Monday, October 29, 2012

Arthur J. Freer and family attended a Chanukah dinner at the Covenant Club in downtown Chicago (1950) . Each family was presented with the Israeli flag music maker, made of steel with a red wooden handle. If it is spun around, the tune HATIKVA or THE HOPE is heard.

Arthur J. Freer and family attended a Chnukah dinner at the Covenant Club in downtown Chicago (1950).  Each family was presented with this Israeli flag music maker, made of steel with a red wooden handle.  If it is spun around, the tune HATIKVA or THE HOPE is heard.

Monday, October 15, 2012

Links to videos.



The Life and Times of Arthur and Harriette Freer, of blessed memory.



We have made a video (40 minutes long) about he and his wife.  Watch it here!


SIMPLY SPLENDID IMAGES OF AJF - family, friends.

AJF & SONS DAVID AND RICHARD (Albion Avenue, Rogers Park - northside of Chicago)


Harriette and Arthur Freer at our 1407 Chase,  Chicago house
ARTHUR J. AND HARRIETTE LENORE FREER



Harriette and Little Guy at DU Frat after RF college graduation UChicago

AJF's youngest son Stephen Arthur Freer (aka Mordechai).

Dad shot this photo of his sister Phyllis and her husband Mort Cohen holding daughter Shari,
along with niece Marcia Hochauser and son Richard.


Dad and friends at the Loop Covenant Club.



Personable and well spoken.

AJF and HLF at Farwell Beach, Chicago, IL holding baby Richard.

 Harriette was a model in Beverly Hills, CA and Mpls. MN
(until called by her Dad to OK, who then died).
She then went to Chicago, met Dad, and got married.


 Photo shot by AJF of his wife and sons.  Grandson Jonathan.
Mom and Dad were such perfect parents!
They took us to the finest photo studios, and we were always dressed impeccably.
We took great vacation trips to MN and NY every summer.

How blessed were we to have had such true blue parents.

AJF and wife HLF in 1942
 Strong yet personable, rugged yet sensitive, dear Dad was taken way too young.

 Dad shot this photo of his chilly three sons at INDIAN BOUNDARY PARK, West Rogers Park.
 One of Dad's cars.
 Dad at Temple Sholom on Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL
HLF David AJF



Grandson David Freer is both a teacher of Honors Govt. / World History at KSHS and a Professor of Computer Science at Miami Dade College ( he set up this website).


Add caption

 Richard (IDF shirt) and Roberta.
 Son Richard and Rabbi Danny Marmorstein discuss Romania, the Shoah..
 Grandson David and son Richard examining old photo albms and home movies.
Grandson Jonathan and daughter in law Roberta lighting candles.
 Following in AJF's footsteps as an active supporter of Eretz Israel.


Aaron and Jill, best man and maid of honor at David's wedding, wherein AJF's good name (shem tov) was invoked.

Richard David and Jonathan chatting with Holocaust survivor Elmer Marmorstein...about their common origins in Rumania.
A copy of a letter AJF sent about a store for lease in the Big Apple.

AJF's younger brother Sam with son David.

AJF brokered leases for commercial landlords and tenants east of the Rockies.

Rav Harry and RHF at a local synagogue discus the future of the Jewish homeland.



Treasure the memories of those who have gone before.

ARTHUR J FREER, of blessed memory

    ARTHUR J.  FREER, 
50TH YAHRZEIT ANNIVERSARY
MEMORIAL 1962 - 2012

AJF WAS BORN AND RAISED IN ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.   HIS FATHER HARRIS WAS A REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER , WHICH IS TO SAY HE BOUGHT LOTS AND BUILT HOUSES.  HE BUILT HIS HOUSE AT 246 ROSEWOOD TERRACE.  THIS IS SHOWN IN THE HOME MOVIES VIDEO FOR WHICH THERE IS A LINK BELOW.

 A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS STILL RESIDE IN ROCHESTER / BUFFALO, N.Y. AREA.

THERE HAS BEEN MUCH INTEREST IN WRITING A WEBSITE ARTICLE ABOUT THE FEIER FREER FEUERSTEIN FAMILY ... IN MEMORIAM
(friends and family are helping polish up rough drafts for ad, article, and LEGACY entry)

On AJF's 50TH YAHRZEIT ... WE ARE LIGHTING CANDLES AND SAYING KADDISH, AS WELL AS LOOKING AT PHOTOS OF HE AND MOM, 
THE MOST GRACIOUS AND SWEET HARRIETTE LENORE.

