We Named Her Beryl

Granted, we our daughter is a gem, but her middle name is actually in homage to the grandmother she never knew. In Ashkenazic tradition, one of the greatest expressions of love is naming a newborn in memory of someone who has passed away. This can come in the form of using the same exact name… Continue reading We Named Her Beryl

Remembering Paul Burton Curry

In honor of Memorial Day, I have chosen to profile an ancestor from my tree who died in the line of duty in World War II. Paul Burton Curry (1922-1945) was born in Ellettsville, Indiana. He graduated from high school in 1940 and entered the University of Indiana as a pre-med student. He entered the… Continue reading Remembering Paul Burton Curry

My Granduncle: Twentieth Century Scottish Stoic

James Williamson My granduncle, James Williamson (1912-1981), was diagnosed with epilepsy at a young age. Earlier, I wrote at length about how this neurological disorder impacted his professional and personal aspirations. I also contemplated how today’s advances in medical and genetic science might have benefitted him. What I did not discuss in that essay is… Continue reading My Granduncle: Twentieth Century Scottish Stoic