Nine Generations

Irene A. Almas

Parents

Morris Matusof

Morris Matusof in the British Army; note flash for the Jewish Legion

Parents

Biographical Details

1881	Birth	Morris Matusof was born on 15 October 1881 in Mogilev, Russia.1,2
1905	Military	In 1905 Morris Matusof served as a sergeant in the Russian Army fighting against the Japanese at the battle of Vladivostok, at age 24y.3
1913	Immigration	He migrated in Boston, Massachusetts, from Boulogne, France, on 26 August 1913 aboard the SS Cleveland.4
About 1917	Military	He served in the 39th Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers about 1917 at age 36y. The 39th Battalion of the Fusiliers was known as the Jewish Legion. They fought against the Turks in Palestine.3,5,6
1927	Marr-Partners	He married Faigl Glotzer on 26 February 1927 in the Bronx. The marriage was witnessed by Adele Glotzer. Adele Grantz witnessed this marriage.7,8
1927	Residence	He lived at 851 East 162 Street in the Bronx on 26 February 1927.8
1927	Naturalization (fam)	He and Faigl Glotzer were naturalized on 18 April 1927 at U.S. District Ct. for the Southern Dist. of NY in New York City.2
1930	Residence (family)	He and Faigl Glotzer lived at 87 Elsmere Place in the Bronx on 11 April 1930 with their infant son Harold.9
1930	Occupation	On 11 April 1930 Morris Matusof was a tailor in New York City.9
1930	Birth of Child	His son, Harold Charles ("Zvi") Matusof, was born on 20 May 1930 in Bronx, New York.
1940	Residence (family)	Morris Matusof and Faigl Glotzer lived at 2083 Clinton Avenue in the Bronx on 10 April 1940.10
	Residence (family)	He and Faigl Glotzer and their son, Harold lived at 2070 Arthur Avenue, Apt. 1E, in the Bronx from 1941 to 1950.1,11
1942	Physical Description	In 1942, at age 60y, his draft board described him as height 5' 6", weight 175, complexion light and ruddy, eyes brown, hair black and gray, wears glasses.12
1950	Occupation	In April 1950 Morris Matusof was a clock maker in New York City.11
1955	Death	He died on 24 September 1955 in New York City.
About 1955	Burial	He was buried about 25 September 1955 in Cedar Park Cemetery in Emerson, Bergen County, New Jersey.13,14
	Biography	Matusof's son Harold wrote a memoir of his father: Notes on Morris Matusof by Harold Matusof During his service in the Russian Army, he had the rank of Sergeant. He fought against the Japanese Army in the Russo-Japanese war of 1905 around Vladivostok. Other duties were service in protecting the Tsar's palace in St. Petersburg and military duty at the Finnish border. After his service in the Russian Army, he migrated first to France where he lived with a French farm family for a short period of time. In 1910, he immigrated to the United States. In 1917, he enlisted in the Jewish Legion of the British Army (39th Royal Fusiliers) known in Hebrew as "Hagdud Haivri". His battalion fought against the Ottoman Turks in what was then called Palestine and is now called Israel. Morris was one of thirteen children of Eli Nathan and Basia Matusof. The family lived in utter poverty and many of them died before the age of five. During the winter, the children and the animals (goats) vied with each other to be nearest to the stove to keep warm. Morris was a rebellious child and at the age of 12 ran away to the city of Eketerinaslav (Dnieperpetrovsk). His whereabouts from that point in his life until about the age of eighteen (no birth record) when he was drafted into the Russian Army are unknown. Little is known about his surviving siblings or what happened to them in World War II. Recent inquiries to computerized Ellis Island files suggest that a brother and sister may have emigrated to the USA about the same time as Morris. Although he had little formal schooling, he was self taught. He was fluent in several languages (Russian, Hebrew, Yiddish, French, and English). He read and understood the "New York Times" newspaper daily. He founded a Jewish history and philosophy group which brought out his intellectual qualities. He was a long time member of the Poale Zion (Labor Zionist) organization. Morris was older (and wiser?) than most of his comrades in the Jewish Legion and was already exposed to military duties when he was in the Russian army. He therefore did not take military discipline too seriously. He went AWOL several times in the Palestinian countryside to explore the Jewish homeland. Of course, he was punished with hard labor for short periods of time, but in his mind, it was well worth the experiences. He often talked about life in Russia. The family was very poor. In the cold of winter, All of the children and their goats would fight to be the closest to the stove. There was also a Turkish bath house in Khotchimsk. People would run outside and roll in the snow if it got too hot inside. During the Great Depression in the 1930's, he was unemployed for long periods of time in his trade of ladies garment manufacturing. But despite the hard times, Morris and Fannie always provided food, clothing and shelter. The years of the Great Depression were also the years of Prohibition. More than a few times, Morris manufactured "moonshine" in the bathroom. Morris was a Schnapps drinker and became very jovial after a few drinks at social gatherings. He would become the life of the party. The last five years of his life were not pleasant. In 1950, he slipped on an icy sidewalk while going to work and broke his hip. He was in an ankle to hip cast for 33 weeks in St. Vincent Hospital in New York. The operation on his hip was not successful and he developed a chronic infection. He then suffered a series of strokes until he passed away in September 1955. He had several stays at the Army Hospital on Governors Island, New York where he was treated as an Officer since he was a dependent of Lieutenant Harold Matusof, his son. One of the things that kept him going in these last years was his joy of watching young children playing in their basement apartment yard from his bedroom window in our ground floor apartment. According to Ellis Island records, Morris arrived at Ellis Island on June 13, 1910 from the port of Libau, Posen, Prussia, Germany. Ship of travel - Russia. Morris had no known contact with any of his family in the United States although it is known that he sent CARE packages t his family in Russia in the aftermath of World War I. It was at one of these CARE stations that he met his wife-to-be -- Fannie. Recent perusal of immigration records in the year 2001 indicate the possibility of a brother and sister immigrating to the USA about the same time as Morris, but no contact was ever made with them. Morris had a unique gift in his ability to analyze current and historical events and project their political impact far into the future. For example, he had a great mistrust of the Soviet Union during World War II and accurately predicted the Cold War to come.
1996	Death of Spouse	His wife, Faigl Glotzer, died on 21 December 1996 in Walnut Creek, Contra Costa County, California.

