SPECIAL   F E A T U R E S

Pet of the Week

(4-17-13)

Leo is a bearded collie who lives with Ellen Slater, his owner, at the Residences in Palm Beach. He is 8 years old and runs on the beach two times a day. The Slaters and Leo are snowbirds from Boston. They have been spending winters here for 6 years.

Photo by Jimmy Shirley

Meet John Becker, Muralist, 

of Murry Hills, Lake Worth

Story & Photo by Jimmy Shirley

John Becker is pictured in front of the mural he painted on the wall at Murry Hills swimming pool. His granddaughter was the model for the girl in the "snack shack" window.

Sometimes in life, one never really realizes what they were meant to do until later in life. Whether to earn a living or change the world, these two extremes, things happen for a good reason, often times lost to us regular folk.

I have a younger brother who discovered, into his 40s, that he could paint using watercolors. When first I saw one of his paintings, I was utterly astonished because it was really good. I thought to myself, "My brother painted that? MY LITTLE BROTHER!!?"

So now we come to John Becker of Murry Hills. Into his 40s, he discovers quite by accident while building a pond in his back yard where he formerly lived in Palm Beach county that he has a talent for painting. Some years later, he develops his skill into painting murals along sides of buildings.

I recently met with Mr. Becker and his wife of 51 years, Teresa "Teddy" at their home in Murry Hills. He showed me around his home which has several examples of his art decorating the walls within. He has painted murals from the eastern coastline of Palm Beach county to the western shores of Lake Okeechobee. He has been the subject of numerous news publications, including finally here, the Condo News. This writer must confess to being very impressed with both him, his wife and his art. Not that this writer is an art critic but he knows what he likes.

Mr. and Mrs. Becker are the parents of four children, eight grandchildren and one great grandchild. They moved to Florida from New Hampshire around thirty-three years ago. He is a Navy veteran who served his country during the Korean War. He was a field representative for Curtis-Wright for some many years, servicing the flight simulators. To those who don’t live at Murry Hills, if when you get the chance, go to the clubhouse and check out his mural there.

See another of John’s paintings in the Condo Art Corner above ...

Meet Leona Ramoy, Celebrating her 90th B-day with Family & Friends

Story & Photos By Maddy Greenberg

L-R: Jeff & Ruth Stein with Jeff’s mom, Sarah Stein; 

Leona Ramoy; 

Hal & Cathy Kantor— all residents from the Barclay Condominium

Leona Ramoy (center)  

with son Rob and 

daughter Judy Ramoy Johnstone.

So many of the people that I meet who live along South Ocean Boulevard have led such interesting lives. Leona Ramoy recently celebrated her 90th Birthday and I found Leona and her daughter Judy whom I both interviewed for this article to be extremely easy to talk with and quite engaging. Upon speaking with one of Leona’s neighbors, Ilse Ahronheim, (my travel agent) at the Barclay Condominium on S. Ocean Blvd. in South Palm Beach, I found out that Leona and her late husband Milton, back on Valentine’s Day, February 2002 were guests on the Oprah Show. The story that led up to it and the recent communication from Oprah’s staff to Leona make for an interesting experience that I will tell you about a bit later in this article.

Leona had a delightful brunch at the Breakers Flagler Steakhouse celebrating her 90th Birthday with family and friends. Over 50 of her friends from condominiums including The Barclay, (where she is an original owner who has lived full-time in South Palm Beach since 1978), attended this gala. Friends from The Palm Sea, Horizon West and The Patrician were all there to share in this happy occasion. Other guests included much loved next door neighbors from East Rockaway, New York. These former neighbors have been friends of Leona since 1949 and now coincidently live in Lake Worth. To have kept in touch with your friends and neighbors that date back some 62 years, says a lot about a person — ALL GOOD.

Leona’s family from New York, Maryland, Delaware and Florida all flew out for this most joyous occasion. Even Leona’s two Great Grandchildren, Micah Johnstone, 18 and a Freshman in the Honors College at the University of South Florida and little Lucas Pseres, from Baltimore who celebrated his first birthday while visiting his Great Grandma Leona were all there to share in the happiness. In Yiddish, they say that this brings Leona "Naches," which translated means "great joy."

