My great grandfather Isidor Kaunitz and great grandmother Rebecca Marcolescu were born and married in Buzau, around 1850. I would appreciate receiving an e-mail from anyone who might have information on thes individuals.

I am researching the Marcolescu family in America. Any info you have would be wonderful.

dinac@adelphia.net

Perhaps we can share some information? Isador Kaunitz is the name of my Great Great Grandfather. Hopefully it is the same individual. Elizabeth would be the name of one of his offspring. My Great Grandmother. Other offspring are Julias and either Esther or Ernestine. It would be good to confirm that my forbears also come from Buzau.

Mike K. Kleven

Dear Mike,


Thanks so much for your posting!

We are indeed in the same family. My great-gradfather was Isidore, gradfather Julius, and father Paul. I presume you are related to one of my great-aunts Ernestine or Elizabeth (Bette). Please e-mail!

Thanks,

Jonathan Kaunitz

Pleasure to make your acquaintance. My Great Grandmother was Elizabeth. Married name Fink. Although I never met her I did have a number of pleasent times with her daughter, my Grandmother Anitra. My father Spencer only recently gave me the name of our mutual kin. As a matter of fact I may have found a photo of him, or at least his business in Ybor City. If you do a Google search for Isador Kaunitz you should be able to find it. It is part of a museum publication. Let me know if I can help further there? So do you perhaps know more of the Kaunitz line? Life in Buzau? Even at my advanced age (43) I only recently learned that my Great Grandmother Elizabeth was from Romania. I do know several interesting things about her life should you care to ask. But sadly not too many details. Anyway it is good news to find a kin here in Cyberspace. Sincerely Michael-Pete

Hi. My family (Britwitz) owned a store in Ybor City, Fl, and were friends of Isidore Kaunitz and his family. My great-uncle, Lou Britwitz, remained friends w/Isidore's son (?) for his life--that Kaunitz was a dr. in the same bldg my great-uncle lived in on the Upper east Side of Manhattan.

There are many articles on google about Ybor City and it's immigrant history...one recent one in "Cigar City News" which is a publication of the historical society of Ybor, has a photo of the Kaunitz store. It was called "El Sombrero Blanco" because Old Man Kaunitz always wore a white hat--probably to distinguish himself from the many other dry-goods stores in the town. (Many Romanians settled in the town at the turn of the century).

Wow! Hearing all about Betty Fink is giving me goosebumps. She was my mother's "courtesy aunt" who nurtured my mother after her father died. My mother would not be who she is now without Betty. Betty was a real gem. My mother also knew Anitra and Spencer and would be thrilled to know their descendents.

We also know Julius and his family story because Isadore and my grandparents were landsmen from Roumania. They were in Ibor City together, each having a store on 7th Avenue. I know all about the stores. I've even been to Ybor City to see the buildings. Julius and my great uncle Lou were best friends in Ybor City and in New York where the families wound up. Julius was a doctor, in fact the family doctor.

I would delighted to put anyone in touch with my mother. She knows most all of what you are all writing about.

I may have photos, certainly of Betty.

If people would like I could set up a website where everyone could contribute everything they know and we could begin to piece this together.

I am not blood related to this story, but it is the story of my growing up and the people in it with the double connection with Julius and Betty

You can email me directly: ellenrfoust@aol.com

Dear Seekinginfo,

Thank you for replying to my post. I believe that I met Lou Britwitz, a fried of my grandfather Julius, when I was growing up. Julius had his office and Lou lived in The Eldorado, a notable apartment building on Central Park West.

Thank you also for the reference to Isidore's store. I purchased a photo of it from the archives of a Florida Jewish historical museum, with I believe Isidore standing in front.

You might consider reading the book "Call Her Blessed" by Juliene Berk which is a memoir of the early Jewish population of the Jacksonville area.

Jonathan, I have a picture of you when you were born. I also have a picture of Betty finks mother. They look just alike. Our families are intertwined.