He wrote zillions of letters, e.g., we recall how Dad wrote about Grandma Anna's illness and "silly, complacent doctors" in Rochester NY.

THUS, THIS MILESTONE IS PROMPTING A FEIER- FEUER- FREER-HOCHHAUSER- COHEN WEBSITE ...e.g., REMEMBERING GRANDPA AJF, A REALLY GREAT MAN.

Arthur J. Freer, of blessed memory, at age 52,  died from pulmonary edema. 

FOR MORE DETAILS, PLEASE CONTACT:

Richard Harris Freer
CoChair, FLORIDIANS4ISRAEL INSTITUTE
(305) 253-9353 office /landline
(786) 201-1415 cellular/mobile

FREERCROSSINGS COMMERCENTRE
12590 Southwest 128 Street, Suite 400
Miami, Florida. 33186

Photos are posted of ARTHUR J. & HARRIETTE LENORE FREER, our father and mother, of blessed memory, in 1942, at Temple Sholom, on North Lakeshore Drive, Chicago IL
 50TH YAHRZEIT MEMORIAL, 2012

AJF 50TH YAHRZEIT ANNIVERSARY was mentioned in Shabbat services at AHAVAT OLAM last Friday evening, and an observance will be also held at Temple Sholom in Chicago.

There is a link to audio from these sabbath services below with a slide show of various still photographs.


Gone from us, his loving face, and his pleasant, cheerful ways; a heart that won many friends, in bygone happy days.
His life was earnest, his actions kind, a generous hand and an active mind, anxious to please, loath to offend, a loving father and faithful friend.
‘Til memory fades and life departs you’ll live forever in our hearts.
He lives with us in memory, and will forever more.
Before our eyes he faded, growing weaker every day; doing all we could to save him until God took him away. Never shall we cease to love him, never shall his memory fade, sweetest love forever lingers ’round his sweet and peaceful grave.
The world may change from year to year, and friends from day to day. But never will the one I love from memory pass away.
Do not ask us if we miss him, there is such a vacant place, we cannot forget his footsteps, nor his dear and loving face.
Only the memory’s left, of the happiness we knew, the love that kindled memory’s torch, will feed it my whole life through.
He had a smile, a pleasant way, a helping hand to all he knew. He was so kind, so generous and true, on earth he nobly did his best
Oh, these tender broken ties, how they dim our aching eyes, like jewels, they will always shine.
We often think of the days gone by when we were all together; a shadow is cast, as we give a sigh, a loved one gone forever.
His smiling way and pleasant face are a pleasure to recall; he had a kindly word for each, and died beloved by all.

THANK YOU, DAD.

SHALOM SHALOM,

RHF

P.S.  Hereafter are a few letters and photos to personalize this epistle  (these captions refer to the phtos):

OUR DAD, ARTHUR J. FREER, of blessed memory, WAS THE GREAT COMMUNICATOR...

IN ALL OF THE STATES EAST OF THE ROCKY MTNS. 
WHETHER HE WAS SIGNING HUNDREDS OF LETTERS,
SUCH AS THE ONE POSTED BELOW
(his secretaries bound and saved carbon copies)...
 TO BE SENT NEAR AND FAR (FROM MN TO TX, FL TO NEW ENGLAND),
OR CALLING LONG DISTANCE TO FL OR NYC,
 OR FLYING TO OK,
HE WAS A PRODIGIOUS BUSINESSMAN!

DAD CHOMPED ON CIGARS, CONSTANTLY. 
HIS BAD TICKER AS HE TERMED IT,
PREVENTED HIM FROM ENLISTING IN THE ARMY IN WWII. 
BUT HE DID HIS PATRIOTIC DUTY BY DOING A GOOD JOB
AT BEING A FATHER TO THREE SONS AND GREAT HUSBAND.

HE AND FELLOW LOVERS OF ZION RAISED CONSIDERABLE SUMS OF MONEY FOR ERETZ ISRAEL, THE NEWLY ORGANIZED HOME OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE.

