Learning The Rules Of Life
Sam Kagan helped daughter Frances "become the person I am
today."
given up on life and on the family
My grandfather, Joe Lepsetz, was mother's fantastic cooking, but be- who loved him. Instead, he loved us
what you could call an average cause I got to play checkers with my
back and took an active role in all
man. He had a blue-collar job, drove grandfather. Checkers were his pas-
sion, and by teaching me how to of our lives. He even took the time
American cars, and loved checkers.
play
he taught me about life. He to answer all my questions.
He wasn't a celebrity, and never
My grandfather died two years
once was he a guest on Robin taught me that it was wrong to
ago. He died with dignity and grace,
cheat.
I
had
to
learn
the
rules
and
festyles
of
the
Rich
and
Leach's "T
still believing in, and supporting his
Famous." If I had had my own tele- abide by them. He taught me that
family.
it
was
only
polite
to
take
turns,
and
vision show, however, my grandfa-
My grandfather taught me many
ther would have been the first that I should think before I act. I
important lessons, but none so im-
shouldn't
just
rush
head-on
into
person I interviewed.
Joseph Lepsetz was born into a things without first weighing the portant as the one he didn't even
know he was teaching me. He
loving family. He went to Cass Tech consequences.
His love for me was shown taught me that in life, as in check-
in Detroit and got a job on an as-
through
his patience and his kind- ers, sometimes you win and other
sembly line. He married my grand-
ness.
He
didn't have to tell me he times you lose. The important thing
mother, Bertha, and had three
loved
me,
for I knew. I knew from is to learn from your mistakes and
children, one of whom became my
the way he played checkers with never look back with regret.
father.
My grandfather was one of the
My grandfather had a profound me.
silent
heroes in the world. These he-
I also knew that my grandfather
influence on my life. Not only did
roes should be judged not by the
was
in
constant
pain.
As
a
boy,
he
he give me candy, pinch my cheeks,
amount of money they make or the
and tell me how cute I was, he in- had hurt his leg, and not an hour
kind of cars they drive, but in the
went
by
when
he
didn't
have
to
spired me.
way they love their family. In that
Throughout my childhood, I had massage it. He had operation after
respect, my grandfather was the
operation,
but
none
helped.
many special nights when I slept
all.
over at my grandparents' house. I Throughout his life, there were greatest hero of them
Julie Lepsetz
many
opportunities
for
my
grand-
looked forward to these visits not
only because I got to eat my grand- father to quit. He could have just
My Inspiration
Even though my Dad, Sam Kagan, has been gone for
12 years, I feel he is with me every day. He was, and
still is, an inspiration to me in all the days of my life.
He gave me confidence, knowledge, encouragement
and lots of love. He helped me become the person I am
today.
My Dad was always the one to listen to my problems
or worries, and he always made everything seem bet-
ter and wonderful again. He enjoyed his life to the ut-
most and told me that it was important to enjoy each
day. I miss him .very much, but I know I am lucky to
have had such a person as Dad touch my life so deeply.
Several years before he died, he wrote this poem,
which I have hanging in my bedroom:
To My Daughter Fran
My life and wonderful world began,
When my wife had born my child Fran.
As the next 20 years went by,
There were times I'd laugh and times I'd cry.
Then to a lovely boy she wed
Later, two lovely girls she had.
And now that I'm old and the years ran,
I'm lucky to have my daughter Fran.
Evergreen
My father, Louis Cohan, came as
a child to this country from Lithua-
nia. His family settled in the Lower
East Side of New York, where my
father met Eddie Cantor. They ran
around together and sang for a few
pennies in various bars. He would
talk about their relationship all the
time; they kept in touch until Eddie
passed away.
I shall never forget when, during
World War II, I was drafted. My
father was strong until the day
I had to leave. He just turned his
back on me and broke down.
He always would write in
green ink. Every day while I was
T HE DE TRO I T J E W IS H NE WS
Fran White
Go
Pals
Ashley Jamie Maloff, 7-112, is
a student in first grade at Av-
ery Elementary School in Oak
Park. She and her Daddy,
Larry Malof, share many spe-
cial times together. These in-
clude Halloween, reading,
tickle torture at bedtime, and
outings, like a big family va-
cation each summer.
Ashley Maloff (all decked up for Halloween) with
Dad, Larry.
Louis Cohan, right,
with his boys:
"That's a Louie."
in the army, he would write. When
I came home from overseas, it was
2 a.m., and there he was on the rail-
way platform to greet me, along with
the rest of my family and my sweet-
heart. It was one of my happiest
days.
He was quite a kibitzer and a
practical joker. At every bar mitz-
vah or wedding he would be up on
the stage, singing his favorite songs
along with the orchestra. He loved
his grandchildren and always had
gum for them. When my brother
and I were kids, he would dress us
according to the occasion, tuxedos
for weddings and sailor suits at
cruises.
He always will be around, for
whenever I say something corny my
family responds, 'That's a Louie."
Jack Cohan