Volunteer Of The Month

March, 2008 

Foster Grandparent Program

Senior Companion Program

RSVP

From the Silver Senior Center we present to you...

Once upon a time... in a land far away from Silver City, New Mexico... Sam Kramer and Sara Dingott (who were High School sweethearts) from Newark, New Jersey, were wed on June 17, 1934. On October 3, 1935, I... Marcia Dorothy Kramer, was born at Newark, New Jersey. Beth Israel Hospital weighing in at 7lbs.10oz. I was the first child born to both my parents’ siblings so you can imagine how spoiled and loved I was by all my Aunts and Uncles and Grandparents. I thought I had at least 18 sets of parents. Since everyone lived in Newark, New Jersey, all the family got together very often in one another’s home (apartments). We had Family Circle Meetings every month, holiday gatherings and picnics with all every year (like a reunion).  We were and still are a loving and close-knit family and how we have grown.

My mother Sara died on October 18, 2007 in Silver City, NM.  Her baby brother, Mickey Dingott of Arizona is the last of her generation. He is known as Judge Dingott.

I was a happy baby. I was like a sponge adsorbing everything around me, and learning something new every day of my life. I still do that to this day. I welcome change because it means learning or doing something I have not done before and so I grow a little more. I went to all Newark Public Schools. Graduating elementary school in June 1949; Arts High School in 1953; Panzar College of Physical Education and Hygiene in June 1957. I have a Bachelor of Science degree in Education (B.S. in Education). I have a Masters in Physical Therapy. I taught school for 35 years in Newark in a Jr. High School. I couldn't believe that I was being paid to do what I loved so much. I won first prize in the Latham Foundation International Poster Contest. I am a member of the National Honor Society, and I have several varsity pins. I am in Who's Who in American Universities and Colleges 1956-1957. I am in the Panzer Chapter of Future Teachers of America for my leadership, scholarship, and sportsmanship. Bla Bla Bla.

Education was very important in our home with my parents. Listen, think, discuss, have an opinion and always learn and grow. The library was my second home.

In June 1940 my brother Barry Kramer was born. He is retired now and was the Foreign (China) Editor of the Wall Street Journal. He lives in New York City (Manhattan).

My sister, Ann Kramer, was born on January 1944 she is an artist, a healer and posses insight thru intuitive understanding. She has and understanding of the motivations behind one's thoughts or behaviors. She can see beyond this world into the spiritual. If you knew her you would love her too. She lives in Santa Fe, N.M.

The year was 1961 it was in the fall, when the days were nice and the evenings cool. Morris Fisch's mom worked in a jewelry store in down town Newark N.J. A friend approached her one day and informed her that she knew of a very nice girl for him. In the mean time, this very nice girl was a school teacher in the Newark school system in N.J. The information was passed on to Morris and three weeks later he called me and asked for a date. The evening went very well. We went bowling.  As for Morris he was very much at ease and I felt as though I had known him for some time. He was easy to talk with and listen too. It just didn't feel like a date. After hours of talking on the telephone we went out dancing on our second date. It was the time of the Big Bands. Morris proceeded to ask "If you ever get married, I would love to come to your wedding” Surely I said. He then said, "I could be an usher?" I replied, I have a better job for you! "I could be the bar tender", again I replied "I have a better job for you. He then said "I can't be the best man because you have a brother". Morris then said "there is only one person left and that is the groom". I replied that is right and at that point Morris said "you mean if I ask you to marry me you would except?” Ask, I said!  He did and I said yes! And the rest is history. We were married April 17, 1962.
 
We have three beautiful children Mark David Fisch, Tanna Cheri Fisch, and Aaron Robert Fisch. They all are smart, loving, educated, and intelligent human beings, but then I am their mother and I am proud and love them dearly  Morris and I have always been active in the communities that we lived in. I believe in giving back and helping others. It is the way I was raised.
 
After 35 beautiful years of marriage we retired and moved to Silver City N.M. in 1994. All our children were now married and we were about to have our first grandchild. On November 18, 1997 Savanna Fisch was born in Nashville, Tennessee... to Davina, and Mark Fisch, our eldest son. Morris and I were there to enjoy and savor the moments. The very last picture I ever took of Morris was him holding Savanna, his very first grandchild. 
 
After several weeks going back east we headed home by car to Silver City. In Little Rock, Arkansas, and embolism broke in the back base of his brain and he was gone, and I had lost my best friend. He never knew what hit him. He was so full of life. Morris Fisch 69, left this lifetime swiftly and peacefully, Friday December 12, 1997. He was truly a renaissance man of many talents, a wonderful son, brother, husband, father, grand father, friend, writer, computer and ham radio operator, photographer, dancer, volunteer, painter and piano player with a good sense of humor. To his children he was a loving father who encouraged and respected each of them as individuals. He hurt when his children were hurting and he was happy when they were happy. Morris was very tall (6ft 5in), gentle, romantic and loving man who felt very strongly about the importance of family, honesty, integrity and fairness. He received by giving. He loved people, and unlike so many of us who have become too sophisticated to show our feelings--his were right out there for all the world to see. Morris had a lust for life and was always ready for the next adventure--on which he has now gracefully embarked. I miss him so very much and have no regrets for we did everything we set out to do in life together.
 
Our three children are all married today and I am the proud grandmother of seven. Mark our eldest, now 43 has raised Savanna for 11 years by himself since his wife died 10 years ago. He is still living in Nashville Tennessee, and is a self-employed builder and first class carpenter. Tanna, our daughter who is now 40, and Kevin live in Palm Springs, California. They have three children, Caibel 5, Dmitri 4, and Milan 1 1/2. Tanna too, is self-employed, she incorporates businesses, writes scripts for Television, creates products, lots of ideas in her head while raising three children all at the same time. Aaron, our baby is 38. He and Gloria live in Frisco, Texas. They have three children Nathan, Justin, and Hanna. Aaron is in Golf management, but for now he is the stay at home daddy taking care of baby Hanna while Gloria goes to work outside the home.
 
Since retiring and moving to Silver City, New Mexico, Morris and I took trips all the time to see our children wherever they were. We traveled to all the state and National Parks while criss-crossing the U.S. on the way to our kids.
 
I love it here in Silver City. When the Senior Center was dedicated in 1994, Morris was the first chairperson and after his death I was elected and held the position for many, many years. They won't let me go. I am not going anywhere I will still be here. This year we have a new chairperson, Charles Sacco. I am active in the community, holding various positions in AARP, Grant County Rolling Stones, W.P.S., book clubs, decorating, needle point, Senior Center, photography, library… etc. etc.
 
We did not come here to bring the East to the Southwest. I love everything about this area of the U.S., the people, the climate, and the Gila National Forest. It has grown for the better and I for one am happy to be a part of that growth. Thank you… Silver City, New Mexico.