Tag Archives: family

Gifts of Summer Guests

Posted on August 31, 2022 by Suzanne Loebl

Summer homes, especially when located in spectacular places, usually attract guests laden with gifts and improvements. This year, now that I am old, handicapped, car-less, and recently widowed, both were plentiful. Walter was the first guest. His contributions were novel … Continue reading →

Posted in family stories | Tagged echo lake, family, maine, mount desert island, refugees, summer homes, summer houses | 6 Comments

Vati

Posted on February 9, 2021 by Suzanne Loebl

I had my father for a relatively short time: 24 minus 6 years. When he died suddenly, more than half a century ago, I was distracted by both the immense joy and relief of having recently met my life partner … Continue reading →

Posted in family stories | Tagged family, family stories, german jewish history, german jews, hidden children, jewish history, nazi germany | 7 Comments

Maine 2016: Almost Farewell

Posted on September 17, 2016 by Suzanne Loebl

This morning I am sad. I just kissed Naomi—Branching’s editor—farewell. She was here visiting for a week at our small “camp” on Echo Lake. We did all the traditional summer things: a hike up Penobscot, popovers and Jordan Pond, dinner … Continue reading →

Posted in family stories | Tagged children, family, family stories, family story, german jews, germany, grandchildren, grandparents, maine, mdi, mount desert island, nazi germany, vacation | 5 Comments

Refugee, But Not Forever

Posted on August 22, 2016 by Suzanne Loebl

The other evening, after a satisfying dinner, I was lazily surfing the net when I came across a photo of a beach filled with Syrian refugees running across the sand, trying to climb aboard a rickety ship. Suddenly my heart … Continue reading →

Posted in family stories, history, politics | Tagged belgium, brussels, d-day, dunkirk evacuation, family, family stories, france, german jews, hidden children, holocaust, miracle of dunkirk, nazi germany, nazis, new york, new york city, refugees, world war ii, wwii | 11 Comments

Farewell to Frank Hatch

Posted on January 21, 2016 by Suzanne Loebl

On Sunday, January 10th, my computer screen flashed. Caring Bridges, a site that provides health news to family and friends, let me know that Frank had died. I had spoken to Frank a few weeks earlier on his birthday. He had … Continue reading →

Posted in family stories | Tagged aids, AIDS epidemic, david, family, family stories, family story, gay, gay children, gay community, HIV, hiv/aids, lgbt, lgbtq, parents of gay children, parents of lgbt children, straight allies | 6 Comments

Visiting the Musee Rodin in the Wake of World War II

Posted on November 21, 2015 by Suzanne Loebl

For me, the reopening of the Musee Rodin unleashed floods of memories. In April 1946, a month before my nuclear family was to immigrate to the United States, my mother, who was somewhat of a tyrant, surprisingly let me visit … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged art, art collecting, art exhibits, art museums, belgium, brussels, family, france, french art, hotel biron, modern art, modernism, musee rodin, rainer maria rilke, rilke, rodin, sculpture, world war ii, world war ii history | Leave a comment

Leaving Is Dying—A Little

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Suzanne Loebl

The weather has been horrible, which is just as well. It lessens my sadness at leaving my dream cottage in Maine. Just a few days ago I sat on its deck, savoring the autumn sun and a cup of coffee … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged acadia, acadia national park, brooklyn, brooklyn heights, dogs, family, maine, mount desert island, poodles, travel, viva | 5 Comments

Returning to Brussels, the City That Saved My Life 70 Years Ago

Posted on April 29, 2015 by Suzanne Loebl

My family has always traveled on its stomach. So it was no surprise that when in March 2015 I took my granddaughter, Branching editor Naomi, to revisit my Belgian roots, we would eat well. Our culinary exploits started well. After … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged belgium, brussels, europe, family, family stories, family story, food, german jews, hidden children, holocaust, jewish history, judaism, restaurants, travel, world war ii | 3 Comments

Golden Gate Park and My Son’s Birthday

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Suzanne Loebl

This week a San Francisco friend sent me a picture of a visit he paid to the bench my husband and I donated to Golden Gate Park in memory of our child. The inscription reads: David Albert Loebl 2-19-56 to … Continue reading →

Posted in family stories | Tagged aids, birthdays, david, family, family stories, Golden Gate Park, grief, loss, san francisco | Leave a comment

Claude Frank: Pianist & Childhood Friend

Posted on January 31, 2015 by Suzanne Loebl

The last time I saw Claude Frank was after his performance at a Schneider concert at the New School. Though we rarely saw each other, we were always extremely happy when we met accidentally. These encounters were never planned, yet … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged belgium, brussels, classical music, Claude Frank, family, family stories, family story, german jews, germany, jewish history, music, nazi germany, pianists, piano, world war ii | Leave a comment