Always Remember Who You Are by Anita Ekstein

Author:Anita Ekstein
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The Azrieli Foundation
Published: 2019-09-08T13:10:32+00:00

The Love of My Life

Our family still lived at 9 Roblock Avenue when I met the love of my life, Frank Ekstein. The introduction came about in a strange manner. Frank had a childhood friend named Gerry Cohen. Gerry’s parents were from Czechoslovakia and were friends with Frank’s parents. Gerry knew a girl named Thelma Ambrose, who I knew through my B’nai Brith group. Why Thelma passed along my phone number to Gerry, I’ll never know. I had not seen Thelma for quite some time and I did not know Gerry and Frank did not know Thelma. Perhaps Thelma told Gerry that I was from Poland, and Gerry thought Frank might like to meet me. In any case, Frank called to ask me out. As they say, it was bashert (meant to be).

I remember that first telephone conversation with Frank when I told him I wasn’t interested. I was reluctant to accept his offer immediately because of an earlier incident. Auntie Sally had fixed me up on a blind date with a man named Herbie who lived in Leamington, Ontario. Herbie’s parents were from Sambor, and Aunt Sally wanted me to make a good impression on Herbie. The date was a disaster. I did not like him and refused to go out with him again. My aunt was disappointed; she had hoped something might come of our match. His parents were well off, and his mother was a landsman, from the same part of Europe as us, and my aunt would have considered it a perfect match.

Frank was very persistent. Despite being a shy man (as I learned later), he called me three times to ask me out. I eventually agreed on the condition that we each brought along a friend, as I would be more comfortable with that arrangement. Frank agreed and we arranged to meet on December 21, 1951. I had invited my good friend Marlene, and Frank brought his friend Fritzie. Frank also arranged for his friends Erica (Fritzie’s sister), Ernie Bloch, Harry Gould and Eva Fantl to join us. Erica, Fritzie, Harry and Ernie were all Holocaust survivors, and Eva’s parents were also from Czechoslovakia. None of the couples were married at the time. Many years later, Ernie participated on the March of the Living with me, and we spent a lot of time reminiscing about the past. Unfortunately, Ernie died the following year.

I remember being very nervous before the date. Our landlady, Rusia, opened the door for Frank and called to me to come downstairs. As I came down the stairs, I glanced at the door to see what this person looked like — he was good-looking. Frank looked me over and said hello. We met Fritzie outside and went to pick up Marlene. We all met at the Uptown Theatre on Yonge Street. Frank’s friends were waiting in the lobby. I was introduced to everyone and was told that Ernie, Erica and Harry had come to Canada after the war.

During the movie Frank asked me to go out with him on New Year’s Eve.

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