Citations

1. World War II Draft Registration Card, Morris Matusof
2. Naturalization Petition, Index to Petitions for Naturalizations Filed in Federal, State, and Local Courts in New York City, 1792-1906; NAI Number: 5700802; Record Group Title: Records of District Courts of the United States, 1685-2009; Record Group Number: RG 21. Petition Nr. 94513
3. E-mail message, Harold Matusof to RCJ, 2002 or 2003
4. Naturalization Petition, Index to Petitions for Naturalizations Filed in Federal, State, and Local Courts in New York City, 1792-1906; NAI Number: 5700802; Record Group Title: Records of District Courts of the United States, 1685-2009; Record Group Number: RG 21. Petition Nr. 94513, Date: 18 APR 1927
5. Personal Interview, Jewish Legion wiki
6. : Ancestry.com. UK, British Jewry Roll of Honour, 1914-1918 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016., Page 283.
7. New York City Brides Index
8. Marriage Certificate, Manhattan Cert. # 1385, 26 February 1927
9. 1930 Fed'l Census, Morris Matusof
10. 1940 Federal Census, Record originated in..., Place: New York, Bronx, New York; Roll: m-t0627-02489; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 3-1142
11. 1950 Fed'l Census, Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: New York, Bronx, New York; Roll: 2828; Sheet Number: 3; Enumeration District: 3-1062
12. World War II Draft Registration Card, Local Board 115, Bronx, NY. 1942 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.
13. Telephone Interview, Blanche Matusof & RCJ, 15 Jan 2010
14. E-mail message, Blanche Matusof to RCJ, 18 Jan 2010, Fanny (faigel) and Morris Matusof are in "Cedar Park Cemetery & Fidelity Cemetery Assn. of Bergen County, Westwood, New Jersey.

