby Road, Clapton,in the county of London, Grocer and ProvisionMerchant, heretofore called and known by thename of Morris Moscovitch or Moscpvitz, herebygive notice that I have assumed and intend henceforthupon all occasions and at all times to signand use and be called and known by the surnameof Moss in lieu of and substitution for my presentsurname of Moscovitch or Moscovitz, and thatsuch intended change or assumption of name isformally declared and evidenced by a deed pollunder my hand and seal dated the 1st day ofOctober, 1936, and enrolled on the 13th day ofOctober, 1936, in the Enrolment Department ofthe Central Office of the Royal Courts of Justice.In testimony whereof I hereby sign and subscribemyself by such my intended future name.—Datedthis 15th day of October, 1936.(034) MORRIS MOSS.I, NATHAN AUSTIN, of 26, Clissold Court,Clissold Park, in the county of London, DispatchManager, a natural born British subject, heretoforecalled and known by the name of NathanOrnstein, hereby give notice that I have renouncedand abandoned the name of NathanOrnstein and that I have assumed and intendhenceforth on all occasions whatsoever and at alltimes to sign and use and to be called and knownby the name of Nathan Austin in lieu of and insubstitution for my former name of NathanOrnstein; and I also hereby give notice that suchchange of name is formally declared and evidencedby a deed poll under my hand and seal datedthe third day of October, 1936, and duly executedand attested, and that such deed poll was enrolledin the Central Office of the Supreme Courtof Judicature on the fourteenth day of October,1936.—Dated this 15th day of October, 1936.NATHAN AUSTIN, formerly Nathan(093) Ornstein.I, JACQUELINE BARRINGTON, of 5, BurwoodPlace, Hyde Park, in the county of London,Married Woman, a natural born British subject,heretofore called and known by the name ofWinifred Alexandrina Antoinette Jack, herebygive notice that I have renounced and abandonedthe names of Winifred Alexandrina AntoinetteJack and that I have assumed and intend henceforthon all occasions whatsoever and at all timesto sign and use and' to be called and known bythe names of Jacqueline Barrington in lieu ofand in substitution for my former names ofWinifred Alexandrina Antoinette Jack; and I alsohereby give notice that such change of name isformally declared and evidenced by a deed pollunder my hand and seal dated the twelfth day ofOctober, one thousand nine hundred, and thirtysix,duly executed and attested, and that suchdeed poll was enrolled in the Central Office of theSupreme Court of Judicature on the fifteenth dayof October, one thousand nine hundred and thirtysix.—Dated this seventeenth day of October, 1936.JACQUELINE BARRINGTON, formerly(096) Winifred Alexandrina Antoinette Jack.

The Ornsteins Left to right: Harry, Kitty, Lou (Lew), Grandma (Dora) Nat, Leah, Sam & Frank. Circa 1921. Courtesy of Michele Pannaman.

Big brothers Harry and Frank Austin, circa 1914. Dora Austin (Ornstein) and her youngest child Kitty Austin later Garland, circa late 1920's or early 1930's. Many thanks expressed to Michele Pannaman, grandaughter of 'Big Brother'Harry, the one in the sailor's suit.

Martin Austin, Leah Ornstein, Anne Austin, Joy Austin & Harry Austin Courtesy of Michele Pannaman, grandaughter of Harry and Anne Austin and daughter of Joy.

'Mummy, Daddy, Aunty Leah and Myself at Blenheim Palace' Harry Austin with his wife Anne (nee Silk), Harry's big sister Leah Ornstein and Joy Austin, later Pannaman. Courtesy of Michele Pannaman.