PURELY COMMENTARY

Back to School

Eye

Exams

'30

now through Labor Day
ages 18 & younger

Saturday Appointments Available

AMERICAN EYE INSTITUTE

Family Eye Care

Michael Y, Greenley, M.D.

Martin I, Apple, M.D.

358-3937

25811 W. 12 Mile Rd. • Suite 204 • Southfield, Michigan

38

FRIDAYAMI 1ST 1(1 144n

Gerontology

Continued from Page 2

seven years a career that
was to illuminate the world
of comedy had begun — in
a youthful street-corner
quartet.
For forty years his name
was inseparable from that
of his wife and stage part-
ner, the beloved Gracie
Allen. After her death, in
1964, when he was ex-
pected to retire, he instead
became even more involv-
ed in work. In 1975, when
he was 80, he co-starred in
the film The Sunshine Boys.
— and won an Oscar.
The list of notables would
not be complete without the
names of Jacob Rader Mar-
cus. His United States Jewry
will always be among the
great works dealing with our
history. He completed this
work at age 93.
Dr. Salo Baron is also
among the names to be
honored. He died last
November, at the age of 94; he
had completed the 19th of his
volumes on the Social and
Economic History of the Jews.
Many more could be can-
didates for these honors.
There is, for example, the well
known Pittsburgh rabbi,
Solomon Freehof, who died on
June 12 at the age of 97. He
was popular in his communi-
ty as essayist and book
reviewer, and his name will
be remembered as author of
many books on Responsa.
These provide explanations
for many questions that arise
regarding Jewish traditions
and daily religious practices.
I would insist upon in-
cluding in this cast of
notables the name of my
friend Morris Schappes. He
has provided an emphasis for
such recognition in the follow-
ing "Reflections on Old Age":
Having taught English
literature at the City Col-
lege of New York for 13
years, I early learned, and
lived by, certain lines by
Andrew Marvell. Ever pre-
sent in my mind, and often
on my lips, were Marvell's:
"But at my back I always
hear
Time's winged chariot
hurrying near . ."
While Marvell addressed
his urgency only "To His
Coy Mistress," I applied the
lines to everything I did
and, now at 82, I still do.
In the 1920s, as a high
school boy, I used to in-
furiate my immigrant,
Yiddish-speaking parents
by asking them, whenever
I heard them speak of the
death of a relative, lands-
man or a friend, "How old
was he (she)?" And if the
answer was over 56, I'd
spout my school wisdom,

"So what? The average life
span in America is 56, so
why are you complaining
and lamenting?"
With me, always, living
was doing, not simply be-
ing. So long as I can do I
am well. I have been for-
tunate. Except for only a
couple of years, my work
was my pleasure, my voca-
tion was my avocation. As
teacher, writer,
historian,lecturer, editor, I
have always loved what I
was doing, always wanted
to be doing what I was do-
ing. The only thing I ever
needed was time, more
time, and more time My
life has been coherent, in-
tegrated, so it wears well.
There is so much benefit to
be derived from the Comfort
book that it merits being ac-
claimed as a great treasure
for the aging and their
families, and to the corn-
munities wherever we deal
with gerentology. ❑

Longevity And
Myron Steinberg

here is evidence of
multiplying longevity.
T Octogenarians are
very often in the limelight.
Nonagenarians are
multiplying.
Myron Steinberg at 90 re-
tains many roles. His pride of
being a member of a family of
pioneering Zionists identifies
him immediately in the ranks

Myron Steinberg

of the Zionist organization
and Jewish National Fund.
As a leader for a number of
years in the Magen David
Adorn of Israel, the
equivalent of the Red Cross,
he has rendered valuable ser-
vice toward cementing
cooperation with the
American Red Cross, deman-
ding and securing world ac-
ceptance of the Israel MDA.
The Red Cross rendered
special tribute to him for that
devotion.

As an expert in the printing
industry he has won recogni-
tion in the publishing sphere.
It was as a temple builder
that Myron Steinberg led as
a founder of Temple Israel. He
was associated with Rabbi
Leon Fram in congregational
program planning for several
decades.
Myron's love for sports led
him to close association with
the heads of the department
of athletics at the University
of Michigan. For several
decades he did not miss atten-
ding the Wolverine's games.
He was closely associated
with sports writers.
He also retained an active
interest in the chess and
checker tournaments that
were sponsored by his brother
Morris Steinberg, who had
national leadership in the
games.
Longevity serves Myron
well. He is a source of pride
and inspiration with his ac-
complishments. There is
pride in saluting him as a
nonagenarian. ❑

Important Facts
On Auto Creation

H

enry H. Politzer
of Farmington Hills
adds important infor-
mation to last week's column
on automobile pioneer
Siegfried Marcus:
I had been in Vienna a
few years ago and per-
sonally visited the
automobile built by
Siegfried Marcus. The auto
built by Marcus has been
in the Industrial Museum
(Technisches Museum) all
the time and was never
disturbed, even during the
Nazi occupation. I talked
to two employees of the
museum and both told me
that this exhibit has never
been touched or changed
by the Nazis. Even the
name had never been
removed or changed.
You might be interested
in this, in view of the
changes made in Germany
proper, as far as the inven-
tion of the automobile is
concerned. The museum
shows the picture of the
automobile and a life
history of Siegfried Marcus
in its catalogue.
You may obtain this
catalogue by writing to the
museum. You can obtain
the address by writing to
the Austrian Embassy in
Washington, D.C., or con-
tacting the Austrian Press
and Information Service at
31 East 69th Street, New
York NY 10021. ❑

