Konover, Simon_1985,Oral History

Tape #346 Cross reference Jewish Historical Society Subject: Interview of Simon Konover By Morris Handler Date: 4/25/85 JHSGH Meeting

Topics covered in this interview include: Growing up in Poland, his father’s occupation driving buses before the war, escaping a labor camp to Lumza, Russia where he joined the army driving trucks, experience during the war, being sent to Siberia, experience after the end of the war returning to Poland, immigration to America via Cuba to join brother David, last name change, information about his surviving brothers David and Harold, working in New York, moving to Hartford and working at Grody Chevrolet, meeting and falling in love with wife Doris & starting their family, going to night school to learn English, working for his brother David in the flooring business at Channing Konover & moving up the ladder, how he got into the real estate business with his first motel, with Mr. Carvel (Carvelle?), progression to developing shopping centers, business experiences, and his perspective on the global and local Jewish Community.