Harold Charles ("Zvi") Matusof

Harold Matusof in the Air Force

Parents

Biographical Details

	Occupation	Harold Charles ("Zvi") Matusof was an engineer.1
1930	Birth	He was born on 20 May 1930 in the Bronx.2,3,4
1940	Residence (family)	As a child, Harold Charles ("Zvi") Matusof lived with Morris Matusof and Faigl Glotzer at 2083 Clinton Avenue in the Bronx on 10 April 1940.5
	Residence (family)	As a child, Harold Charles ("Zvi") Matusof lived with Morris Matusof and Faigl Glotzer at 2070 Arthur Avenue, Apt. 1E, in the Bronx from 1941 to 1950.6,7
1955	Death of Parent	His father, Morris Matusof, died on 24 September 1955 in New York City.
1958	Birth of Child	His son, Mark Asher Matusof, was born on 29 October 1958 in New York City.
1962	Birth of Child	His son, Ronald Cyril Matusof, was born on 16 January 1962 in New York City.
1993	Residence	Harold Charles ("Zvi") Matusof lived at 13 Colgate Lane in Woodbury, Nassau County, New York in 1993.8
1996	Residence	He lived at 3330 Terra Granada Drive, Apartment 1b, in Walnut Creek, Contra Costa County, California in 1996.8
1996	Death of Parent	His mother, Faigl Glotzer, died on 21 December 1996 in Walnut Creek, Contra Costa County, California.
2007	Death	He died on 15 January 2007 in Walnut Creek, Contra Costa County, California.9
About 2007	Burial	He was buried about 16 January 2007.

Citations

1. Personal knowledge of Robert Jacobs
2. Social Security Death Index, U.S., Social Security Death Index [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015., Harold Matusof
3. Telephone Interview, Blanche Matusof & RCJ, 2/26/2009
4. E-mail message, Blanche Matusof to RCJ, 3/1/2009
5. 1940 Federal Census, Record originated in..., Place: New York, Bronx, New York; Roll: m-t0627-02489; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 3-1142
6. World War II Draft Registration Card, Morris Matusof
7. 1950 Fed'l Census, Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: New York, Bronx, New York; Roll: 2828; Sheet Number: 3; Enumeration District: 3-1062
8. Ancestry.com, U.S. Public Records Index, 1950-1993, Volume 1 (Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010)., Voter Registration Lists, Public Record Filings, Historical Residential Records, and Other Household Database Listings
9. E-mail message, Blanche Matusof to RCJ, n.d., Harold passed away quite unexpectedly January 15 of 2007.

Blanche Roll

Parents

Mark Asher Matusof

Parents

Ronald Cyril Matusof

Parents

Alfred Kurt Neumann

Parents

Peter Anil Neumann

Parents

Frederick Kofi Neumann

Parents

Daniel Ashok Neumann

Parents

Frieda Weiner

Frieda Weiner Glotzer

Parents

Biographical Details

	Married	Frieda Weiner was also known as Frieda Glotzer.
1904	Birth	She was born on 21 December 1904 in Pinsk, Belarus.1,2
1920	Immigration	She migrated to Ellis Island from Rotterdam on 23 July 1920 aboard the SS Nieuw Amsterdam. Her family accompanied her.3,1
1930	Residence	She lived at Jersey Avenue in Jersey City, New Jersey in 1930.4
	Residence (family)	As their married daughter, Frieda Weiner resided with Harry Weiner and Sara Ethel Donovitz at 493 Jersey Avenue in Jersey City, New Jersey from 1930 to 1942.5,6,7
1931	Marr-Partners	Frieda Weiner married Benjamin Glotzer on 13 December 1931 at the Broadway Central Hotel in New York City. Nearly all of the extended Glotzer and Cooper families were present. They can be seen in the large group photograph that was taken.8
1932	Birth of Child	Her daughter, Anita Glotzer, was born on 16 December 1932 in Jersey City, New Jersey.
1937	Residence (family)	Benjamin Glotzer and Frieda Weiner lived at 493 Jersey Avenue in Hudson, New Jersey in August 1937.9,10
1942	Birth of Child	Her son, Leonard Robert Glotzer, was born on 5 November 1942 in Brooklyn, New York.
1943	Naturalization (fam)	Benjamin Glotzer and she were naturalized on 18 February 1943 at U.S. District Ct. for the Eastern Dist. of NY in Brooklyn, New York.9
1950	Residence (family)	Benjamin Glotzer and she lived at 5501 14th Ave., Apt. 5-O, in Brooklyn, New York on 4 April 1950.11
1962	Death of Parent	Her mother, Sara Ethel Donovitz, died on 9 March 1962 in Brooklyn, New York.
1962	Death of Parent	Her father, Harry Weiner, died on 26 March 1962 in Brooklyn, New York.
About 1985	Residence (family)	Benjamin Glotzer and Frieda Weiner lived at 1451 52 Street in Brooklyn, New York about 1985.12
1990	Death	She was widowed by the death of Benjamin Glotzer on 17 April 1990 at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York.2,12
1996	Death	She died on 27 December 1996 in Staten Island, Richmond County, New York.2
About 1996	Burial	She was buried about 28 December 1996 in Wellwood Cemetery in Farmingdale, Suffolk County, New York.13