In order to understand the reason why Leona and her husband whom she adored so much were guests on Oprah Show, it goes back to 2002 when Leona wrote a letter to Redbook Magazine answering a question as to "Would you marry your spouse again?" What made Leona’s story so inspiring that Oprah apparently took an interest in it was because of the explanation behind Leona’s response.

At that time Leona and her now departed husband were married 60 years. Back in 1942 just a month prior to their planned wedding, Leona’s dad had died. Leona’s soon to be groom was going off to war overseas, so the two love birds cancelled their planned wedding and instead were married before 300 soldiers in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Leona had explained in her letter to Redbook that she had always missed that she didn’t have her big dream wedding all those years ago. Her letter must have been quite impressive and inspirational enough for Oprah to decide that on Valentine’s Day she would interview this couple and surprise them with a magnificent renewal of their vows so that their family could be witnesses to this special occasion that would be televised nationwide.

First Leona received a phone call, which she thought was a joke to be on the show. There were other couples, but it was determined that Leona and her hubby were to be the couple of choice on this special show. Leona only knew that she would be interviewed, nothing more. In the meantime it had been arranged that Leona would be interviewed right here in Palm Beach, which did take place. Then a stretch limousine came to pick the couple up at the Barclay to take them to the airport, and again when they arrived in Chicago they were spirited off to their hotel in another limousine. Little did Leona know but her family was arriving at the same time as their parents at a different airport in Chicago and taken to a different hotel so the surprise would be authentic.

The couple and their family members were kept in different rooms at the show. The surprise was real, and Oprah arranged to have a "chupa" as is traditional in the Jewish faith erected on the stage and a Rabbi officiated the wedding as the happy and surprised couple renewed their vows. It was Oprah who when the groom stomped on the glass wrapped in a napkin, called out "Mazel Tov!"

According to Leona’s daughter Judy, she had heard over the years that while her father was overseas he wrote passionate love letters weekly to his beloved wife Leona. None of the children were allowed to read these impassioned letters because they were told they would "burn in your hands." Apparently Leona lovingly kept all the love letters in an adorned trunk, and she brought one with her to the Oprah Show where it was read aloud. Quite an endearing and romantic story of love and commitment; which spanned some 64 years of marriage and will endure for many years as a tender memory well beyond that. Judy told me that every night when her parents went to bed they held hands as they drifted off to sleep. Even after those 60 years of marriage. Now that sounds like true love indeed.

On the Oprah set a 27 year old assistant asked Leona what her secret was for knowing when you find the right one to marry. Leona and her husband simply said, "You will know when it is right."

The Ramoy’s and their family were spirited off by Oprah to a luncheon reception after their renewed vows to the Four Seasons Resort in Chicago. They were treated to another wonderful and happy once in a lifetime experience.

Week’s later, a package arrived at the Ramoy’s apartment at the Barclay, another gift from Oprah. Since Leona had confided to Oprah that she never had a wedding album, Oprah sent an album filled with photos from her show of the entire occasion and a video tape of the renewal of the vows on the show — Very touching indeed.

As to the 27 year old assistant who asked that question about finding the love of your life. Recently she contacted Leona and told her that she remembered the Ramoy’s words and advice and has been keeping a photo of them from the show on her desk as a reminder. She was calling to tell Leona that she was right about waiting for the right love to come into your life. She just knew it when it was right and is getting married and she wanted Leona to know that she had listened to the Ramoy’s because the lovely couple and their tender love had impressed her so very much.

I am sure that this one experience holds many happy memories among many years of happy memories and a lifetime of varied happenings that make Leona’s 90 years a blessing indeed.

Call me in another ten years, Leona when you celebrate your birthday marking a century and your photo goes on the "Smuckers" Jar. God Bless you, I hope you have many more wonderful memories.

Until next time, stay safe, be well and pray that those hurricanes keep missing us.

Meet Richard Lerner, 98 Years Young & Still Going Strong

Story and Photo by Maddy Greenberg

(L-R)  John Harmon, 81 years old, (the baby in this group); Richard Lerner, 98 years young, resides at the 

Reef Condominium on S. Ocean Blvd., Palm Beach & 

Harold Lynn, 92 years old, and lives at the Regency on S. Ocean Blvd., 

Palm Beach. Just completed one and a half hours of playing tennis.

