The year was 1933 and my father (z"l) was about to officiate at a wedding. Dressed in his formal robe and walking swiftly toward the beautifully adorned chapel, a lovely young woman crossed his path. Since there were several moments before the ceremony was to begin, my father took the opportunity to exchange some pleasantries with her. Whether it was love at first sight, I do not know. What I do know is that wasn't quite a year later that the lovely young woman, Mollie Saroff, became Mrs. Louis Waldman.
In April 1936, twin boys Harvey and CB, (as he was called), were born, followed by Morton five years later. The Waldmans lived in the East Flatbush section of Brooklyn where the boys grew up and attended school, and later moved to Belle Harbor, Queens. As one would imagine, the Waldman home was filled with music and interesting visitors from the Cantorial world as well as the entertainment field.
Just a word about my dear mother. I believe she was very unique as most children feel about their mothers. But in many ways she was not typical. When my father met her, she was in her mid twenties and after her graduation from Pace University, she was a practicing accountant. Three months before the birth of her twins, she gave up her job to become a full-time housewife to devote herself only to her family. Needless to say, keeping track of my father's work, traveling with him on special occasions and holidays while taking care of her twins was not an easy chore. Not only was she supportive of her children and husband but devoted her time to her mother and two sisters. Her mother lived with us and her sisters and their children were always in our home. Those were the good old days when families were always together, which I'm sure sounds familiar to many.
