 |
Web Hosting by Netfirms | Free Domain Names by Netfirms |
|
|
|
See Morrey's genealogical data
Morrey was born to Rachel Togal Chertoff and Fred Chertoff in Detroit, Michigan.
Morrey's older sister Mildred, was five years his elder.
Fred died in surgery when Morrey was just over two years old.
The following picture shows Morrey visiting his
father's grave in Cincinnati on a trip that he took with his wife Beulah,
sister
Mildred and brother-in-law Richard Kotzer. They were on their way south to visit
their cousin Janet Baloff and
her family in LaFollette, Tennessee.
I recently discovered, from zooming in on
this photo, that Fred's Yiddish name was Feivel, as inscribed in the traditional
Hebrew that appears above the English.
Morrey's immigrant mother naturally found it hard to bring
up two young children alone in those hard times. Just around
the corner lurked
the Great Depression of 1929. Grandfather Isaac Togal moved into the apartment
and lived in the
same room with Morrey. Some time after that, Morrey was sent to
a boys' home, another experience that would shape
his personality forever.
Return to the top of this page
He attended Cass Technical High School and acquired a
knack for most anything technical. He enjoyed photography and
got a job in the
camera department of the Federal Department Store. He began dating the boss's
daughter, Rhoda
Fenberg. Rhoda had a neighbor named Beulah Silberstein.
On July 18, 1943, Morrey and Beulah were wed at Temple Sha'arei Tzedek in Detroit, Michigan by Rabbi Hirschmann.
World War II was already raging and Morrey was drafted
into the Army Air Corps (today's Air Force) as a photographer.
His stomach ulcer
prevented him from seeing duty overseas and led to his honorable discharge.
The happy couple decided to leave Detroit for the land
of golden opportunity, California. They moved to Los Angeles
where Morrey's
cousin, Danny Bruce helped him with employment. They lived in the Boyle Heights
district and gave
birth to the first of two boys, Frederick Ross (Rick)
Chertoff.
Soon, they bought a new house in a
developing suburb in the San Fernando Valley. Their neighborhood
was surrounded
by orange groves and cattle ranches.
He opened a metal shop together with a partner, Best
Metal Products, that made stainless steel counters and cabinets
for the
restaurant industry. The joint business didn't work out.
Return to the top of this page
In the mean time, the second of the two sons was born, Marc Alan (Moshe) Chertoff (me).
Here they are together.
Through what he had learned about jewelry while working
with Danny and cousin-in-law Mort Cole, he decided to
open his own store,
Morrey's Jewelers in Van Nuys, California (four miles from their house). That store was
successful enough
to ensure the family's income for nearly 30 years.
Morrey, we will always have you in our hearts!
Return to the top of this page
This site was last updated 15-02-2005
© 2003, Moshe Chertoff