[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 110 (Friday, June 29, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E955-E956]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         HONORING LENORE KARLIN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. STEPHEN F. LYNCH

                            of massachusetts

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, June 29, 2018

  Mr. LYNCH. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Lenore Karlin, 
a resident of NewBridge on the Charles, located in Dedham, 
Massachusetts, who recently celebrated her 100th birthday on April 25, 
2018. As the Representative of the 8th Congressional District of 
Massachusetts, I am honored to represent such an extraordinary woman in 
the United States Congress.
  Recently, Lenore was celebrated by numerous family and friends in a 
tribute to ``A Life Well Lived.'' Lenore's story and life experiences 
serve as an example of a person who has made a profound difference in 
so many lives and continues today to bring joy to those that love and 
admire her. I include that story in the Record.
  Mr. Speaker, during the celebration, surrounded by family and 
friends, Lenore's daughter told the story of this remarkable woman and 
spoke of Lenore's efforts to help others from an early age. A lifetime 
of volunteer work, Lenore has done it all, from traveling on the 
``Plant Mobile'' to Boston's inner-city schools teaching students to 
how to grow plants to translating books into German in Braille.
  Mr. Speaker, Lenore shows her love and support to family and friends 
by never missing an opportunity to make someone's day brighter. It is 
fitting today that I ask all my colleagues to wish Lenore Karlin a very 
Happy

[[Page E956]]

Birthday and enjoy the story of ``A Life Well Lived.''

