Page created by: The Applebaum Family

My Grandpa was born in the Bronx, N.Y. on March 14, 1931. He married my Grandma (Selma Reimer) on December 1, 1951. He was only 20 years old. Shortly after, he entered the army and served as a dental technician at Walter Reed Hospital. His stay in the army resulted in a Soldier of the Month Award. Receiving an honorable discharge in 1955, he returned home to New Rochelle, NY and worked for a local dry cleaner. As my Grandpa was a very ambitious man, he bought an Army and Navy Store (Jack's Army and Navy Store) and opened on January 16, 1956. This was two days before my Dad was born. Everyone always asks why his store was named Jack's when his name was Benjamin. At the time there was a Ben's Army and Navy Store around the corner from my Grandpa's store and he did not want customers to be confused. My Aunt Linda was born in 1959. My Grandpa built his business and at one point was even partners with my Great Grandpa Alex. They were very close and worked together until 1980. The amazing story was that the first day my Grandpa was in business, he made $6.00. He worked very hard and built his business into a huge success. My favorite story that my Dad tells me, is how very early in my Grandpa's career, a customer came into his store and wanted to buy 5 trunks. The problem was that my Grandpa did not have a car. He borrowed a vehicle and made several trips to his customer's home. The other problem was that the customer lived on the 5th floor of a building without an elevator. My Grandpa carried the trunks up the steps so that he could make the sale. He retired in 1992 to the disappointment of many of his customers. He contracted Parkinson's Disease in 2006, but never complained. My Grandpa was an example of a mensch in every sense of the word. His family was the most important thing in his life.