HEREAFTER IS A PHOTO OF AJF AT A COVENANT CLUB DINNER.

(WOULD THAT I HAD BUT A FRACTION OF HIS SKILL IN LEASING OFFICE / WAREHOUSE BAYS IN THE FCCC!)

SOME ANECDOTES:
1.  As  a grade school kid walking briskly along in the Chicago loop streets, I posed the question:
"Dad, what is more difficult. for a commercial real estate broker..finding the lessor and lessee, or actually consummating the deal?
He actually paused in our brisk walking and said: "good question son"  I will think on it.  Then said that both are of the same difficulty.  I said what about collecting commissions?

2.   Just before he died we were walking out of his office at the Fisher Building at 343 S. Dearborn.  I announced that my application for admission to the University Of Chicago had been accepted.  He paused and said...well son that is the kind of proposition where one cannot fake it.  One has to really have what it takes.  That was summer 1966.  He died in October.  At age 52, he did not get see his sons RICHARD AND STEVE graduate from UCHicago and DAVID from UIllinois.  Nor see his grandsons become strong and healthy.

HIS LIFE WAS CUT SHORT TOO SOON BY CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE, PULMONARY EDEMA, ETC. 

Dad's pet peeve was "complacent doctors". 
If they had seen these symptoms, he could have been saved, I thought.

(I declared a major, pre med Biopsychology and went on to earn the Bachelor of Science degree at UChicago then a masters in physiological psychology at Washington U.
I worked as  a teacher, and Vocational Rehab counselor for the State of Florida Dept. of Health & Rehab. Services..then owned and operated a few businesses.  I was a college professor.   I also developed industrial property.)

PHOTOS OF DAD'S YOUNGER BROTHER, SAM, A WWII NAVY MAN AND CORPORATE EXECUTIVE...are seen below.

AJF (dad) was a member for 20 years of the Covenant Club in the loop (downtown Chicago).  We visited the Standard Club a few times.

Dad wrote Sam in Feb., and passed away in October, 1962.
Mom followed up three years later.
Dad's Combined Jewish Appeal and ChicagoREB ID cards.

He ate at Pixley's and took us there for lunch on Saturdays, and used the matches to light his cigar stogies.




AJF Letters; more photos of family

AJF & HLF SENT ANNOUNCEMENT OF BIRTH OF STEVE...ENVELOPE TO GRANDMA ANNA FEIER IN ROCHESTER, NY  GRANDSON JONATHAN HOLDS A SNAKE AT THE FCCC; RPR IN 1958' R, D, AND SANTA CLAUS.  GRANDSON DAVID HOLDS KEY-ROOKSTER AND ROBERTA.

DAD SURPRISED US BY BUYING A 12 CYLINDER DARK BLUE LINCOLN, WITH PUSH BUTTON WINDOWS, NO LESS.

LETTER TO DAD FROM DAVID (1956).  DAD'S SAD LETTER THAT GRANDMA ANNA WAS NEAR THE END OF HER DAYS.

top: UNCLE SAM FEIER (AJF'S younger brother) & AUNT EULAH (of ROCHESTER NY);
SELMA LICHTEN & MILTON LICHTEN (AKRON, OHIO
 third row: COUSIN HAROLD "RED" LICHTEN,  COUSIN SANDRA "SIS" LICHTEN,  SANDY EMERMAN, MORTON JAY EMERSON (son of Phyllis Lichten Emerman);

(NOW ONE CAN SEE HOW GRANDMA ANNA DECIDED ON NAMING HER YOUNGEST SON MILTON AND HER DAUGHTER PHYLLIS!) 
second row:  MARK AND BETTY FEIER (AJF'S sister) HOCHHAUSER
front row:  Phyllis Lichten Emerson (next two are relatives of Selma peerhaps)


AJF's daughter in law Roberta's mother Helene, in Chicago (1929)

STEPHEN ARTHUR FREER                       DAVID ALAN FREER                         RICHARD HARRIS FREER



  • RICHARD HARRIS FREER, CEO & PRES., SMMS  AND THE LOVELY ROBERTA ANN FREER  (1976)