                        Lenore Karlin--100 Years

       What is a life well lived? Lenore Karlin exemplifies 100 
     well spent years.
       Lenore was the first child born to Rose Wolf Gardner and 
     Louis Gardner on April 25, 1918. Louis, a mite senior to his 
     darling bride, Rose, couldn't have been happier. There were 
     days when Mr. Gardner took baby in pram (decorated with 
     American flags), paraded them down the street and placed 
     Lenore in pram in his Kingston street Boston storefront 
     window for the world to see. Louis, an immigrant, was a great 
     patriot.
       Two more children, Helene and Herbert followed. Louis, a 
     shoe importer, took Rose and the children to Europe often for 
     business and his great love, the opera. Whilst Rose and Louis 
     enjoyed the Wagner ring in Beirut, Lenore, Helene and Herbert 
     were tended by a nursemaid in Czechoslovakia.
       These were magical voyages across the Atlantic Ocean. The 
     children had a trunk just for toys. Lenore's father took them 
     to factories where linens and China (perhaps even the teacups 
     today) were crafted, as he was a collector of these fineries. 
     They would return with cases of shoes and finery.
       Morris Wolf, Lenore's grandfather on her mother's side was 
     a well-respected detective for the Boston police, in fact the 
     first Jewish one. He chased criminals around the globe. 
     Lenore remembers as a child walking down the street with her 
     grandfather who would don a prominent hat, and when they 
     passed the mayor of Boston, in a gesture of respect, the 
     mayor would tip his hat to Morris.
       Lenore was an excellent student at Girl's Latin School. She 
     excelled in all subjects. Unfortunately her father became ill 
     when she was quite young and died when she was but 15 years 
     old. But Lenore carried the firm foundation he planted with 
     her: his ever-present optimism and enthusiasm throughout her 
     life.
       In the mid-late 1930's, German-Jewish refugees began 
     arriving in Boston, homeless, penniless and without food. 
     Lenore and her sister ventured house-to-house raising money 
     for these people. Because of her efforts, the combined Jewish 
     philanthropies asked her to speak at their annual dinner. She 
     was seated next to the guest of honor, who held her hand and 
     quelled her nerves. Lenore remembers this woman as the most 
     beautiful blue-eyed woman ever--Eleanor Roosevelt helped 
     Lenore get through her first public speaking engagement. That 
     was just the beginning of Lenore's outward focused life. She 
     has always generously given to several (and now hundreds) of 
     charities of all sorts. Her pile of mail each day rivals 
     corporations.
       The Gardner house on Bicknell Street, had a game room on 
     the 3rd floor, where friends often gathered. Some of Lenore's 
     best friends lived on her street and nearby. Many happy times 
     were spent there.
       One night, Lenore was invited on a date with a guy she knew 
     would be too busy to pay her any attention. She was envious 
     of her sister who would be having a party at their house. She 
     couldn't wait to get home from the formal affair and loll 
     about with her homies. They had transferred to Jack Gottler's 
     house across the street.
       When Lenore opened the door, across the room she saw 
     Harold, the handsomest man. ``That man is my future 
     husband'', was her thought.
       5 years later on August 31, 1941 in an intimate family 
     ceremony Lenore and Harold married. World War II and children 
     followed. For the war effort, Lenore rolled up her sleeves 
     and participated in the Woman's Defense Corps.
       There was loss, great tragedy and great love. Lenore and 
     Harold wrote each other a letter every day of Harold's 18-
     month deployment and true to Lenore's squirreling, every one 
     of those letters have been saved and assembled into albums. 
     Patty was born on base in Florida. What a blessing for those 
     tumultuous, unknowing, scary years to come to an end in 
     victory. Lenore was present for her nephew Lewis' birth in 
     Boca Raton on VJ day.
       Now the young family could live their lives in a burgeoning 
     victorious post-war USA. Harold began his practice in Boston 
     and soon Bruce was born. The Karlins needed to feather a 
     bigger nest. They did that at 20 Old Farm Road, Newton, and 
     it remained the family homestead for 40odd years. Jill and 
     Robin were born there. Many of you here today might recall 
     the good times, the family times, the parties, the welcoming 
     times that the Karlins entertained or were simply available. 
     It seemed there wasn't a time/a night when after Lenore and 
     Rosie poured their customary cocktail at 5:00 pm (and in the 
     early years cigarettes) that someone wasn't showing up to 
     join in the festivities. Lenore kept Martinis and Manhattans 
     decanted in the fridge. Usually Uncle Leo and many others 
     came by . . . Perhaps even one of you.
       Harold would arrive after a day of work and visiting 
     patients in the hospital and at bedside (usually after 7:30) 
     and the family always ate some of Lenore's famous freezer 
     concoctions together. There would be phone call after phone 
     call and visit after visit: People coming for shots, 
     prescriptions, ear cleaning (ear piercing once) marriage 
     counseling, or just to hang out in the warmth of the Karlin 
     kitchen.
       People adored Harold and Lenore. They shared a great 
     interest and love for people, which is why, over the years, 
     they garnered so many friends including you. There were 
     family vacations spent with some of you--the Jacksons, the 
     Korsakovs, the Roberts, and the Sundells. Cape Cod, North 
     Conway, or when Lenore and Harold would on an afternoon's 
     notice head to Brazil. That took Hutspah and organization to 
     pull off. Lenore had, both, and some really good friends to 
     look after the kids.
       The friendships--so many people to this day call, remember 
     and consider Lenore as a caring friend. The age range is 
     vast--children to elderly. There was a time when there was a 
     triumvirate: the hilarity of Shirley, Eunice, and Lenore 
     rivaled Lucy and Ethel. The three girls managed to get in 
     trouble like a sitcom. Taking a pee in the woods, playing 
     golf and coming home with poison ivy in a very uncomfortable 
     spot or trying snow skiing and laughing so hard that they 
     were wet from more than snow.
       The marriages, exchange students, friends, grandchildren--
     Lenore was sure to attend every meet, every match, every game 
     even if it meant driving hours in harrowing conditions. 
     Nothing daunted Lenore's support for her grandchildren--it 
     was unwavering. Birthdays, anniversaries, births, 
     graduations, special occasions, surely there are many of you 
     who could make a book of the cards Lenore has sent. She to 
     this day never misses an opportunity to make someone's day 
     brighter.
       Lenore has had a lifetime of volunteer work. PTA, Hospital 
     Charity, Garden Club, and known as ``The Plant Lady'' as she 
     and a gardening club buddy went via ``The Plant Mobile'' from 
     school to school in the Boston inner city, teaching students 
     to plant and grow plants. In addition she went weekly to The 
     Hebrew Rehabilitation Center to help the elderly with 
     planting and gardening. Lenore also wrote Braille. She 
     translated books into German in Braille. First she did this 
     by hand, and in later years had a Braille typewriter.
       Lenore schlepped her children to every after-school class, 
     whether they were interested or not. She was interested and 
     they were going--opera, ballet, tennis matches, ice skating. 
     That is a theme in Lenore's life--interest--great interest in 
     everything. It can be a gray day and all Lenore will see is 
     the little purple crocus making its way open. She is always 
     eternally grateful and optimistic.
       When Harold died--true to Lenore's style, it was soon 
     overcome (not that one ever overcomes such loss). She 
     soldiers on stronger and doing things her way. She moved into 
     Newbridge and seven years later closed her California 
     residence. She has never looked back.
       Lenore does what she has always done--lives life on her 
     terms. She exercises daily, she drinks (daily), and she 
     drives (hopefully not at the same time). Firmly independent!
       So in honor of Lenore . . . Let's all have a shot of 
     American vodka!
       Here's to you, Mom!
       Cheer's to you, Mom!

                          ____________________