Citations

1. Passenger Manifest, Freide Weiner
2. Social Security Death Index, U.S., Social Security Death Index [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.
3. E-mail message, Lenny Glotzer to RCJ, 15 April 2007
4. 1930 Fed'l Census, Year: 1930; Place: Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 0038
5. 1940 Federal Census, Record originated in..., Place: Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey; Roll: m-t0627-02402; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 24-59
6. World War II Draft Registration Card, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010., Hudson County, NJ, #00372, Local Board 15
7. 1930 Fed'l Census, Place: Jersey City, Hudson, New Jersey; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 0038; FHL microfilm: 2341086
8. Marriage Certificate, Manhattan Cert.#67, 13 Dec. 1931 [found in 1932 records]
9. Naturalization Petition, Declaration of Intention #342615, Hudson County (NJ) Court of Common Pleas, 27 August 1937
10. Marriage Certificate, Manhattan certificate #67, 13 Dec. 1931
11. 1950 Fed'l Census, Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: New York, Kings, New York; Roll: 374; Sheet Number: 8; Enumeration District: 24-2909
12. Death Certificate, Benjamin Glotzer, Cert. #156-90-022642, Brooklyn, NY
13. E-mail message, Blanche Matusof to RCJ, 18 Jan 2010, Rezl Glotzer was buried in "Wellwood Cemetery, Pine Lown, Long Island.
    The cemetery is enormous - Aunt Frieda and Uncle Ben are there as well as Aunt Chinke and Uncle Lozer Kantor

Anita Glotzer

Parents

Guy Roll

Guy Roll & granddaughter Michelle

Parents

Biographical Details

Citations

1. Passenger Manifest, Alien Passenger List of Vessels Arriving at Key West, Florida; ARC Number: 2790468; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787 - 2004; Record Group Number: 85.
2. 1950 Fed'l Census, Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: New York, Kings, New York; Roll: 1106; Sheet Number: 74; Enumeration District: 24-3328
3. Naturalization Index, U.S. District Ct. for the Eastern Dist. of NY, Petition #476446
4. E-mail message, Anita Roll to RCJ, 27 April 2014, Guy was on "detached service" to Dr. Jonas Salk at Ft. Dix, New Jersey (1952-1954). He had just graduated from Brooklyn College with a degree in science (Bio-Chem.)That was the beginning of a multi-faceted career, ranging from cancer research to the design and manufacture of diamond tooling for scientific and industrial use. He held several patents in that field.
5. U.S., Department of Veterans Affairs, Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS) Death File. Washington, D.C.
6. Personal Interview, Anita Roll & RCJ, 3/28/2009
7. Social Security Death Index, U.S., Social Security Death Index [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015.
8. Personal Interview, Blanche Roll & RCJ, 3/24/2009

Alan Edward Roll

Parents

Shari Ellen Roll

Parents

Leonard Robert Glotzer

Parents

Shirley R. Kahn¹

Parents

Citations

1. 1950 Fed'l Census, Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790-2007; Record Group Number: 29; Residence Date: 1950; Home in 1950: Kingston, Ulster, New York; Roll: 1963; Sheet Number: 74; Enumeration District: 56-42, Date: 8 APR 1950

Esther Glotzer

Parents

Sara Glotzer

Parents

Gadiel Morris Smith

Gadiel Smith

Parents

Biographical Details

Citations

1. Anita Cooper Smith, Holograph notes on her ancestors and descendants chart
2. 1920 Federal Census, Bronx Assembly District 5, Bronx, New York; Roll: T625_1138; Page: 33A; Enumeration District: 299; Image: 297. William Smith household. Seen on Ancestry.com
3. Hannah Cooper Guterman, Hannah Guterman's typescript memoir (1986), n.p.
4. World War II Draft Registration Card, Ancestry.com. U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA, Date: 16 OCT 1940
5. 1950 Fed'l Census, 1950 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2022., Date: 7 APR 1950
6. New York Times, New York, NY (July 31, 2006), Obituary, published June 3, 2013
7. Newspaper, New Jersey Jewish News, July 16, 2013