Last edit of this page 2022.JAN.23
Alan Levy’s death in combat in 1944 was a terrible blow to Edith. The family stories, along with surviving correspondence, show that her brother Nate, along with others in the family, conspired to intercept communications so that the news could be managed in a way to control her pain. This is noted also on Alan’s page; at the bottom of that page is a link to correspondence with various government agencies in which the Simon family endeavored to manage information. This was a noble effort, but it has always seemed misguided. She was certain to learn of Alan’s fate in any case, and we’ve puzzled as to why others interceded in that style.
Old letters showed that Edith’s pain had a long history.
Postcard Abe to Mr. Morton Reisner 106 Conklin Ave, Binghamton, N.Y., postmarked Camp Lee, Va., Jul 13, 1942.
Saturday
Dear Kids:
Trust all are well. I’m on the road to recovery after a nasty operation. But it is all over and I am getting well fast. Thankx loads for the card they’re the last word. Regards to all and don’t worry don’t tell Edith. Kiss Jesse for me – Abe
This is quite surprising. The basic message on this card was “problem over, recovering well.” Why would that be upsetting information?
Jimmy Wohl was born to Esther and Isidor February 27, 1936. Dora wrote to Nate and Abe on March 1, 1936, describing the horrors of that birth.
Please, for God’s sake don’t breathe word to Ruth or anyone. I’m not even letting our Edith know – she has enuf worries now.
The full text of that letter is on Jimmy Wohl’s page.
Edith endured much stress and grief. Consider …
* In 1927, Herman had to deal with a shoplifting incident at his store.
* As reported 1928.AUG.06, Herman was injured as passenger in an automobile collision.
* Edith’s mother Kate died 1929.JAN.04.
* It was reported 1929.JAN.17 that Herman was involved in a lawsuit with a sand and gravel contractor. No accounts follow, so this may have been settled without trial.
* Edith’s father Jacob died, as a suicide, in May 1929.
* Herman was cited for using a minor without an employment certificate, reported 1929.AUG.02.
* In July of 1930, Herman was fined for using a female employee to work after hours.
* In January of 1932, Herman’s store was looted by burglars.
* In October of 1932, Herman was sued for an injury that occurred in his store.
* A serious car accident, reported 1934.NOV.12, resulted in a fatality. The headline read “Clarence Thornton Killed, Three Injured in Belden Hill Crash,” with the secondary headline “Herman J. Levy of Binghamton Escapes Hurts Near Cortland.” This was a scary presentation. The article was badly written. Herman was involved in a second accident, a sideswipe in which he was not hurt. (Herman’s middle initial was G, not J.)_
* In 1939, the Herman G. Levy store went out of business. No bankruptcy statements have been found, however (a) the Levy house was legally transferred from Herman to Edith, (b) all advertising ceased, and (c) some future attempts at business were done from the family home.
* Herman’s vehicle was hit head-on, 1943.FEB.26, but he was not injured.
* In April of 1944, Herman was cited and fined for illegal trading in gas ration coupons.
Alan was killed in action 1944.OCT.25.
And Edith’s grief continued.
* Herman received a citation for driving through a traffic signal, 1944.OCT.30. This was just days after Alan’s death.
* In November of 1951, Herman lost a leg. The newspaper account gave the cause as an accident, but the family story has always been that this was a consequence of diabetes.
* Herman died in 1966. Edith cared for him through fifteen years of disability.
More details can be seen on the page about Herman’s business and also on the page with other facts about Herman.
Return to Edith‘s main page.
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