The passing of my Beverly Vista friend Harry has me reflecting about our time here and how precious the remaining time may be. It wasn’t like we were great friends after age 25. However, in high school and during the 1970’s we remained connected. Harry was part of a circle of friends that included approximately nine of us. He is the first of this group to pass.
I met Harry in 8th grade. With a name like Harry, you had to look mature. Harry was a dreamer. He enjoyed telling stories. One that comes to mind is when his mother received a phone call from a stockbroker in New York City asking to speak to Harry. Mrs. Speigel says, “he’s not home now, he’s in school.” The caller says, “school?” “ is he at UCLA going for his MBA?” Mrs. Spiegel replies, “ no, he’s attending Beverly Vista elementary school in Beverly Hills, Harry is in 8th grade.” Harry loved telling us that story.
In high school he was driving an aqua and white 1957 Chevy Bel-Air. He loved cruising the Sunset Strip smoking his Marlboro cigarettes and playing the radio. Before we ever knew that Miles had writing talent, Harry was the the guy writing a weekly newspaper. It was hilarious and usually Harry was making fun of us. And more often the number one topic was Girls! Harry gave us all nicknames. Nobody liked the ones he chose for us as individuals but we loved reading his stories. We were a group that was immature, smoked way too much weed, laughed a lot and spent the evenings at Nibblers eating hot fudge cake which Edna always kindly served us. Because most of us were not immediately concerned with our future, many members ended up at Beverly by the Sea. ( I joined the Army Reserve three months out of high school.)
After SMCC Harry attended San Francisco State University. He worked as a stockbroker for awhile after graduation. He visited me at University of Delaware a couple of times and became instantly popular with my east coast friends. My wife reminded me that in 1975, we visited him in Boston. Harry was walking around Cambridge with a beautiful St. Bernard. Everyone wanted to pet his puppy, and Harry turns to me and says, “it’s a chick magnet.” Later Harry went to law school worked as an attorney and invested in property rentals.
At some point in time after two marriages Harry became very religious. Perhaps this is not surprising. Both of Harry’s parents were survivors of Auschwitz. One of my pals remembers seeing Harry’s mother’s tattoo on her wrist.
Many years ago some members of our group had a mini reunion in LA. Harry spent time with us at Roxbury Park and at Factor’s Deli. For those of who were Jewish Harry performed the tefillin reminding us of our connection to God.
This may sound corny but in high school Harry would say, “remember the Alamo.” I recall asking him about this and him responding that it was all for the spirit of the people, willing to fight to their death and for an important cause. When you read Harry’s obituary and what this Jewish community wrote about him, one might say he found his “ Alamo.”
I agree with Bobby Roth. It was a sweet and thoughtful reminiscence. If anyone wants to write something like that about me, please do so while I'm still kicking.
Albert Goodman (Goodman)
The passing of my Beverly Vista friend Harry has me reflecting about our time here and how precious the remaining time may be. It wasn’t like we were great friends after age 25. However, in high school and during the 1970’s we remained connected. Harry was part of a circle of friends that included approximately nine of us. He is the first of this group to pass.
I met Harry in 8th grade. With a name like Harry, you had to look mature. Harry was a dreamer. He enjoyed telling stories. One that comes to mind is when his mother received a phone call from a stockbroker in New York City asking to speak to Harry. Mrs. Speigel says, “he’s not home now, he’s in school.” The caller says, “school?” “ is he at UCLA going for his MBA?” Mrs. Spiegel replies, “ no, he’s attending Beverly Vista elementary school in Beverly Hills, Harry is in 8th grade.” Harry loved telling us that story.
In high school he was driving an aqua and white 1957 Chevy Bel-Air. He loved cruising the Sunset Strip smoking his Marlboro cigarettes and playing the radio. Before we ever knew that Miles had writing talent, Harry was the the guy writing a weekly newspaper. It was hilarious and usually Harry was making fun of us. And more often the number one topic was Girls! Harry gave us all nicknames. Nobody liked the ones he chose for us as individuals but we loved reading his stories. We were a group that was immature, smoked way too much weed, laughed a lot and spent the evenings at Nibblers eating hot fudge cake which Edna always kindly served us. Because most of us were not immediately concerned with our future, many members ended up at Beverly by the Sea. ( I joined the Army Reserve three months out of high school.)
After SMCC Harry attended San Francisco State University. He worked as a stockbroker for awhile after graduation. He visited me at University of Delaware a couple of times and became instantly popular with my east coast friends. My wife reminded me that in 1975, we visited him in Boston. Harry was walking around Cambridge with a beautiful St. Bernard. Everyone wanted to pet his puppy, and Harry turns to me and says, “it’s a chick magnet.” Later Harry went to law school worked as an attorney and invested in property rentals.
At some point in time after two marriages Harry became very religious. Perhaps this is not surprising. Both of Harry’s parents were survivors of Auschwitz. One of my pals remembers seeing Harry’s mother’s tattoo on her wrist.
Many years ago some members of our group had a mini reunion in LA. Harry spent time with us at Roxbury Park and at Factor’s Deli. For those of who were Jewish Harry performed the tefillin reminding us of our connection to God.
This may sound corny but in high school Harry would say, “remember the Alamo.” I recall asking him about this and him responding that it was all for the spirit of the people, willing to fight to their death and for an important cause. When you read Harry’s obituary and what this Jewish community wrote about him, one might say he found his “ Alamo.”
https://collive.com/r-chaim-yitzchok-harry-spiegal-74-obm/
Bobby Roth
I like what you wrote about your friend.
Thomas Udell (Udell)
I agree with Bobby Roth. It was a sweet and thoughtful reminiscence. If anyone wants to write something like that about me, please do so while I'm still kicking.
Robert Wallace
Agreed, nice job, Al.