The Reef Condominium on South Ocean Boulevard has a rather unique resident. What makes Richard Lerner so unique is not just the fact that he is 98 years old and living independently, walking and talking when he is pushing a century old. No it is the fact that Richard Lerner is presently playing tennis, (doubles) three times a week. He doesn’t stop there; he then plays golf four days a week. Now that is just INCREDIBLE!!

Richard said that in Florida when you reach 95 years old you must take the driving test again. He laughs that he failed the first time, not because he couldn’t keep up but because he did not come to a complete stop at a STOP sign. The Motor Vehicle person admitted that he, too, slows down and gives a quick stop and looks both ways. The next time Richard passed with flying colors. He was told he was the oldest driver to pass the driving test in Florida when he took the test. Richard drives with out a problem, so he says, and he is a careful driver too. I wonder how many 98 year olds can say that about their driving ability and have it confirmed by Motor Vehicles.

I spent some time talking with Richard and found him to be extremely sharp and have a very interesting story to tell about his life and how he came to live in Palm Beach. Richard Lerner is a native New Yorker. Richard attended Boys High and left home as a 15 year old teenager to hitch hike to California. He was unique and independent even back then. He went to California because he wanted to be an aviator but that dream did not work out the way he planned. He came back home to New York and began working for a man making artificial flowers to go onto ladies hats. He went into business for himself, until the hat business took a nose dive. For a time Richard said he made bows and hair accessories and then he ended up, through a quirk of fate, in the ladies scarf business. Apparently he found a great deal of success in that field.

He moved out to Roslyn, Long Island in New York with his wife to raise their family of four children. Richard said that he had already owned a home in Queens, New York earlier. Then some 37 years ago Richard retired and decided to move down with his wife to Florida and live at the Reef Condominium full-time. Of course South Ocean Boulevard was not too populated on the south-end with condominiums like you find today. The Lerners were pioneers of sorts making their full time home here on the south end of Palm Beach.

My Dad, who passed away three years ago, if he were alive today, would be one year younger than Richard. The stories that these two men told of a time long gone were so very interesting. To hear first hand accounts of those days is something that is irreplaceable for younger generations who read about those times in our history books. Richard told me that on his first date with his wife, they went to a nightclub on Jamaica Bay that charged 40 cents admission for a sandwich and entry into the club. Now that was expensive for its day. He reminisced how in those days you could get a meal in the Chinese Restaurant for a quarter. I recall my Dad and Mom mentioning that was where they went on their dates, and my Dad had to save up for the meals to impress my Mom. Richard confirmed the very same thing about what things cost back then. He said a newspaper was three cents, the New York Times according to Richard. Of course salaries were quite small so it is all relative. Richard said he bought his first car for a mere five dollars and it was manufactured by the Star Motor Company. He said that he recalled when you could get 13 gallons for $1.00. Of course, not that long ago, gas was much less expensive for everyone but clearly not that inexpensive. To be able to afford a car, according to my Dad, was a luxury back in the day. My Dad said that when he was a young man, which was the same time when Richard was about the same age, in Brooklyn, New York, there were Trolley Cars. My Dad said there were times when the nickel to travel was too costly and walking was the only choice.

As to what Richard is doing today, he says that a case of vertigo keeps him from running too much when playing tennis these days, clearly that does not stop him from playing anyway. Nothing keeps this incredibly unique man down. He plays golf even in the dog days of summer here in Florida. Only difference is in the summer he plays 9 holes while during the season he plays 18. He says he is an original member of his Country Club that started out only as a golf club. Between the tennis and golf, I would say that is pretty darn good.

At this time Richard Lerner lives alone. His wife of 75 years passed away 3 to 4 months ago at 94. He most definitely keeps busy. I would dare say that most much younger people are not as active as this remarkable man.

I had to meet him after our interesting phone conversations. So, one morning, I went to Phipps Ocean Park and met up with Richard, his good friend Harold Lynn, (who was the one to contact me for this article). Harold is a mere 92 and looks terrific. I offered to drive Richard home from the courts, but he refused me and walked home. Now that is something.

