Uncle Oscar

Uncle Oscar, a man of many experiences and talents, had a great love of art and history. While having served in World War II, he had many experiences in China and India. In fact, he spoke a little of each language.

 

While he joined the family business and contributed to its success, his heart was in art. He painted and did sculpture throughout his life. Our family is lucky as many of us have his original drawing and paintings.

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One of the famous stories is about how he met his wife Muriel. His daughter Pearl tells this story: 

 

My mother’s parents’ friends’ son called my mother for a date. She was not in so her parents’ took his number. When my mother returned the young man’s call, she dialed the wrong number. Uncle Morris answered the phone and pretended to be this man. He made a date with Muriel. When Oscar came home, Uncle Morris told him what he had done and told Oscar to take Muriel out. My father agreed but when the day came, he forgot and was on Jesse’s boat. He called Muriel (who by this time understood what Morris had done but agreed to go out with Oscar regardless) and apologized. The second date he made, he forgot AGAIN. He swam to shore from wherever the boat was, changed and raced to Manhattan Beach to make the date-but Muriel had gone off with her friends. Oscar sat with her parents and talked a bit. They convinced Muriel to go out with Oscar despite his irresponsible behavior!! The third date was a charm-for awhile. They dated but eventually went their separate ways. A year later, Oscar was on vacation to Florida with his Mother and girlfriend, Bea. It so happened that Muriel was vacationing with her friends in Miami. One night, Oscar was alone and saw Muriel with a group of her friends. One of her girlfriends was with her wealthy beau who owned a yacht. He said they looked like they’d make a great couple and why shouldn’t he marry them on his yacht the next night?! (Those must have been strong cocktails!!)  They went to the yacht, looked at each other and said “Why not?” (Rather impulsive but it worked out for my sister and me!) The next day, dressed to be married, they went to the dock. The yacht wasn’t there. Even odder, no one in the area remembered ever seeing it! (When hearing this story as a child, it took on a  magical, mystical quality as if he’d been an Angel.) Despite this occurrence, the couple decided to marry and have a traditional wedding at his Uncle’s home later that week. Fast forward to a few minutes before the wedding. Muriel was in a cab BUT WITHOUT THE ADDRESS TO OSCAR’S UNCLE’S HOUSE! She spotted Bea walking. (Oscar had invited his “old” girlfriend to his wedding.) Muriel rolled the window down and called out to Bea who jumped in the cab and took Muriel to the wedding!

Years later, when I was a little girl, I remember visiting Bea in Brighton Beach, with my parents. She had curly red hair and was very nice. Bea never married.

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His art is captured in these photos

 

 

He served in World War II.  During his retirement he captured those experiences in words and photos from his time in India and China.

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A look at a distant time through the eyes of someone who was not only there but kept these memories. We can now  all see these albums he created.  See the albums via this highlighted link.

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The purpose of this website is to provide stories and oral histories of our many family members.  Whether the OGs of Aunts and Uncles to the current Gen Colchamiro they are linked to pages throughout this site.

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One of the oral history recordings is from Uncle Oscar, recorded by me (Marty) at his 90th birthday party. He provided us with his story of Mrs. Kaminsky and The Stage Coach Driver.  Below is the recording of that wonderful story.

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07/14/98 as written by Pearl

 

It is easy to come up with a favorite story about my father, Oscar. (No, it is not the time Uncle Morris talked him into see-sawing on the third floor balcony and then got off! Oscar fell down 3 stories and cracked his noggin open!)

 

It is the story of Ocky and his friend, Yocky and the neighbor, Mrs. Kaminsky.

 

She found the two little boys up on the roof pretending to be stagecoach drivers-using the clotheslines as reins. Mrs. Kaminsky told them to get down off the roof because they could get hurt and Ocky told her to "Mind your own business!"

 

Mrs. Kaminsky told Nona, who came outside and yelled up to Oscar to apologize.  Oscar repeatedly refused. His mother tied him to the tree and told him he would remain there until his father came home unless his apologized. It was hours later - but just before his father came home from work, that Ocky backed down. He would apologize. At first, it was so low as to be inaudible. Finally, he said "I'm sorry."

 

His father never knew. And, he is still not sorry to this day!

 

That's my very favorite story!

 

This is the recording Uncle Oscar made of this story.

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See a video of Uncle Oscar's 90th birthday which is available via our Media page.

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