Weekend, November 13-14, 2021 – ONE OF THE MOST REMARKABLE ISLANDERS

By admin

FROM THE ARCHIVES

WEEKEND,  NOVEMBER 13-14, 2021

THE  519th EDITION

REMEMBERING

ETHEL GRODZINS ROMM

I learned this morning that Ethel passed away. Ethel Grodzins Romm was a child of the depression and a true American character.

I met her when she lived in Island House in the 1980’s.  I knew she was unique when I met her at the tram station loaded down with bags of Entenmenn’s cakes.  She was a 
construction project manager at a 5th Avenue mansion.  She had figured out that the workers had to walk to Lexington Avenue for refreshments. She installed a coffee maker and daily schlepped goodies  for workers.

Ethel was a character, sometimes funny, serious and never forgetful.

She left the Island to live in Boston with her brother’s family and help run a radon detection business. Her brother Lee was a MIT PhD who had worked in research and development.

Ethel had three sons. Daniel passed away a few years ago whose interests were  literature and science fiction.  David, a rehabilitation physician who retired from the VA and at one time did an internship at Goldwater.  Joe is a well known author and speaker on science, climate change and the future.

Judith Berdy

One of my most vivid memories of Ethel is that of her tooting around Roosevelt Island on her Segue. I’m not even sure they were “street legal,” but nothing stopped Ethel. I loved – not only that she had the chutzpah to get up and learn to ride the thing- but that she was one of the first people to adopt the new technology. I’m sure Ethel was well into her 80s at the time.

Ethel was one of a kind. Nothing ever stopped her and I loved her for it. Of course, she would tell you that, too! She WAS the original “Rosie the Riveter” but really, Ethel was an original in everything she did.

Her memory is a profound blessing. Her life was an inspiration and I know she made a powerful impact in countless areas during her life, for which we have all been enriched.

Rabbi Leana Moritt

Be still. Listen. Listening is the singing and life is the song.
Pray for peace. Speak up. Do justice.

Rabbi Leana Moritt (she/היא)
Temple Beth-El of Jersey City
2419 Kennedy Blvd, Jersey City, NJ 07304
201.333.4229
www.betheljc.org

We just learned early this morning about the passing of Ethel Romm, on Tuesday, November 9th, of our good friend, long-time Roosevelt Islander, RIRA & RIJC member, and generous benefactor to many causes.
Ethel was a genuine Woman of Valor, an accomplished author, journalist, mechanical engineer, architect and urban development expert, CEO, teacher, dedicated student of everything, and so much more. She was frequently the “first woman to be…” in many different fields. Loved History and made History on many occasions.
Ethel loved her family & friends, her life here on Roosevelt Island & in NYC, and the world itself. Always out & about, her energy, curiosity and desire to learn and share her knowledge knew no bounds.

Nina Lublin

Memorial service for Ethel Romm Sunday

Subject: Remembering Ethel Romm’s extraordinary life memorial Zoom service

For those who don’t know, my mother, Ethel Romm, died 11/9 from end-stage Alzheimer’s disease

Dan Romm is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom memorial meeting.

Sunday 11/14, 1 to 3 PM

After the short service, you are invited to share one or two memories of Ethel Romm.

Feel free to forward the link as you see fit.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87881393129?pwd=OUhOSGN3dHE5WXBsRWppSk56UkVIQT09

Meeting ID: 878 8139 3129
Passcode: 020567
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,87881393129#,,,,020567# US (Chicago) +19292056099,,87881393129#,,,,020567# US (New York)

Dial by your location
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
+1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
+1 669 900 6833 US (San Jose)
+1 253 215 8782 US (Tacoma)
Meeting ID: 878 8139 3129
Passcode: 020567
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kdDYhFclT8

Ethel with Lynne Shinozaki a few years ago in Washington, D.C.

WEEKEND PHOTO

SEND YOUR ANSWER TO:
ROOSEVELTISLANDHISTORY@GMAIL.COM
OR JBIRD134@AOL.COM

FRIDAY PHOTO OF THE DAY

Andy Sparberg, Rob Mac Kay, Ed Litcher, Gloria Herman got it.

Among the oldest homes in New York City and New York State,

the Bowne House was built ca. 1661 by John Bowne, who emigrated from England to Boston in 1649 and settled in Flushing, Queens, when New York was under Dutch rule. His family prospered in America: the nine generations born and raised in the house produced businessmen, horticulturists, educators and politicians.

Over the course of 300 years, the family left its mark on American culture, participating in events of both regional and national significance -starting with John Bowne’s courageous defense of religious freedom in 1662, an act which inspired the principles later codified in the Bill of Rights -and continuing with subsequent generations’ abolitionist activities and participation in the Underground Railroad.

The Bowne House Historical Society was founded in 1945 by a group of local Flushing residents for the sole purpose of purchasing the house and opening it to the public as a museum in 1947.
BOWNE HOUSE, FLUSHING, NY.

CORRECTION

Andy Spanberg

May I add that the description of yesterday’s photo as shown in this morning’s edition is not correct.  It is not the Second Avenue Subway. It is a part of the old Second Avenue elevated line.   As I wrote, it is the “Manhattan end of Queensboro Bridge, with an IRT elevated train from either Astoria or Corona turning south onto Second Avenue.  This service ended in 1942 and the tracks and structure were removed soon afterward.”

Funding Provided by:
Roosevelt Island Operating Corporation Public Purpose Funds
Council Member Ben Kallos City Council Discretionary Funds thru DYCD
Text by Judith Berdy

ROOSEVELT ISLAND JEWISH CONGREGATION

Edited by Deborah Dorff
ALL PHOTOS COPYRIGHT RIHS. 2020 (C)
PHOTOS IN THIS ISSUE (C) JUDITH BERDY RIHS
 

Copyright © 2021 Roosevelt Island Historical Society, All rights reserved.Our mailing address is:
rooseveltislandhistory@gmail.com