Richard has 4 children, 5 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren. His oldest great-granddaughter is 12 years old. Richard is looking forward to her Bat-mitzvah next year in New York where he plans on attending. God bless him and the fact that he is still going strong at 98 years old.

Until next time stay safe, be well and keep praying those hurricanes pass us by.

Bringing Tribute to Those We 

Loved and Lost

(Hebrew Naming Ceremony)

By Madelyn Greenberg

Aunt Maddy (top right) with Niece Debra Gelber holding Benjamin Leibush, and Alexis Sipa (L) & sister Ashley (R).

Photo by Phyllis Kuby

Maddy & Jack at Jack's Hebrew naming, Leibush, after his Great Grandpa, at Temple Emanu-el.

Photo by Debra Gelber

(6-29-11)

Saturday, June 25th there was a very special occasion for my family. In honor of my parents, Louis and Sylvia Greenberg there was a Hebrew naming at my synagogue, Temple Emanu-el of Palm Beach.

As you may recall, my article on Father’s Day described the planned naming of my little 6 month old nephew, Jack Benjamin, for his Great-Grandpa and my father, using as tradition dictates, his Hebrew name, Leibush. What I didn’t know at that time was my 6 year old niece; Alexis asked her mother if she too, (Alexis had never been named in Hebrew), could receive a Hebrew name when her brother got his at the same ceremony. Of course her Aunt Maddy, ( I love the fact that an "Aunt" remains with that title no matter how many generations go by), was only too happy to have Alexis receive my mom and Alexis’s Great-Grandma’s Hebrew name of Sipa. Rabbi Michael Resnick called my family up and we all stood there and participated in the ceremony as the congregation looked on and the children were named in prayer.

In Jewish Tradition, we honor our loved ones who are no longer with us with by passing on their Hebrew name to our precious children. The Hebrew name follows us in our lives for all special occasions. In the United States, we have English names, but it is our Hebrew name that is our way of showing respect for our traditions and paying tribute to those we loved and lost. A person’s Hebrew name is used at a Bar Mitzvah, (for a boy), Bat Mitzvah, (for a girl) and all during our lives when we are called up to the Bima, (elevated platform where you read from the torah) and given an honor, (an Alyah), while the Torah is being read in the synagogue. During a marriage ceremony when the Ketubah, (Jewish Marriage Certificate) is read, it is our Hebrew names that are used. When the time comes and we leave this earth, at the funeral the Hebrew name is read during a prayer for the dead (Mourner’s Kaddish); Kaddish is said again each year in memorial to us.

The name does not have to be from a parent or grandparent. It can be from any blood relative. You can now well understand the significance of this honor and why it is bestowed upon children.

In my particular case, my Hebrew name, Malka was taken from my Grandmother’s niece who died in a concentration camp. My Grandmother was superstitious and wanted to make sure I lived a long life. She had my mother use as a middle name, Chava, after her Grandmother who lived well over a hundred. That made me safe. Many times the Hebrew names have meanings. Malka, means "Queen." I can handle that. My niece Alexis’s Hebrew names are Sipa which means "Little Bird" and Avivia, "Spring." Alexis selected spring because she was born the first day of the season, (that is not particularly traditional, but made her happy). My little nephew Jack’s Hebrew name Leibush, means "Purity." Poor kid, he has some high standards to live up to between his wonderful Great-Grandpa and the meaning of his name. With those big baby blue eyes I am sure he can handle it. Ironically he is named after my dad, but has my mom’s beautiful eyes

In other religions, tribute is paid in different ways.

As you can guess, I was elated that both my dad, who wanted his name to be passed on, and my sweet mom, who you all know by now I loved them both dearly, must be smiling down on us right now. Besides anything else the side benefit is that for me this gift that my niece Debra gave me by naming her children after her Grandfather and Grandmother not only brought me pleasure, but closure as well.

Whatever way you can find to pay tribute to those you loved and lost, will not only be an honor but can bring you peace of mind. Now that is worth everything.

Condo Pet of the Week

Photos by Jimmy Shirley unless otherwise stated

Chloe, a mini-poodle, is 8½ years old. Her owner is Dottie Gilligan, a widow, from Califan, NJ. Dottie has lived at the Ambassadore Hotel/Condominium at 2738 S. Ocean Blvd., in Palm Beach, since 2008. She has been coming here for 19 years.

