We moved from Teaneck, NJ to Elkins Park, PA in spring of 1951, when Dad took a job with the Muhlenberg Press and The Lutheran, where he became assistant editor. So at the age of 15, Albie enrolled in a new school. I remember that he played on the school soccer team and he played tennis, as well. He graduated from Cheltenham High School in Cheltenham, PA.
This would have been our first Christmas in Elkins Park, December 1951. We opened our presents on Christmas Eve and Mom made us a good dinner beforehand. When we were finished dinner, mysteriously the lights on the tree would come on and we would be able to move aside the chairs blockading the living room, assured that the Pelschnickel would not chase us out with pieces of coal. One Christmas, before dinner, all of a sudden there was a great commotion in the hallway outside the living room. Albie was yelling and running out the front door. He had tried to sneak into the living room and had been met with a hail of coal from our tree’s protector. Albie was sharing the fun with me with his theatrics.
I’m not sure of the date here, but I think it might have been when Albie was just starting college. During his college years, he was busy most summers with ROTC, so after starting college, Albie was not home much. The first year at Syracuse, he lived in some temporary dorms that were cold and austere. Thereafter he lived in the fraternity house. They had a big St. Bernard dog named Andy, and Albie got me a great big dog stuffed animal that looked like Andy. I kept it for decades and brought it with me all the way to Fairless Hills. Also at Syracuse, he had a radio show on the college radio station. I also remember that in the winter the campus would be adorned with snow sculptures, especially at the fraternities.
This picture is dated 1967 and was taken in the front yard of Grandpa’s house in Tuckahoe, NY. I remember when Mom told me Albie was bringing his girlfriend home for us to meet her. How exciting it was! Albie was very happy. One day when Albie was home from college, he asked me to go with him to the jeweler in Elkins Park so he could show me something he’d picked out to give to Helen.
This was at Albie and Helen’s 50th anniversary celebration.
This is dated December 2016, and I think this was a farewell picture taken at St. Michael’s in New Canaan, CT.