Heilpern, George_1979/3/21, Oral History

Subjects covered during interview include: Family, Immigration, Grandparents, Growing up Jewish in Hartford, sister, Brown School, Northwest Weaver, Journalism at Ohio University, couldn't enlist, military photographer, Randall Room (Theater School) Aerial photography, businessman, family, Living History Committee, Zionism ends abruptly

GREATER HARTFORD JEWISH HISTORICAL SOCIETY ORAL HISTORY COLLECTION

Tape No.: 199 No. of Tapes: Name of Interviewee: George S. Heilpern Date of Interview: March 21, 1979 Occupation: Photographer, businessman Date of Birth: July 4, 1913 Place of Birth: Hartford, CT Transcript (yes/no): Yes No. of Pages: 32

Abstract:

Mr. Heilpern’s father, Joseph S., came to the United States in 1890 from Brody, which was part of the Austrian-Hungarian Empire on the border of Russia. His family were textile merchants who imported dry goods from England. Part of his family migrated to Manchester, England, while Joseph’s father migrated to New York and then to Hartford. Joseph went into the wholesale dry goods business with Norman Gross for a few years, and then they switched to a sweater manufacturing business, Ryan Mills, that lasted 20 years. Joseph then bought into the Capitol Oil Company and later sold oil on a commission basis.

He related how his father met his mother, whose maiden name was Leimseider. His parents were married on January 1, 1905. His sister, Ann Heilpern Randall was born in 1908, five years before George. His parents, together with others, founded the Emanuel Synagogue so American children could have a Hebrew and Sunday school to learn about Judaism. The first Rabbi was Rabbi Nowack, the Cantor, Paul Discount, and later, Rabbi Morris Silverman. Mr. Heilpern’s parents were very active and on the Board of Trustees of the Emanuel Synagogue. His mother was president of the Sisterhood for three years. Anna Weinerman was active at the same time.

George attended the Northwest School and Weaver High School where he was active in dramatics and amateur athletics. He graduated from Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, with a major in Journalism. He worked for several newspapers in New England and New York, combining journalism and photography. He spoke of his large family connections, the Siegels, Raphaels, Dubins, Waskovitz, Debokos, Markaserias. His cousin, Harry Siegel, was the first Jewish intern at St. Francis Hospital.

At the beginning of World War II, he enlisted in the Navy and was assigned as a photographer in the section that mapped the coastlines of South America, Cuba, Greenland, Alaska among other coastlines. After the war in 1946, he returned to Hartford and set up a photography business, initially doing general photography and later only commercial photography. At Herman Holtz’s request, he photographed the interior of Ados Israel, copies of which are stored in the archives of the Jewish Historical Society. He continued in this field until he sold the business about three years ago. On the advice of Ray Brown and Dr. Morris Cohen, he invested in real estate.

He spoke about his sister, Ann, who was an actress and founded the Randall School of the Arts in Hartford which existed for many years. Ernest Borgnine and Charles Welch were her students. She was married to Wilbur Randall, but died at age 54. The Jewish Community Center has perpetuated her memory by setting up the Ann Randall group which continues her artistic ideas.

ADDENDUM: After subsequent investigation, it was found that Ann Heilpern married Wilbur Randall, whose name was originally Rosenberg. It was changed to Randall after the Rosenberg spy case. Wilbur Randall was in advertising at that time and the Rosenberg name was a problem. The name was changed back to Rosenberg at a later date. Ann died at 54. Wilbur than married Marsha (maiden name may be Marsha Markaseria as mentioned in the transcript). Wilbur and Marsha had three children: Steven, Tony, and Maria.

Mr. Heilpern married Riette Lichtenstein on October 12, 1942. They have two children: Betsy Firger, an attorney, and Jeffrey David who is the Executive Director of the National Jewish Conference Center which is run by Rabbi Irving Greenberg. The entire family is observant.

Mr. Heilpern’s involvement in professional groups include: Past president of the Hartford Professional Photographers, Connecticut Professional Photographers Association, New England Photographers Association and the Professional Photographers of America. He was president of the last organization two years ago, chairman of the Board last year, and presently is a past president. He is also on the Living History Committee of that organization.

Subject Index: Business Education – Jewish Hartford History -- Jewish Oral History Synagogues – see also individual synagogues