Our Family's Century

1940-1960

As the battles of World War two gave way to the Baby Boom, the Beat Generation and "Bomber Joe" McCarthy's hunt for commies, our family continued to dwell in Rochester. We sent our share of relatives off to fight, and, thankfully, were able to welcome them all back at the end.

Of course, I must give a special salute to the 1950's as the decade that gave me my parents (or is that a special curse? Depends when you ask me I guess!)

These two decades were more or less uneventful for our family; aside from a few deaths in the late 50's and my parent's births in the early 50's, not much changed. It was generally a good time.

1941: At the wedding of Andy Thomas, his cousin Irene Bartash meets Andy's friend Walter Berke. Both are standing up for the wedding with other people (Right: Walter and Irene at the wedding. What happened to their dates?!).
1941-1946: Irene and Walter date. They meet for movies, and take a trip together to NY ("we behaved ourselves though," says Irene). Walter is a little skittish about taking the plunge; Irene has to make a 9 day Novena (prayer) and state flatly to him "I won't spend another winter alone!" But they are finally married in Rochester in 1946	I forgot to borrow my Grandma's wedding album to get a photo for this box... what are ya gonna do.... sue me!?
1941-1945: World War II. Jack Bartash, brother of Irene serves, and reaches the rank of Lt. Col. He comes to know many of the generals, including Patton and Marshall, and serves as general's aid to Truscott. He lands with the troops at Anzio, where he later receives a shrapnel wound in the jaw. Also serving are Larry and Francis Miller, brothers of William, and a few other cousins. Larry Miller remains in the States, first as a pilot and later working on boats. Irene Bartash works at Taylor instruments in Rochester, and among her many tasks is the manufacture of components of the Manhattan Project. She does not know this until after the war, when she and other employess receive "atom awards." (Right: Jack Bartash during the war. Yes, I know it's about twice the size of all the other pictures, but it was the only way I could get it to look good!).
1948: Josephine Knapp LeFevre dies in Walden, NY, at the age of 89. A noted gardener, and long active in the grange, her obituary was carried by New York City newspapers. (Right: Josephine in 1931).
1951: Paul Miller is born to William and Katherine LeFevre Miller in Rochester. He is their third and youngest child.	I'm sorry, I'm strictly prohibited from posting embarrasing baby photos of my parents!
1951: Loretta (call her that today and you die) Berke is born to Walter and Irene Berke in Rochester. Lori is their first child.	See box above.
1955: Mary Whelan LeFevre dies in Rochester at the age of 78. (Right: Mary in the early 1950's).
1957: John Nicholas Miller dies in Port Alleganey Pa., at age 87. He was the father of William Miller. (Right: John at Christmas, 1956).
1958: Jane Ann Clabby Miller, widow of John Nicholas Miller, dies in Port Alleganey, Pa., at age 88.(Right: Jane at Christmas, 1956).