Genistory

Rachel Sklar Resnitzky was born in 1895 in Sosnivska Colony, Ukraine, experiencing political turmoil and pogroms. She immigrated to New York with her husband in 1912. She had three children and faced personal and professional challenges. They lived in various locations in NYC, operated hotels in the Catskills, New Jersey, and Miami. Rachel passed away in 1982.

Berenice Newmeyer, born in 1911, faced early adversity with her father’s death during the Spanish flu pandemic. Raised by her mother and extended family, she developed a strong work ethic, married Stanley Pollak in 1938, and later moved to Florida. Celebrating her 100th birthday in 2011, she passed away at 104 in 2016.

Gloria Adele Lazear Mendelson was born on July 11, 1927, in Atlanta, Georgia. Her childhood was marked by family travel and social events, and she later attended the University of Georgia. In 1948, she married Irving Mendelson and had five children. Gloria passed away on January 2, 1973, at the age of 45.

Oscar Newton Pollak, born in 1874, was a successful jeweler and a dedicated family man. He grew up in a close-knit Jewish community in Waterbury, Connecticut, before establishing himself in New York City. Throughout his life, he remained active in his business and community, leaving behind a legacy of commitment to his family and career.

Stanley Irwin Pollak was born in Newark, New Jersey on June 15, 1910. He graduated from NYU’s School of Commerce in 1935, married Berenice Newmeyer in 1938, and worked as a certified public accountant. Stanley passed away in 2000, and is interred at the Star of David Cemetery in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Jennie Spivack Lazear, born in 1889 in the Russian Empire, moved to the US as a child and became a prominent figure in Atlanta. She married Joseph Lazear, had a daughter, Gloria, and was active in social and charitable activities. She passed away in 1982, leaving a legacy of resilience and community involvement.

Nathan Reiss, born in 1846 in Ulrichstein, Germany, immigrated to the U.S. in 1869 and settled in Newark, New Jersey. A butcher, he married Caroline Schwerin in 1871 and had nine children. He ran a successful butcher shop in multiple places in Newark, New Jersey until his death in 1917, leaving behind a lasting legacy.

Abraham Golder, born in 1831, navigated various roles and family responsibilities in 19th-century rural America. He married Mary Brosius, had six children and lived most of his life in Pennsylvania. Although he registered for the Civil War draft, there is no record of his active service. He passed away in 1912, and was buried in Stillwater, Pennsylvania, close to his first home.

David Labowitz, a Jewish immigrant born in Joniškėlis, Lithuania in 1863, moved to the United States in 1886 with his wife and children. Their journey, settlement in Philadelphia, and work as tailors reflect the broader Jewish immigrant experience of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Despite challenges, they exemplify resilience and the pursuit of better opportunities in America.

Ava Lourena Crenshaw McDonald, born in 1882, married at 14 and raised nine children and a grandson. She supported her family as a seamstress while her husband worked as a farmer and later a brick mason. She passed away in 1975 due to lung conditions. She was buried in Greensboro.