Charly Girl, a 4½ year old Shitzu lives with Phyllis Horowitz. 

Phyllis is a year-rounder and has lived at Beach Point Condominium for 30 years. Charly is the 

Beach Point Mascot.

(5-18-11)

Gigi, 12, and Trish Spaulding have lived in Springdale Homes for 5½ years. They are from Kentucky.

(5-4-11)

Tashi, a Shitzu, and Marcia Merkin live at the Dorchester (N) Condominium on S. Ocean Blvd., in Palm Beach. Marcia has lived there for 16 years. She has had Tashi for 11 years.

(1-12-11)

Golden Boy, a Shihtzu, lives with his best friend Leonard Jacobs at the Ambassadore Hotel on S. Ocean Blvd. in Palm Beach. Golden Boy turned 14 years old on Dec. 28. He won the Worth Ave. Dog Show last year. Golden Boy is a married pooch -- to a French poodle in Boca Raton. He was also Bar Mitzvahed last year at the Chesterfield Hotel in Palm Beach. Leonard and Golden Boy are snowbirds, spending 6 months here and 6 months in the Catskills.

(1-12-11)

Lexi, a mixed lab, is pictured with her best friend, David Shapiro, at their condo at Palmsea in S. Palm Beach. Lexi and David often take advantage of the dog walk on A1A.

(12-15-10)

(L-R) Louie, a Yorkie, and 

Madison, a Pardi-Poodle 

live with their owners 

Betty Reisenfeld and 

Allan Leavitt at the 

Dorchester condominium 

in Palm Beach. 

Meet Elliot Taubenslag

By Arnie Dickerman, Covered Bridge

Elliot Taubenslag

"Mt. T"

"Friends Of The Arts", but one of our wonderful clubs in Covered Bridge, presented a documentary December 16th, which honored Elliot Taubenslag, another one of our residents of Covered Bridge. You may be asking yourself who is this honoree?

Elliot is none other than our own "Mr.T", As the video refers to him. The documentary was produced by the New Jersey School Department Of Education in honor of celebrating 50 years of his work in developing children’s talents in singing, comedy and dramatic acting while nurturing and developing his charges in the arts, during his tenure in the New Jersey School System. Elliot was given the highest award as the nation’s top teacher in his field for his work and contribution to education in child development.

This documentary has been circulating in school districts throughout the nation to enlighten and encourage other teachers in the same capacity on how to encourage their young students to aspire to realize their God-given talents.

Elliot, a humble, and unimposing individual has an impressive resume. Before retiring as the Drama Coordinator in the East Brunswick School District in New Jersey, during which he also found the time to instruct at Rutgers State University in the Department of Arts Education, he taught playwriting at the Middlesex College. In the Summers during school hiatus, hundreds of children from all walks of life joined his "Theater Company", where a local High School auditorium served as the center to partake in shows written, produced and directed by this talented versatile artist. A part of the documentary showed taped portions of youngsters auditioning for parts to act, sing and dance, (note: every child was always accepted), from first rehearsal to finished product ready to perform presentations. It is astonishing that a different and new production took place EVERY WEEK! A portion of the presentation showed delighted, engrossed and entertaining boys and girls that were able to relate to Elliot. At times, some called him "grandpa" or "Mr.T." This was wonderful to witness. I saw the interaction between Elliot and each individual child in his ensemble that showed genuine mutual respect and total admiration between their mentor and his performers.

