B4 | The Jewish Press | April 7, 2017
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the Saferstein siblings: A trio with brio Ozzie NOgg
ence at UNO. She and her husband, Jeff Hansen, will celegRaNDpaReNt williNg tO guaRD SecRetS brate thirty years of marriage this May, with their children, is a huge asset to a kid. Rhonda, Diane Max Saferstein-Hansen, Jacklyn Saferstein-Hansen and and Mark Saferstein’s maternal Bubbie -- Tyler Hansen. Rhonda admits that her nickname, as a kid, Gussie Siref -- knew how to keep her lip was The Instigator. “Obviously, that meant I was usually to zipped, for which the siblings still reblame for everything naughty my siblings did. The nickmain grateful. “Bubbie lived with us,” name was probably deserved, but if my sister and brother Rhonda said, “so when our folks get into trouble today, don’t look at me.” went out, Bubbie was always our Diane and her husband, Howard Shandell have two babysitter. She was marvelously daughters, Jessica and Ally. Diane, now retired, used her deliberal and kept all our secrets. gree in Sociology while working in Chicago with handiWhen my younger sister, capped adults, where she also placed refugees in Diane, and I were in high employment through Vocational Services. Weighing in on school, Bubbie never told on the who-got-into-the-most-trouble-as-a-kid topic, Diane us when we were smoking pot and blowing the smoke out would only say, “I’m the middle child, the sneaky one who our bedroom window. This was particularly helpful because didn’t get caught.” we borrowed our father’s tobacco pipe and really didn’t Mark Saferstein works as a Financial Advisor and keeps want to get caught. It was great to know that Bubbie was in his hand in real estate investments. His wife, Lynda Barr, our corner.” Ask Rhonda Saferstein Hansen, Diane Saferstein Shandell and Mark Saferstein for highlights of their growing up years, and you get a mix of answers. (We’ll let the pot story serve as Rhonda’s contribution.) Diane adds, “Mark is fifteen months younger than I am, the baby of the family. He was always cute and sweet and he turned out remarkably well, considering that Rhonda and I used to dress him up in our sequined dance recital costumes from time to time.” For Mark’s part, early childhood memories usually include food, especially weekend dinners with his parents and sisters at La Casa, Hilltop House, Cliff ’s, Ross’s, Chu’s, Gorats and The Ground Cow where, according to Rhonda, “there were more than enough Jews to make a minyan.” The Saferstein siblings recall summer nights playing whiffle ball, tag and foursquare outside with other kids in their almost exclusively Jewish neighborhood. They talk about family vacations to Lake Okoboji and Rhonda Saferstein, left, Mary Saferstein holding Mark, and Diane Saferstein, circa 1959. the rides at Arnold’s Park. A visit to Disneyland and trips to passed away in 2007. Mark has a son, Dylan, and daughter, Chicago to watch the Cubs. “I can still draw Wrigley Field Rachel. Mark’s sisters describe him as serious, highly intelliwith the correct positions attributed to the players from gent, ethical, passionate about his beliefs and a terrific fa1968,” Rhonda said. “Mark was a terrific athlete, and much ther. Troublemaker status? “Back in the day I was fairly of our family time was spent at his sporting events. Dad was wild, but not too stupid.” the softball coach and I was scorekeeper, a ‘skill’ I learned at Rhonda, Diane and Mark try to get together as often as those Cubs games in Chicago.” The kids remember the their individual schedules allow. For Sunday dinners, at holweek-night family dinners at home, and their mother, Mary, idays, when their kids are home from college or their jobs. serving chicken, steak, brisket, meatloaf, hamburgers or At those mini-reunions, the siblings reminisce about their lamb chops. “I hated lamb chops,” Rhonda said, with a grimother, who knew almost everyone they spoke to or hung mace. At the Saferstein table, any topic was open for discus- out with, as if she was from the FBI. They smile when resion. “But the conversation usually ended if one of us used membering the Passover seders at Aunt Zelda Saferstein bad language,” Diane said. “Dad would get up and leave. He Stalmaster’s where their Bubbie Jenny Saferstein talked just took off. We laugh about it now.” throughout the Haggadah reading - led by Grandpa Will Jack Saferstein taught his children by example. “I learned Saferstein - and their mother got irritated with cousin Mitzy so much from him,” Mark said, “not necessarily through Malashock, the jokester, who made Mark laugh so hard he’d specific advice he gave me, but by watching the way he han- get an asthma attack. “We often talk about Bubbie Gussie, dled things. My father treated everyone as equals. He was too,” Rhonda said. “She was one heck of a poker player and kind, smart, respected, quietly philanthropic, well-loved encouraged us to have fun. Which we did. And still do. I and fun-loving. He was very honest, with himself and hope when we’re gone, our kids will think and talk about us everyone around him.” Jack Saferstein died, suddenly, at the and laugh, too.” age of 60, when all three of his children were in their early The Saferstein siblings enjoy relatively quiet lives. Mark twenties. “Dad died the day after my 24th birthday,” spends time with his children, with friends, plays sports, lisRhonda said. “I was devastated.” After Jack’s death, Mary tens to music and travels a bit. All’s right in Diane’s world Saferstein encouraged her children to pick up their lives. when she knows Howard and their daughters are healthy “Mom insisted I return to Northeastern University for my and happy. Rhonda finds calm in visits to art museums. “I senior year,” Diane said. “I hated leaving her, but she would can sit in front of a Rembrandt or Monet forever.” Every only have it that way.” Mark returned to the University of Friday night, Jeff and Rhonda meet the same group of JewMichigan, and Rhonda went back to her job in Boston. ish friends - most of whom she grew up with - for dinner. “Since Rhonda and I were in the same city,” Diane said, “we “We’ve been doing this for years,” Rhonda explained. “We spent a lot of time together, often going to synagogue on a argue about politics and everything else. I find it exhilaratFriday night to say Kaddish for our dad. We knew that saying and familiar.” ing Kaddish meant a lot to him.” Mary Saferstein passed Rhonda and Diane talk on the phone every day. “We have away in August of 2015. Speaking for her siblings, Diane lunch together, tea at one of our homes. We discuss everysaid, “It helped all three of us to know that our mother lived thing, gossip about relatives and the past.” