Thursday, June 25, 2020 – Greetings from Blackwell’s Island

By admin

CORRECTION
THE CORRECT WEBSITE FOR RON CRAWFORD ART IS:
RONCRAWFORDART.COM

THURSDAY, JUNE 25,  2020

The

88th Edition

From Our Archives

PENNY POSTCARDS

Remembering RKB

THIS SUMMER HAVE SOME FUN WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND 
SEND THEM A POSTCARD FROM HOME!

Even before the bridge was complete images of it were being sent.

WEDNESDAY PHOTO OF THE DAY

Howard and Ellen Polivy with volunteer clearing debris in Blackwell Park

THURSDAY PHOTO OF THE DAY

SEND YOUR ENTRY TO JBIRD134@AOL.COM
WIN A TRINKET FROM THE KIOSK

REMEMBERING RKB

Judy, Alan, Ruth and Ranyee celebrating Ruth’s birthday with Elle’s great Orange Cake.

Tuesday was the 8th anniversary of my mother’s passing. For the last three years of her life she shared my apartment with me in Rivercross.

My mother was Hunter College graduate who majored in math and statistics, a talent I did not inherit.  She worked for a few years and married my dad in 1941.  She was the perfect wife, mother, homemaker, mostly taking great care of her family and had great patience with us.  She was a great reader and for many years enjoyed sewing and needlepoint.  This was so typical of her generation.

My dad was much more of a salesman and outgoing personality. He loved travel, meeting people and going and doing. My mom enjoyed this life and if there was a difference we did not hear it.

In 2002 my dad passed and a few years later we (my brother Alan) and I realized she did not need her large 3 bedroom apartment. We moved her to a smaller unit in her Upper East Side building. The apartment was not a perfect fit and soon it became evident that her daughter would make room for her in her studio apartment.

We made it work by building a bedroom. Ruth suddenly discovered many of my neighbors and people I knew on the island. She would accompany me to meetings and  trips outside. She would come to the kiosk and loved sitting outside and watching the passing crowd. 

As time passed her legs failed more and more.  We managed with some aides and more personal attention.

I see my neighbors leaving the community to live with their families. Sometimes this is great and other times it is an isolating experience. There is no simple answer.

I am sure she enjoyed her communal life on Roosevelt Island in her last 3 years. It was fun having her with me all it meant to both of us.

JUDITH BERDY
jbird134@aol.com

Text by Judith Berdy
Thanks to Bobbie Slonevsky for her dedication to Blackwell’s Almanac and the RIHS
Thanks to Deborah Dorff for maintaining our website
Edited by Melanie Colter  and Deborah Dorff 

All image are copyrighted (c)
Roosevelt Island Historical Society
unless otherwise indicated

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CITY COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE BEN KALLOS DISCRETIONARY FUNDING THRU DYCD

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