Last update 2023.JAN.01
This set of memories was written by Gary Simon.
Esther Simon was born April 28, 1907.
I will always think of my Aunt Esther as bringing a level of elegance to our family. The Simon clan started, after all, in Mocanaqua, a town so remote and insignificant that it was overshadowed by Shickshinny.
A birth announcement for her son appeared in a Binghamton, New York, newspaper, noting that she had once lived in Binghamton. Most likely she lived with her sister Edith Simon Levy; the time period in which she lived in Binghamton has not been ascertained.
A birth announcement for her son appeared in a Binghamton, New York, newspaper, noting that she had once lived in Binghamton. Most likely she lived with her sister Edith Simon Levy; the time period in which she lived in Binghamton has not been ascertained, but it certainly precedes her marriage to Isidor.
She married Isidor Wohl of Tampa in 1927 and benefited from the comfort and success of his restaurant supply business.
This is Esther with Isidor Wohl in 1928. The embossed seal says “Weimer Studio, Tampa, Fla.”
In 1930, Esther and Isidor lived in Tampa (at an address illegible on the census form) in an apartment rented at $55 per month. Isidor was born in Florida, and listed his parents as born in Roumania. Esther identified her father as being born in Russia, and her mother in Poland. Isidor owned a restaurant supply business.
This shows Dora, Abe, and Esther. The location and date are uncertain.
The 1940 census shows the family at 202 Caspian in Tampa, the long-time family home. The value was stated to be $10,000. Tanya was eight years old, and James was four. Living with them was nurse Dorothea Robinson, no doubt helping care for James. Dorothea was a 28-year-old white woman from Louisiana. Isidor was described as the executive for the restaurant supply company with an annual earning of $5,000+.
Aunt Esther may have had a comfortable existence, and she radiated a classiness and dignity that impressed me even as a young child. She was responsible for introducing my parents to each other, so there were occasional visits to Tampa, in spite of the distance.
She was once named one of Tampa’s best dressed women, she was president of the Beta Opera Society, a member of the Tampa Women’s Club, the Davis Island Garden Club, and the Tropical Garden Club. I knew nothing of her in these roles; I just knew she was special.
Esther and Isidor were friends of Al Lopez, the native of Tampa who managed the Cleveland Indians to the 1954 World Series. They are gathered here at Tampa’s Union Station with many others to make the trip to Cleveland to attend the World Series.
This photo was supplied by Larry Schwartz, their grandson.
The Wohl family house at 202 Caspian on the Davis Islands in Tampa to me was a large palace and an amazing contrast to our much smaller places in Pennsylvania. I was fascinated by the curving staircase to the second floor. Above all, I remember her live-in housemaid Charlotte. I adored Charlotte, and I still recall her world champion fried chicken and her very special brownies. The distinguishing feature of those brownies was that miniature marshmallows were embedded in the firm chocolate icing.
My sister Kathy and I were instructed to adhere to best dinner manners while visiting. Proper use of silverware, cloth napkins on laps, no elbows on the table. Aunt Esther may have cared little for this adherence to dining protocol, but we never knew.
A short walk from the Caspian Street house got us to the Schwartz home on Bahama Circle. Isidor and Esther’s daughter Tanya had married Richard Schwartz, an accountant. They had four children slightly younger than me and Kathy, and the standard of table manners was more relaxed.
Esther and Isidor had to deal with the difficulty of caring for their son Jimmy, born 1936, profoundly mentally challenged. Jimmy was cared for at home for a few years, but he spent most of his life in institutions. He will receive his own web page.
Esther was at times known to assume a wilder side. There must be a good story behind this picture!
Esther’s 90th birthday was celebrated in Tampa in 1997.
Another story about Esther came to light in 2022. This story came from Nan Rubin, a friend of Ellin Reisner in Boston.
Many years ago, Ellin and I had an Oracle [the computer software company] meeting in Tampa. We went a few days early and stayed at Tanya’s. We were, however, on different flights. I arrived first and went to Tanya’s. Later we went to the airport to pick up Ellin.
Before going to the airport, we went to pick up Aunt Esther who at the time was around 90 years old. [She turned 90 in 1997.] Tanya set the expectation before going over to Aunt Esther’s that she was a bit frail. When we arrived at Aunt Esther’s, I expected to see an old frail woman come out of the apartment. Hardly the case!
Out came your Aunt Esther in a beautiful yellow canary silk suit with a bounce in her step and a twinkle in her eye. She looked absolutely beautiful! I only hope that I have the energy that she had when I reach her age. I recounted the story to Ellin and we have often reminisced about it over the years and laugh. As Ellin oftentimes said, all Aunt Esther needed was a small country to run! I also use her matzah ball recipe at Passover and other times during the year. Straight out of the Manischewitz box. They truly are the best matzah balls ever!
Esther passed away May 29, 2003, at age 96. She lived a long and wonderful life. She and Isidor are interred at the Rodeph Sholom Cemetery in Tampa. Tanya’s marker is in the back.
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