The documentary also included interviews of Mr. T’s colleagues and youngsters who offered their praise and affection to their leader, plus some insights into Elliot from family and admiring friends. In addition, testimonials from now grown adults, who as children were fortunate to have spent their school summer vacations with Elliot’s Theater Company, were on camera. There was a grown man, once a very shy young boy who had social problems relating to his peers, with admitted low self-esteem, offering his thanks to his one time mentor Elliot, as the reason he achieved success in later life. This gentleman is Jim Vallely, a famous Hollywood writer and producer of a popular television show called "Arrested Development." Jim also was the head writer for the television show "The Golden Girls." While another "graduate" of Mr.T’s, a young woman, now a pediatric physician, praised her childhood affiliation with Elliot’s theater group for her developing confidence and strength of character for her success. Maureen Mershon, another of Elliot’s child actresses who now is a theater drama director in Seattle, Washington, said that it was Elliot that inspired her to go into this field. Kevin Goetz, who has become a Hollywood film producer, also now known as "The Film Doctor" and is behind the enterprise "Screen Engine" doing TV programming research for FOX-TV and ABC-TV. Goetz also praised Elliot. As a young child where he found that The Theater Company that Elliot ran and where Goetz spent his childhood summers, had become his motivating force to enter the entertainment industry.

Though Elliot is now in his eightieth decade, it was only just two years ago that his adult play, featuring Avi Hoffman, which Elliot had written, produced and directed, entitled "Millions Of Miles", was performed at the Delray Playhouse in South Florida. This drama/comedy received wonderful reviews. As one of the members of the audience during a performance, I was fortunate to have witnessed the genius of this man.

Elliot now concentrates on our community activities here in Covered Bridge. Among these are organizing cruises and planning day trips; in his capacity as Recreational Committee leader; he serves on our Board of Directors, in addition to recruiting professional acts via Showcases in South Florida, arranging with their theatrical agents, to entertain us in our Clubhouse Auditorium four times during the "Season." Not surprising to learn from Elliot that as a young teen, he had show business in his veins. While still attending school in N.J., he "hung out" in local summer stock theaters where traveling companies came to perform. He became a "gopher" for the actors, and eventually was given "small walk-ons" and sometimes a couple of lines to say. He did share the stages with some very well known names such as a show called "Counselor For The Law" featuring Sidney Lumet, Paul Muni, and Vivian Vance. He also had a "bit" part with Lucille Ball in a show called "Dream Girls", and, in a show by the name of "Diamond Lil" featuring Mae West.

I guess it’s in his blood, you might say, that to this day, Elliot creates, writes and directs ‘in-house" talent at Covered Bridge to put on wonderful shows each spring, including months of delightful rehearsals. By the way, he also developed and heads our "Author’s Workshop", with many enthusiastic writers. I am just exhausted from relating to you all of his activities. We at Covered Bridge do know and appreciate Elliot Taubenslag, our own "Mr.T".

Wishing All A HAPPY And HEALTHY NEW YEAR

Profile in Courage

By Tina Chippas

We love heroes. They makes us feel good and hopeful that, in our world of chaos and self-indulgence, there are people who demonstrate gallant, selfless and audacious behaviors to help others—people who show us the way to a better humankind and we’re as proud of them as if we knew them personally.

A first-generation Greek-American, I was schooled in the great heroes of Grecian myths and lore. Homer, Plato, Socrates, Zeus and his family of amazing, often-mischievous children were topics for dinner conversations in my home. I guess I took it for granted that heroes existed, fictional and real. I knew I had heroes in my family: a father who, at age nine and parentless, came to America to work. At fifteen, he brought his four brothers to this country and at twenty founded a successful business. He demonstrated a work ethic and code of honor for his children to follow. We lost my brother, an Air Force belly gunner, in the Pacific. Surely, he was my hero. And I had a mother who epitomized all that was good and pure in helping others. Yes, I knew people I considered heroic, good people.

But I had never known my heroic grandfather, a Greek-Orthodox priest, until forty years after his death. Call it kismet, call it fate. I was in Berchtesgaden, Germany. I had just climbed flights of stairs out of the salt mine tour—the same mine where Hitler manufactured fighter planes deep underground for safekeeping. High up on a mountain, Hitler’s summer home, "Eagle’s Nest," as conquering American soldiers dubbed it, was visible from where I stood. I had a half hour before the bus tour resumed and I wandered into a tiny cemetery. In the fashion of cemeteries there, it was not an unpleasant place to be. With neatly tended, bright mountain flowers edging the plots, precisely trimmed trees providing shade and benches to rest—it was pretty and park-like.

