[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 197 (Monday, December 21, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S13696-S13697]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    AUNT ANNE IS 100 YEARS OLD TODAY

  Mr. SPECTER. Mr. President, today is a momentous day in the history 
of the Specter/Shanin family. My aunt Anne Shanin Kleiman is 100 years 
old.
  My Tante Annie, that's the Jewish name for Aunt Annie, is the younger 
sister of my mother, Lillie Shanin Specter. Annie is an outstanding 
scholar who published a book on Hebrew poetry.
  She was the first person who taught me about Israel. She traveled to 
Israel before Israel was declared a state, when it was called 
Palestine. She sent me a beautiful wooden camel as a starting point to 
describe Biblical Canaan which later was called Palestine and is now 
Israel.
  Annie married a distinguished scientist/chemist, Dr. Morton Kleiman, 
and had two brilliant children, Dr. Adina Sue Kensky and Dr. Jay 
Kleiman who has two accomplished children and two adorable 
grandchildren.
  During the Depression when times were very tough and my family was 
struggling, Annie loaned my father $500, an act of real generosity in 
tough times. Over the years, I have visited her many times, sought her 
advice, savored her excellent cooking, and enjoyed her company.
  My first visit was to Chicago, where she has lived for many years. 
There I saw the marvels of the World's Fair. I rode in a scary cable 
car over Lake Michigan and was hoisted on to the stage by my father on 
a sideshow with an Indian chief. This occurred in the midst of the 
Depression when my family was en route from Wichita, KS,

[[Page S13697]]

where we had lived, to Philadelphia, PA, to live with my father's 
sister because my father could not earn a living in Kansas.
  Recently, not unexpectedly, Annie has become infirm. When I have 
visited in recent years, it has been difficult to talk to her, but last 
night we had a nice conversation over the phone.
  Her longevity has set a remarkable family record evidencing good 
genes and setting a Strom Thurmond-like target to emulate. She is a 
wonderful woman, a wonderful aunt, and a wonderful role model.
  Happy Birthday, Tante Annie!

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