Charlie:
I have so many fond memories from 50+ years ago! Your Mom was so warm and kind, I really enjoyed being at your house. As I was first-generation, American-born, it was always interesting to share a meal at your house. I remember coming over on a Saturday morning and you, and your mom, Jeanne, and John were eating lox and bagels. Your mom asked if I wanted to join you all. I said "what's that". Your brother and sister thought it was very funny that little Rich Stein didn't know about lox and bagels but we didn't eat that kind of food. Your mom, if she was surprised, didn't show it, and made me one and I loved it! Still do!
I remember going to the curling rink, I think on Dundee Rd with you and your mom. I had never seen curling, but I remember your mom making her shots and her teammates congratulating her. I had forgotten all about curling until a couple of Olympics ago when CNBC started showing it after the markets had closed for the day.
Once we were skating on the pond on the fairway behind your house, and you tripped on some uneven ice and fell down hard. I can't remember if I ran and got your mom or not, but I remember how calm she was and even gave me a lift home on the way to the hospital to get you X-Rays for what turned out to be a mild concussion.Your mom was so benevovelent when we decided to set the Guinness Book of World Records for hsoting me at lunch every day for I don't remember how many days in a row. I think she thought you had a terrific imagination, and I thought she was a really nice mom!
It was so wonderful to see your mom a few years ago, when we came up for a visit. I remember we were watching Wimbledon with your mom. She, of course, had been quite the tennis player in her day. We're just passionate fans, but it was great to sit next to her and watch the tennis. As the years have gone by, I occassionaly dropped her note about tennis or Chicago, but not nearly enough. I'm glad she is at peace, but I'm sorry for your troubles. I lost my mom last August @90, and while one can never compare the relationships that we each are missing, I have a general idea of what you might be feeling. I hope you will savor all the many memories of your mom; she was a terrific human being. My prayers are with you.Peace,
Rich and Anne Stein
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Woke up this April morning in Oregon to snow. Thought of Aunt Julia once saying how much she loved it when spring colors finally started showing up in New England after months of gray and white.
My memories are now getting a bit hazy it seems. I remember pretty clearly the big trip to The Island with Uncle Bob, Aunt Judy, and cousin Charlie as I'm sure all the cousins do. What an experience! Also visiting at the big house on the golf course, playing with Charlie and the dogs, Harry and Fred. The dogs would play hide and seek with us. I remember telling Aunt Judy I was allergic to tomatoes (I wasn't) so I wouldn't have to eat them. She let it go, though I'm pretty sure now that she knew what was up. She usually did.
A crystal clear memory is when she came to be with us as my mother, her big sister Eleanor, lay dying. After my mom passed away she went with my brother Tom and I to all of the places you have to go at such a time: Funeral home, florist, church, to make all the arrangements. She told us how wonderful she thought it was that we could get along so well and be in agreement on all the decisions needing to be made. We thought it was natural- maybe she had seen otherwise at some point in her life. I don't know. Then she and Charlie came to her memorial and Charlie played piano for it, played songs we had agreed she would like.
Many times over the years Aunt Julia told me what she liked about something I said or did, how I was special in some way. She really seemed to believe it, too. Not many people do that. I'll sure miss that.
Well, a little less color this spring for all of us who knew and loved Julia. But she leaves behind such a great family- children, grand-children, and great grand-children. So Spring will come.
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I loved Julia very much and I will miss her. I remember also how much grandpa Ferd loved her. On one weekend trip to Michigan I took with him without Julia he exclaimed, "I miss my wife!" Their shared passion for tennis and the family history she researched and wrote were inspirational. I enjoyed sharing family stories and photos with her in her later years. When my daughter Eleanor was born in 2009, I was so happy to learn that she shared Julia's late sister's name.
