Orans-Szapiro

On a summer weekend, the family gathered at Fred Wolfe's home in White Plains.
This was in the middle 1950's, most likely in the period 1955-1957.
Back row (standing) left to right. Fred Wolfe, two neighbors of Uncle Fred, Regina Orans, Helen Wolf, Ed Orans,
Shaia Shapiro, Anita Portugal, Dave Orans, Sr., Marusia Shapiro, Bela Shapiro, Phil Portugal, Francis Orans,
Barbara Orans, Barbara Brown. Front row (kneeling and seated) left to right. Lewis Orans, Carole Portugal, Matty
Orans, Ellie Orans, Richard Portugal, Dave Orans, Jr.

Who Are They?

Fred Wolfe. "Uncle Fred" was Dave's partner at Quality. He was close to Ed and Matty. Married to Helen. They lost their only son Warren in the Pacific in World War II. He was not a blood relative, but was very close to the Orans family. In the early days of the company, when many clients preferred not to deal too closely with Jews, Fred was the gentile representative of Quality. He was a graduate of Columbia College.

Two neighbors of Uncle Fred. Unknown. May have been business associates with Quality.

Regina Orans. "Grandma Regina." Wife of Dave. Mother of Ed and Ury (Dave, Jr.). Matriarch. Custodian of the family history. She wrote poetry in English and Hebrew. She was a serious student of Jewish history and read avidly. Her favorite book was almost certainly Rashi's commentary on the Book of Exodus. She gave me a serious appreciation of the Jewish heritage and an abiding interest in the history of the family. She was to visit me many years after her passing, but that is certainly another story.

Helen Wolfe. "Aunt Helen" Wife of Fred. Helen and Fred's only son, Warren, was killed in the Pacific in the Second World War. He was a Naval Aviator and an Eagle Scout. Many years later, in the 1970's, I would find myself as Scoutmaster of his Scout troop in White Plains, NY.

Ed Orans. "Dad" "Pops" "Ed or Eddie" to his friends. Husband of Matty. Father of Ellie and Lewis. Son of Dave and Regina. My favorite dad. Outside of business he was a true craftsman, woodworker and cabinet maker. He was an avid gardener. I remember his grafting three varieties of rhododendron so that one plant would bloom in red, pink and whit flowers.

Shaia Shapiro (Szapiro). "Uncle Shaia" Brother of Regina. Only brother to survive World War II. Most of family in Poland was killed by the Nazis. Many at Auschwitz. Shaia was also known as Adam. His family was lost in the War and he married Marusia, who was his sister-in-law, the wife of a younger brother also lost in Poland. Shaia worked for the World Health Organization of the UN. He and Marusia made there home in Geneva. This gathering was probably organized around their visit to America.

Anita Portugal. "Anita" Wife of Phil. Mother of Carole and Richard.

Dave Orans, Sr. "Grandpa Dave." The Patriarch (in my humble opinion). Founder of Quality with his brothers about 1919. Head of the Orans family. A marvelous painter and a very sweet and loving grandfather and friend. His watercolors were exhibited at the Brooklyn Museum and reproduced for many years as Season's Greetings to the clients and friends of the family business.

Marusia Shapiro (Szapiro). "Marusia" Wife of Shaia. She lost her family, husband and children to the Nazis. She was able to escape to Switzerland where she worked in the Legation of the Polish Government in Exile. After the War she and Shaia were united after the loss of their families, married and settled in Switzerland.

Bela Shapiro. "Aunt Bela". Sister of Regina. A graduate of the Sorbonne, she was the principal of a Gymnasium-High School in Poland. She came on a visit to America for the 1939 World's Fair. With the outbreak of the war, she stayed with Dave and Regina for the rest of her life. She was a sweet lady. Quiet and learned. I remember many classics in French and German in her bookcases, Proust and Goethe. She gave me my first book of poetry, Shelley, when I was ten or so. I think of her whenever I read a poem of the romantic period. That first book had pride of place in my collection of poetry.

Phil Portugal. "Uncle Phil." Wife of Anita. Father of Carole and Richard. Coworker (how is that for a carefully chosen word). Sometimes friend of the Orans' family.

Francis Orans. "Aunt Fran." Wife of Ury (Dave Jr.). Mother of Barbara. Aunt Fran was a school teacher in the New York City schools. She was to study and master Russian in her later years. She inherited the Sea Gate house from Dave and Regina and would care for Regina in Sea Gate in her final years.

Barbara Orans. "Bobbie" "Cuz" Daughter of Dave Jr. and Fran. She married an artist and the rest is history. Oldest of the Orans family 3rd generation. She was to die too, too soon at the age of 36.

Barbara Brown. Best friend of Barbara Brown.

Lewis Orans. Son of Ed and Matty. Brother of Ellie. A really nice kid. Me.

Carole Portugal. Daughter of Phil and Anita. Sister of Richard.

Matty Orans. "Mom" Wife of Ed. Mother of Ellie and Lewis. My favorite Mom. More to follow.

Ellie Orans. "Lollipop." Daughter of Ed and Matty. Sister of Lewis.

Richard Portugal. Son of Phil and Anita. Brother of Carole. He was a nice kid too.

Dave Orans, Jr. "Uncle Ury" Brother of Ed. Worked with Dave, Fred, Ed and Phil and Quality. Was renowned for his enjoyment of life and his somewhat non-business approach to life. A student of Chinese language and calligraphy, calculus, astronomy, ornithology and many other things. A brilliant painter.


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Please write to: Lewis P. Orans