  • STEPHEN ARTHUR FREER, aka Mordecai, is proud to grow his black hair long.    Here he meditates, reads, and contemplates eternal verities in the park in WI. 
  •  AJF newly arrived in Chicago opens a chain of BLUEBIRD STORES in the Rogers Park area.
  • Marcia Hochhauser in Rochester, NY
  • Richard snaps a photo of wife Roberta trying to get Jonathan to go to school, as David watches. (1990... Kendall, FL)

 

David ... 1982 Miami, FL  (prior to heart valve replacement surgery)

  • Mpls., MN  1955   
  • Steve Freer  
  • Harriette Lenore Freer
  • Dorothy Rekow  
  • David Freer  
  • Aunt Vera Rekow  
  • Bob Jackson 
  • Dr. Esther Jackson

Richard snaps photo with new Kodak Brownie camera of brothers David Alan and Stephen Arthur, proud of their achievement at 1701 Albion Av, Chicago IL

  • Richard's wife and her family in Miami
  • David
  •  HARRIETTE AT HER LAKEFRONT HOUSE IN MIAMI
  • ROBERTA AND JONATHAN
  • DAVID
  • DAD AND DAVE (building the FREERCROSSINGS COMMERCENTER 1983)
  • DAD, JON, & DAVID


 
ARTHUR & HARRIETTE WEDDING ANNOUNCEMENT - KENNEDY MN STAR; RICHARD & COUSIN SHEILA SUSSMAN; MOM COOKS UP A CULINARY TREAT AT THE GREENLEAF AV HOME OVERLOOKING LAKE MICHIGAN; TYPICAL GRACIOUS LETTER BY HARRIETTE.

AJF'S first born Richard toasts birth of his second son,  Jonathan, with wife Roberta, at the hospital's festive dinner.

RICHARD AND FIANCE TOAST THEIR ENGAGEMENT AT A SALMON, OLIVE, ETC. DINNER BY CANDELIGHT.   JUNE, 1973.

  • ARTHUR'S YOUNGER BROTHER SAM POSES PROUDLY WITH HIS LOVELY WIFE EULAH, AND DAUGHTER LIZ AND HARRIETTE FEIER.

  • AJF AND MOTHER MAILED HIS MOM, ANNA FEIER A CUTE ANNOUNCEMENT 
  • OF THE BIRTH OF THIRD SON STEVE.  
  • LESS THAN A YEAR LATER, THE STATE OF ISRAEL WOULD BE REBORN.

RICHARD HARRIS FREER            STEPHEN ARTHUR FREER                             DAVID ALAN FREER 
ROUGH 'N READY AT OAK STREET BEACH, CHICAGO, IL
  • DAD WROTE:  "THERE IS NOTHING FURTHER I CAN WRITE ABOUT MOTHER (Grandma Anna). 
  •  THE SITUATION IS TOUCH AND GO...50-50 ...
  • AND IT SEEMS WE ARE HELPLESS.
  • I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG I'LL BE HERE.
  • NOBODY TELLS US HOW LONG A CONDITION LIKE MOTHER'S CAN GO ON 
  • IN ITS PRESENT CRITICAL STATUS).
  • WELL, WE'LL ALL FEEEL RELIEVED WHEN THE CRISIS PASSES.
  • I'LL CALL YOU AT THAT POINT.
  • LOVE, ART
  •  
  •  HELLO, BOYS!
  • LISTEN TO WHAT YOUR MOTHER TELLS YOU TO DO AND BE GOOD!
  • YOUR DAD.
  •  
  •  
  • LETTER FROM MOM IN CHICAGO TO RICHARD IN MIAMI
  • LETTER FROM DAVID IN CHICAGO TO DAD IN ROCHESTER, NY





"ARTHUR AND HARRIETTE FREER & RICH (10 MONTHS) on the shores of Lake Michigan, Chicago  1945"


  • Sam and Eulah and Liz in first three pix; 
  • then Marcia in next two, 
  • then AJF 
  • (RHF at Chgo. Historical Society)

  • LETTER FROM DAD TO WIFE AND SONS ON VACATION IN MPLS., MN
  • "A YEAR OLDER, A YEAR WISER!  LOVE, REGARDS,  ART."
A

  • HARRIETTE ARTHUR;  
  • DAVID STEVE RICHARD


DAD MOM RICHARD at Farwell Beach, Chicago, IL

Our time is so precious; the sun rises, and the sun sets on our brief lives.