I walked in a few feet more and stopped short. Large tombstones decorated the graves. On each tombstone was a portrait of a German soldier in uniform. I didn’t see the youthful or determined facial expressions of the soldiers at first—I only saw the swastikas and insignias. On hats, on armbands, on jackets. These symbols of the Nazi party seemed to leap out of the photographs at me. As a young child with three brothers in the army, a gold star hanging in our window and another brother wounded in France, that war was all too real and painful for my family. Hitler was a crazed demon to the little girl who saw her mother dressed in mourning black, weeping for the oldest son she would never see again, for the two she might never see again. I stared at the grim faces of Nazi soldiers and officers. I was chilled to the bone though a hot July sun beat down on me.

"Incredible," I said to a fellow-American tourist who had wandered in and stood beside me, "that we can see this so many years later and still be affected by it." He, too, stared at the tombstone photos and nodded silently. We stood, not speaking, a while longer and then turned to meet our bus. We exchanged names. His was Jacob. He was a Bostonian, traveling with his wife, Natalie. He asked the nationality of my last name and I told him it was Greek.

He looked at me and smiled. "I’m Jewish. I have a special fondness for Greeks. If it weren’t for a Greek Orthodox priest in Athens who hid my parents and helped them escape from the invading German soldiers, I wouldn’t be here!" I had the strangest feeling that I knew the answer to my question when I asked if he knew the priest’s name.

"Father Nicholas," he replied. It was, indeed, my grandfather!

Tina's grandparents  Father Nicholas with his wife Photo submitted by Tina Chippas

 Father Nicholas' role in the Resistance.

Destiny had placed Jacob in my life for a reason. I was in the midst of writing a curriculum on genocide for a school district and a holocaust center. It seemed to fit into life’s plan that I would learn about my grandfather’s role in the Resistance at this time. A trip to Plaka was in order.

Plaka is a village, oddly located in the midst of a bustling, modern Athens. The first construction workers came from the Cycladic island of Anafi, after the Greek Revolution in 1828. They built Athens’ main buildings and their own homes on the slopes of the Acropolis in their traditional island style and created this small village with whitewashed houses and narrow paths between them. On my first visit there, its original charm had not yet been sullied by vendors selling tourist trinkets.

Plaka today. Photo by Tina Chippas

I was glad to escape the torrid sun and entered the cool darkness of the tiny church, one of the oldest churches in Athens, dating back to the eleventh century, close to the Acropolis. I looked around with heartfelt awe and respect. This was where my grandfather had been priest, where my mother was christened, prayed, and spent her girlhood. There were no pews, no chairs. Candles, in ornate brass candelabras, flickered and cast mysterious shadows. The scent of burning wax mingled with the incense. The power of icons, hundreds of years old, surrounded me. I was overwhelmed with a sense of coming home. I knelt, on the stone floor, the same stones where my grandparents stood when they married, baptized their children, where their coffins rested before they were put to rest.

The Church at Plaka,  Athens, Greece Photo by Tina Chippas

Inside the Plaka Church Photo by Galen Frysinger

"My daughter." I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked up into the bright blue eyes of an old priest, peering at me over his wire spectacles, his face creased in concern. He introduced himself as Father Orestes and asked if he could help me. "I am the granddaughter of Father Nicholas. I’ve come to learn about my grandfather," I answered. He smiled and told me he had been the deacon who served under my grandfather. He invited me to join him in the tiny garden behind the church.

We left the church, sat in the shade of a vine-covered arbor and sipped tepid tea with the scent of mint wafting toward us from the garden. It was incredibly hot but Father Orestes, even in his black robes, didn’t seem bothered by it. He spoke slowly, remembering the painful past. History documents that the Greeks were not equipped to fight such a war and were far outnumbered by the Italians and Germans; their armies had rudimentary arms and hardly any uniforms or warm clothing. In October of ’40, when Italy invaded Greece, Greek troops repelled them after a bitter struggle. They were proud—that was the first Allied victory in the war. Then Hitler launched the battle of Greece and the Greeks were outweighed by Germany, Bulgaria, and Italy. Our British, Australian and New Zealand allies, combined, could not overcome the German might. Many were lost in that battle. But when the Germans tried to seize Crete with paratrooper drops, the Cretans and Allies fought fiercely and their fight delayed the German’s military plans against Russia by a month.

