Civilian Life

New York City, May 1945

My Wife Hannah and I
My Wife Hannah and I

I became a civilian on 6/23/45. I was one of the earliest to leave the service, even though the war was still on with Japan.

I wanted to be a commercial pilot from the first days of the war and hence joined the Army Air Corps and selected the multi-engine pilot path. Unfortunately, after the war I tried to become a commercial pilot but ran into roadblocks. Instead I took advantage of the GI bill and earned a BS in Physical Education from New York University (NYU) and later a MS in Social Work from Columbia University. I spent my professional life in Jewish communal work. This included servicing community centers, community organizations, children’s camps and fundraising.

I met Hannah Korenthal at NYU and we later married. We have 4 wonderful children (Brenda, Jay, Craig, Scott) and 7 grandchildren (Rachel, Adam, Jason, Tori, Todd, Cory, Julie). We have lived in many cities along the east coast where we met and have maintained to this day many cherished friends. We spend our winters in Delray Beach, Florida and the rest of the year in Cranbury, New Jersey. We celebrated our 50th wedding anniversary in 2000.

But the story doesn’t end here. Fifty years later after serving in England, I returned to Horsham St. Faith.