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I am so grateful for my friendship with Julia. We were part of the mediation group - using the term rather broadly - hosted by Ellen Tadd and the most wonderful people were part of it. I suggested to Julia about having lunch at some point as I was also living in Lexington and I am so glad I did. We met up many times. Sometimes I was helpful to her getting groceries or taking her to an appointment or a store, but overwhelmingly, she was helpful to me. i loved her stories of her research on family lineage and she was a wonderful teacher with my own genealogy research. She was so funny and smart and wise. I loved her reflections on the life she lived in Chicago. She had said she liked having friends of all ages and I am glad she did. We texted on Monday and she went into spirit on Wednesday so I am very glad I was able to have a last contact with her before her passing. She said she was weakening and was ok with it. I will miss her so much! I got a kick out of her liking clothes I think she was quite stylish in her day. I was also quite intrigued with her perceptions of the 1930s and life in the Bay area at that time.. It was fun to hear of the new little family members arriving and I am so glad I was able to meet a number of her family members at one of the Tuesday dinners. Sincerely, Maura Tierney
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Julia came into my Brookhaven life, mere days after my arrival when I somehow came into the job of running the Brookhaven Library! Knowing nothing about running a library, you can imagine what Julia meant to me those first couple of days! Needless to say, she stayed by my side and now I can look back, SO gratefully, on years of afternoon tea dates, shared meetings with mutual friends and hearing all the delightful, family news you shared with her!! The void, in my life - and many others - for sure - will always be here! How grateful I am for the wonderful memories to boost my spirits!! I send much love to each and every one of you!!
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Time spent with Julia was time well spent. She was a great listener, story teller & advice giver. Her passing leaves a void but she left behind her wisdom. My sincerest condolences to her family-you were her greatest joy.
I will miss her.
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At the beach in Carmel, California
I love this youthful photo
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1999, Ferd and Julia’s Chicago home
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The world feels off kilter knowing that Julia Kramer is no longer in it. With her keen and discerning intelligence, her innate curiosity, blended with her warm manner and her superb ability to be intensely present - every conversation with Julia over 25 years was deeply fulfilling. She loved her family so intensely and joyfully. When Julia made the courageously wise decision to enter hospice last fall, it created the opportunity to spend more concentrated time with her over these months. A time of deepening and enjoying our long friendship. I will miss Julia and will keep her in my heart to the end of my days. My sincere condolences to her lovely and loving family.
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I’m so sorry to hear of Julia’s passing. She was a lovely person. I will miss her yearly Christmas correspondence. She was always asking about my family and we enjoyed reminiscing about her many years with Ferd and as part of our family. I will miss her.
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Within the past thirty days two of my dearest friends' mothers have passed from the so-called real world to the world of memory. After the initial selfish sadness i felt, a question presented itself: How does one show the appropriate thanks to a parent of a life-long friend? After some consideration, i have come up with the following answer: One shows the appropriate thanks to the parent of a life-long friend first, by becoming a life-long friend, and then by parenting a human who is capable of being a life-long friend. Thank you, Judy Thomas and Julia Kramer for framing this question and answer for me.
Julia also held up a metaphorical mirror for me that spoke the truth with love by employing me as a translator of the works of Simon Kramer: a German Jew living in the mid 1800's. Beyond the many language-related lessons i got from that experience, i learned that (although i personally was not responsible for the hatred that has caused the Jewish people so much undeserved persecution throughout history) my German and Christian heritage makes me collectively responsible for systemic hate. And so, I must be ever vigilant not to fall into the automated reproduction of that hatred that still exists today. I can think of no better employer, except perhaps for a Jewish Carpenter, to teach that lesson so well while paying me to learn it.
Thank you, Julia. May i live up to the tasks you have shown me to be the essence of humanity.
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In process... Below, at the bottom, a link to an emerging playlist of songs that Mom loved, many of which she asked to be remembered with. Note - there is a long silence after a string of very peaceful songs at the end - and then a fairly raucous Steve Goodman song, "The Family Tree." Not a mistake - more of an "Easter egg." It's a song about family - Mom's greatest passion. She once told me it was her favorite lyric...
If you look way up to the top of the family tree All of the children there, you will see One generation of leaves at a time Has a brief moment of brightest sunshine
All the way down on the forest floor There are the leaves that have fallen before. I don’t know, but it seems to me They come back up again through the roots of the tree
~ Steve Goodman
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2018, Atherton, California, USA
Family Reunion for Julia’s sister, Ruth’s 90th birthday
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I, as did many of Ferd Kramer’s family, was inspired by and loved Julia. She was a strong, intelligent, and loving person and I am glad to have known her.
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With a heavy heart I am saddened to hear of Julia's passing. She was a remarkable, intelligent, determined woman with a huge heart. We shared a passion for books and plants. I will truly miss our fun and lively conversations and the opportunity to make her laugh. She loved her family whom she spoke of often. My condolences , Lisa
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