Martin Lindenberg and Irene Dwartz Lindenberg

Martin Lindenberg

Martin Lindenberg was born on September 1, 1923 to Matthew Lindenberg age 27 and Ethel Lisombicka Lindenberg age 26 in Bronx, New York. His parents had known each other since they were toddlers as their families shared an apartment in Praga, Poland.

His family moved into 3395 Reservoir Oval in the Bronx. His sister, Gloria was born in that apartment on May 22, 1927.

Martin was an excellent student and graduated from Dewitt Clinton High School. He had dreams of becoming an engineer, but chose a more practical major. He received a degree in business from City College of NY.

Martin enlisted in the Army during World War II. Years later, he joked that the reason he enlisted was to “get away” from his controlling and overbearing mother. After basic training he was deployed to Europe and crossed the Atlantic in a Liberty Ship. He was stationed in Germany after their surrender.

While in Europe on January 14, 1946, Martin wrote this letter (in French) to his father’s first cousin Celia who had lived in Paris prior to the war. He and everyone else was unaware that Celia was murdered by the Nazis at Auschwitz in 1942. The letter was delivered to her husband and was eventually recovered by Celia’s daughter, Fanny who provided us with a copy and a translation.

American Red Cross

Bremerhaven Germany

January 14 1946

My Dear Cousin,

I am the son of your cousin, Matthew Lindenberg in the United States.  I will be in Europe, and my father wanted me to come and see you.

It is unfortunate.  I am not happy, but there is nothing I can do.  (but it cannot be changed?)  I find myself in Germany at Bremerhaven, and I must return to the US right away without seeing you.

Perhaps I will have the pleasure to see you when I return to Europe.

My father sends you his best wishes.

Hoping to see you in Paris soon __

Your cousin,

Martin

Irene Dwartz

Irene (Chaya) was born in the Bronx on February 3, 1928 to Arthur Dwartz age 25 and Shirley Smith Dwartz, age 26. Both of her parents were immigrants from Lithuania.

Irene’s sister Anita Doris Dwartz was born on February 7, 1931.

After her first day of Kindergarten, Irene decided that she wanted to be a teacher. Her mother told her that she would need to attend Hunter College.

Irene was an excellent student. She was one of a chosen few to leave PS 89 (a K-8 school) to attend Bronx Olinville Junior High School

Irene attended Christopher Columbus HS in the Bronx and graduated at age 16.

Irene’s neighbor, Mrs. Tannenbaum, made a mobile of sugar cubes for her “sweet 16.” The same mobile was used at Irene’s daughter Karen’s sweet 16 and her granddaughters Alison and Rachel’s sweet 16s.

She began her studies in education at Hunter College in 1944. She graduated in 1948.

Irene and Marty

Irene and Marty met in 1945 at a Hunter College party at Roosevelt House.

Irene and Marty were married at the Paramount Caterers on December 21, 1947. Marty always joked that he picked the longest night of the year for his wedding night.

Irene’s wedding gown was worn earlier that same year by Marty’s sister, Gloria. Marty’s uncle Hyman, who owned a textile mill, gave Gloria the fabric as a pre – wedding gift, which they had made into a gown. It was subsequently worn by Irene’s younger sister Anita and her cousin Edna.

Irene and Marty were married on the same weekend as Irene’s best friend, Shirley Rolbin, who married Roy Miller. The two couples honeymooned together at the Laurels in the Catskills during the blizzard of ’47.

Irene and Marty moved into an apartment in the Bronx which was leased by their cousin, another Martin Lindenberg. They remembered sneaking in and out, not to be discovered to not be the original tenants.

Martin’s first job after the army was collecting rents in a real estate company. He then worked in the textile business selling lining materials. Irene began her teaching career in the Bronx teaching 7th and then 2nd grade.

Karen and Barry

Karen Rose was born on December 5, 1950.

The name Karen was in honor of the Obstetrician who delivered her at Bronx Hospital.

