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A 76-Year-Old

Love
Story

Morris and Shirley Beider love
each other — and their country.

S

Alan Muskovitz

ABOVE:
The Beiders’
wedding photo.

hirley and Morris Beider of
Waterford, 96 and 94 years old
respectively, know a thing or
two about wishing each other a “sha-
nah tovah” — they’ve been saying it
to each other for 72 years; 76, if you
include their courtship, which began
when they met in 1941.
Morris and Shirley were spending
their respective summers working at
separate boys and girls camps across
the lake from each other in Browns
Lake, Wis.
Morris was on a day hike with some
of his campers when he stopped on
the girls’ side for a drink of water;
that’s when he laid eyes on Shirley
Greenspan of Omaha, Neb. It was love
at first sight. Morris was now far more
interested in Shirley than quenching
his thirst.
After some small talk, Morris asked
then 19-year old Shirley if he could see
her that night. “Perhaps go into town
and take in a movie,” he suggested.
She accepted the invitation. Shirley
told me during that initial conversa-
tion that Morris, 18, and over one year

her junior, conveniently didn’t reveal
his age. “That’s because he didn’t
want me to say no,” she told me with
a blushful smile, implying her dating
a “younger” man would have created
the romantic scandal of the summer.
Any doubt Morris was smitten with
Shirley was put to rest on only their
second date that summer. “I asked her
if she would keep kosher when we got
married,” he recalled with great pride.
“And she said she would!”
Shirley’s reaction to Morris’
account? It was a sweet, schoolgirl-
like chuckle that came from across
their dining room table that made me
feel like 96-year-old Shirley had been
instantly transported back to that
magical summer.
This was just one of the many heart-
felt remembrances the Beiders gra-
ciously shared with me recently about
their lifelong love affair. Though part-
ing ways in the summer of ’41, Shirley
returning home to Omaha and Morris
to Chicago, they remained steadfastly
committed to each other, though their
lives would temporarily take them

in different directions. It’s a journey
that would endure a four-year long-
distance courtship and a world war
for which they both proudly served
their nation.
After summer camp, Shirley
remained in Omaha until her accep-
tance in the Philadelphia School of
Occupational Therapy (OT) would
take her more than 1,200 miles away
from home. Morris, who continued
his education in Chicago for a while,
eventually moved to Detroit to further
his education and seek employment.

SERVING THEIR COUNTRY

Upon receiving her degree in 1943 as
a registered occupational therapist,
Shirley put her talents to use where
they were needed most — in service to
her country. She enlisted in the Navy;
serving during WWII as did her sister
and brother.
Remaining stateside, Shirley worked
tirelessly to help returning servicemen
recover from their battlefield injuries,
utilizing her skills in what was then a
burgeoning new field of medicine.

continued on page 22

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September 14 • 2017

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