I REMEMBER MAY KRAMER PHELOSOF WHEN

Quite a long time ago a “gang” of kids, or, I should say, a gang of adolescent kids used to hang out after school in a little park in the neighborhood that was far from affluent; everyone was struggling through the depression. But as kids we had our camaraderie to cheer us up day by day. We made some very solid friendships that lasted a lifetime, and my friendship with May was one like that. May and I met frequently in the park and sometimes on the elevated subway line that took us to school and back every day. May was bright, saucy, and fun to talk to. This was especially true when the subject of Ben Phelosof came up. May was determined, early on, to marry Ben. I could not have agreed more. I knew them both pretty well. Ben was like a mentor to me, just a little older, but infinitely wiser and we had many long conversations as I walked him home in the evening and then he would walk me home in turn. May recognized Ben’s virtues as I did and since she was disposed to a life of the mind, (she was, after all, an early winner of the Phi Beta Kappa key at Hunter College), her attraction to Ben was entirely understandable. The issue was how to get Ben to return her acknowledgement. May and I strategized from time to time on how she could win Ben over. And I remember how she would lift her face, with engaging eyes and a wry smile at one suggestion or another; she was thinking all the time. Whatever she thought up must’ve worked because May and Ben got married and shared a long life together. I did say May was intelligent and determined.

I was happy for the both of them and we kept our friendship going over the years. From the time of the War, I am referring to the Big War, and afterwards, wherever I traveled I sent little souvenirs back, which I was gratified to see, years later, were still decorating their home in Rochester.

Out of that modest neighborhood in central Bronx, the guys and gals of our after-school gang became parents and grandparents, lawyers, professors, firemen, community leaders and loyal friends. I’m glad I knew May; she was my friend, for we shared a precious meeting of mind and sentiment, which made each of us better for it.