Pho to by Krista Husa

Reunion Romance

Eva Klein and
Toma Schwartz
attended the same
school in Romania.

Toma Schwartz marries the kid sister of his long-lost pal.

JULIE WIENER
Staff Writer

INT hen Toma Schwartz
headed to Israel for a
school reunion, he was
looking for his one-
time classmate and best friend, Zoli
Klein, whom he hadn't seen in more
than 50 years.
Zoli wasn't there, but his kid sister
va was. And this Sunday, the two
long-lost buddies finally will be
reunited: as brothers-in-law.
Sixty-four-year-old Toma, a con-
cert pianist living in Lathrup Village,
and 58-year-old Eva, a former
research scientist for Israel's depart-
ment of agriculture, are marrying in
a small ceremony officiated by Con-

gregation Beth Shalom's Rabbi David which closed under Communist rule
Nelson. Toma's 28-year-old daughter
— have been holding reunions every
from a previous
five years in
marriage, Claire,
Israel.
will give him
When To ma
away.
met Eva at the
Both Toma and
1996 reunion, he
Eva attended the
was intrigued. "I
Jewish school in
hadn't even
Arad, Romania,
known she exist-
during and imme-
ed," he said.
May 171.99
diately after World
"Her brother
War II. Romanian
hadn't mentioned
How THEY MET:
Jews were not
her at the time
deported to con-
because she was
At a school reunion
centration camps
seven years
in the Holocaust
younger than we
and were allowed
were. When I
to run their own schools. Since the
saw her, - I thought she was an inter-
1970s, alumni of the school —
esting lady, but probably a grand-

mother already."
Then Zoli, who lives in Vancou-
ver, informed Toma that Eva was
single, so Toma made his move.
After a few international phone
calls, Toma and Eva decided to
spend some time together and
arranged a six-week visit in Michi-
gan. By the end of the visit, they
were engaged.
Last month, Eva, an. Israeli since
1976, arrived in Michigan on a
fiancee's visa. Toma has lived in
the United States since 1973. What
sparked the bond besides their
common language. (Hungarian)
and nostalgia for school days past?
In addition to the obvious chemistry
between them, the couple say
they share a passion for science. 111

5/15
1998

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