Within sight of the Acropolis --  note the Greek flag flying atop the Acropolis in the distance. Photo by Galen Frysinger

Father Orestes continued, "Then God sent His servants to show us the way." All Greeks know the symbolic act of defiance when the German invasion started. After the Germans entered Athens, they ordered an Evzone, one of the elite soldiers who guard the flag that flies over the Acropolis, to remove it. The young soldier obeyed the order, then wrapped himself in our blue and white flag and leaped from the wall of the ancient fortress to his death. It was the first day of German occupation and the first act of resistance in the city.

Changing of the Evzone guards at the Acropolis Photo by Galen Frysinger

The old priest wiped his eyes. "It was a terrible time for Greece, for mankind. But there were heroic people, like your grandfather, who showed us the way out of the hell Hitler had created."

Father Nicholas' role in safe harboring Jews during the Resistance.

I met, again, with Father Orestes. Despite his age, his memory was sharp. He described Father Nicholas as a man who assumed responsibility for helping everyone, regardless of religion or station in life. "There are people who are so pure of heart, they are chosen by God to lead our souls," the old priest attested. He related that no one knew, at first, that Father Nicholas was involved in hiding the fleeing Jews. He had been safe-harboring Jews from Salonika until they could be transported and the ancient church had many hiding places. In 1941, Germans were already in Athens and Hitler had authorized Himmler to exterminate Jews. Jews had lived in Salonika since the fifteenth century. They were doctors, artists, lawyers, musicians, business people who contributed much to that society and the Germans herded 48,000 of them out of Salonika and shipped them to Auschwitz. Only 11,000 were allowed to live as slave labor. Many died en route to Auschwitz. The others were killed.

I learned from Father Orestes that there were many Greeks who helped Jews to escape. The Germans warned that anyone aiding Jews to escape would be executed but that did not deter the Greeks. The Church of Greece, under Archbishop of Athens Damaskinos Papandreou’s leadership, condemned Hitler’s plans for the country and instructed priests to announce its position in their sermons. When the Germans started rounding up Jews, over 600 Greek Orthodox priests were arrested and deported because of their actions in helping Jews. Archbishop Damaskinos and Athens Police Chief Evert faced the threat of death for their efforts, and would, surely, have been killed, if the extent of their assistance had become known to the Germans. With heroic efforts, they saved the lives of thousands of Jews.

I was concerned that the retelling of this tragic period of history seemed to have shaken Father Orestes, but he was determined to complete his account of that time. The day came, he said, when German soldiers’ boots resounded as they marched to the church. They removed Father Nicholas and his assistants from the church and shot them. They stood, I was told, and faced their executioners, without fear. They were people who rose to the occasion that demanded sacrifice and love for their human brothers, without regard to religion. We sat in silence until the old priest raised his hand and said, "May God rest their souls." He saw me to the gate and bade me good-bye. As is our custom, and as my mother taught me, I kissed the old priest’s hand, a sign of respect for the church.

Before I left Greece, I visited my grandfather’s grave. It wasn’t in a cemetery as precisely landscaped as the German cemetery in Berchtesgaden where Jacob, my fellow-American tourist, revealed my grandfather’s deeds to me. It was more country-like, under silver olive trees. The headstones were simple ones. There were no photographs, merely names and dates. I laid flowers on his grave and thought about this heroic man I had never met. How proud I was to be his granddaughter and have him a part of my heritage. I thought about all those Greeks who had placed their own lives and the lives of their families in peril, or worse, perished, saving people of another belief. They made " . . . deliver us from evil," a reality. They fought evil with every might of their being. Surely, our ancient fathers must have been satisfied that their children fulfilled the glory that was Greece. 

They were, all, heroes.

I thought of all the heroes I had ever known or read about. I’ve observed that when a crisis occurs people respond in three basic ways: some who look at the situation and decide non-involvement is safest; some become part of the problem and, thankfully, there are those who ask, "What can I do to help? How can I make this better?" I’ve decided that the last one is what heroes do. They become involved and perform heroic acts in times of crisis. They are ordinary people performing extraordinary deeds.

Bust of an honored priest Photo by Galen Frysinger

Ancient ruins at Plaka Photo by Tina Chippas