All posts by Jeff B.

Family Tree

Blumenthal Family Tree

coatofarmsBlumenthal is the German word for “Valley of Flowers.”  The name was used by Moses Blumenthal, the first Blumenthal to live in America.  Despite my mother’s desire to change it to “Bloomingdale'” we’ve kept it as is.  The other sides of the family have had a number of changes, e.g. Marwilinsky, to Marwilsky, to Marwill.

For the most part, my research has only concentrated on the American side and not the European ancestors.  That may change if I keep running into some dead ends here in Chicago (and Texas).

I have been the recipient of many items from my parents, grandparents, and other relatives to the point where I would almost require the services of an archivist to organize and preserve.

One area of interest are the siblings of my grandfather Abraham who disappeared from the family.  Please leave comments or contact me if you have any information or need a verification of some of your own research.

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SurnameNameDatesLink
BlumenthalHarold 03 AUG 1902 - 21 NOV 19821495
BlumenthalMoses OCT 1838 - 02 JAN 19051498
NewberryJeanne Dale 22 FEB 1906 - 03 APR 20061496
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Current Family

Cornell 50th Reunion

This June marks my 50th reunion from Cornell University.  I’ve been to a fair number and was a co-chair for the 40th.  This year we’re being smart:  (a) Flying into Ithaca to avoid car rentals, late limos, and whatever, and (b) Staying at the Marriott Courtyard and not the dorms.  I don’t care how new or deluxe they sound, it’s still a mess, mildew abounds, and somewhat of a hassle to check in.

I was asked by the chair to prepare an authors event, where classmates who had published a book (one with an ISBN) would be recognized.  Well, 19 responded and the Cornell Store will host.

 

Bicycling

South Side 35 Mile Ride

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I had some bicycling friend come in from out of town.  Renting bikes at Millennium Park we headed down to the Lakefront Path and rode south.  At the museum Campus we did the around the Planetarium circuit and included Northerly Island as well before joining up for the path to 31st Street Beach and Marina.  That’s a great place to take yet another view back at the city — and get rid of the excess coffee we had at breakfast.  From there it’s around Promontory Point to Hayes Drive where we head west on local streets.  The Columbia Statue, Osaka Garden, back of the Museum of Science and Industry, the Midway to the Fountain of Time by Lorado Taft.  Winding through the University of Chicago campus past the Robie House we head to Valois for lunch.  After lunch we continue a bit north and west until we pass Obama’s house and head north at Drexel. The houses and building on Drexel are fabulous as we head to Oakwood.  West on Oakwood we wind up on Martin Luther King Drive (and the Chicago Chicken and Waffle House).  We stop at the Bronzeville monument and continue north to McCormack Place.  From there local streets including Prairie Avenue to Grant Park.  Now it becomes a real art tour:  Agora, Lincoln and Logan statues, and the Art institute.  There we see Lorado Taft’s earlier work the Fountain of the Great Lakes as well as many other pieces.  Normally the faint hearted would return the bikes and call it a day, but we did the River path to the Vietnam Memorial and a circumnavigation of Navy Pier before returning the bicycles.  All in all, it’s a 35 mile journey through a great portion of the Southside of Chicago.