The family moved into an apartment at 181 E. 206th street in the Bronx. Irene became a stay at home Mom as Marty took a job as an insurance agent in Manhattan.

Barry Scott was born March 16, 1953.

Barry was 6 weeks premature weighing 4 lbs 14 oz. Initially, there was great concern for his failure to gain weight. Marty always talked about how he solved that problem by cutting larger holes in Barry’s bottles.

Spring Valley

In 1957, Marty and Irene bought their first house at 158 Eckerson Road in Spring Valley. It cost $21,000 with a 25 year mortgage. They lived in a middle class community where like Martin, most of the men, commuted into New York City for work. Martin left Selden, Pulik and Lindenberg, insurance in Manhattan to start his own office in Tallman, NY after about 10 years of commuting.

Irene went back to work as a 4th grade teacher in 1958. She excelled as a teacher and was soon promoted to being a “helping teacher.” She completed her career as an assistant principle. She was hard working, innovative and part of the cutting edge of women entering school administration.

Family

Family have always been a very important part of their lives. Martin’s parents remained in the Bronx. Martin’s sister, Gloria Steinberg and her family lived in Levittown, Pennsylvania. Irene and Gloria were not only sister in laws, but the best of friends. Martin and Irene made sure to have frequent contact. Gloria’s husband, Sid, was diagnosed with leukemia in 1966. Marty and Irene made spent many weekends in Pennsylvania providing support during the horrific years of his illness and subsequent death.

Karen and Barry grew up part of the extended Spring Valley family. Their house was less than a mile from their grandparents, aunt, uncle and cousins. The three families were very close and shared much. They all belonged to the conservative synagogue, the JCC of Spring Valley and most holidays culminated in a meal cooked by Grandma Shirley. Paula and Barry were the same age and went through school and religious studies together.

Grandma Irene (Mammarene) and Grandpa Marty (Poppi Marty)

Karen married Cary Jack Alevy in 1972.

Despite fact that Karen and Cary were both in Spring Valley High School class of 1968, they actually met in Montreal during Expo 67.

Barry married Robin Marshall on June 6, 1976. One week prior to their wedding Marty and Irene hosted a cocktail party in their back yard for their Rockland County friends who would not be invited to the wedding. Attending was their friends Leonard and Ethel Kessler.

Leonard Kessler was a author of childhood books. Years later, Jeff Bezos credited Len’s book “Mr. Pine’s Purple House” as the start of his love of books and planting the seed for a company that would become Amazon.

In 1972 Karen and Cary were married on the Karen’s paternal grandparents‘ 50th anniversary. Coincidentally, in 1976, Robin and Barry were married on Robin’s paternal grandparents’ (Samuel and Ethel Marshall) 50th wedding anniversary.

Tappan

In 1984, Martin and Irene sold their house in Spring Valley and moved into a condo in Tappan, New York. They lived there until 2010. It was the location with many happy times with children and grandchildren. For many years it was where the extended Smith family gathered together every year on Rosh Hashannah.

Alison was born to Karen and Cary in 1976 in New York City just as our country was celebrating its bicentennial. Matthew was born two years later. Irene and Marty became “Mammarene and Poppi Marty.” Robin and Barry had Daniel in 1983, Ryan in 1984 and Rachel in 1992. Marty and Irene were amazing grandparents. They lived close to Ali and Matt who were in New City, NY and were able to be involved in much of their lives. Robin and Barry settled in Schenectady, NY. Marty and Irene had frequent trips to Schenectady where they watched their “upstate” grandchildren for days at a time or had them visit them in their Tappan condo. Irene and Marty loved taking their grandchildren to shows, museums, trips to farm, reading books, watching movies, playing in the woods or just “being present.” Irene was famous for her home made applesauce.

Like Marty, Ryan Lindenberg is a left handed artist. On one visit to Tappan, 9 year old Ryan was allowed to paint a rainbow on the wall in the basement. Years later when they sold that condo, the purchaser chose not to paint over the rainbow.

Flying

Martin was always in awe of air travel. He pursued his life long dream and became a pilot in 1978. He purchased a Cessna Cardinal on which he flew in and out of the Ramapo Valley Airport in Spring Valley. He and Irene enjoyed several years of flying to many fun destinations including Cape May, Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard and Albany. Marty often said “could you ever imagine a poor Jewish boy from the Bronx, flying his own plane?” His flying career ending abruptly after a crash landing from which he fortunately walked away with “only a scratch.”

Marty and Irene also utilized commercial flights to travel much of the world. They enjoyed amazing trips to destinations throughout the world.

Highland Beach

Marty and Irene bought a condo in Highland Beach, Florida in 1988. They became snow birds with an active social life with family and friends.

Martin taught his children that being a “good Jew” was not dependent upon attending services but how one lived one’s life. In his work, he always had the client’s best interest in mind. He always saw the good in others, sometimes, to a fault. He was truly a Renaissance man. He painted and loved listening to classical music. He was one of the first to have a stereo, a reel to reel tape recorder, a color TV, a Nikon SLR, an Apple II computer and an iPhone. He loved to read and discuss Judaism, technology, history and politics. He maintained an extensive library on Judaism. He volunteered for Hospice and taught Russian immigrants basic computing. He was a proud Mason who rose in the rank to a District Deputy.

“Poppi Marty’s” 3rd great grandchild was born 4 months after he passed away. Karyn and Matt Alevy named him Mason in memory of him.

Irene was thoughtful, articulate and well read. She was an advocate for women, gays, blacks and immigrants. Even while working full time, she set up a hospital bed and aids in her home to care for her mother to try to attempt to keep her from having to go into a nursing home. Irene joined PFLAG when her niece came out to her to best know how to provide support. “Mammarene” would not hesitate to get down on the floor to play or run through the woods with her grandchildren. Irene purchased a loom and weaved tallises which were part of Bar/Bat mitvot, weddings and worship. She created and sewed a panel in the Rockland Country bicentenial quilt and created a chuppah for her niece’s Stephanie’s wedding.

Irene started the Rockland County Chapter of Hunter Alumnae in 1962. For decades she organized meetings, luncheons, lectures and numerous fund raising events. In 2010 Irene was the inducted into the Hunter College Wall of Fame.

Marty became very ill in the late 1980’s and was diagnosed with Wegener’s Granulomatosis, an autoimmune disease. Despite his Wegener’s, a heart attack, coronary stent, congestive heart failure, implanted defibrillator, and multiple hospitalizations, Marty always remained positive. He tried not let his illnesses interfere with travel or time with family. Unfortunately, his kidneys failed and he spent his last few years on dialysis.

Marty required several operations to remove blood clots from his dialysis fistula. On one occasion I remember calling him on his way home from the hospital after one of those surgeries. I asked him how he was and he uncharacteristically said “not so good.” I questioned him on whether he was having pain, He responded “no, it’s your mother’s driving.”

In May of 2011, Marty’s quality of life was horrendous and along with his family, made the decision to stop having dialysis. He spoke to each of his children and grandchildren that day. Each had the opportunity to express their feelings and say goodbye. At the end of that day, Marty told Irene “this was one of the best days of my life.” He passed away in his own home 4 days later.

Irene’s strength of character was evident during Marty’s years of illness and after his death. She has helped other widows deal with similar losses. In 2018, her family all came together to celebrate her 90th birthday. She has remained active and involved with her family and her her “over 90” crowd in her apartment in Nyack.

On August 23, 2020, Marshall Allen Esman was born to their granddaughter, Rachel Esman Lindenberg, and her husband Kenneth Esman. Marshall was named Mordecai after his great grandfather, Martin Lindenberg. The baby ring that was given to Martin in 1923 was passed down to Marshall.

Irene’s 8th great grandchild, Lue Avery was born to Rachel and Kenny Esman on April 10, 2023.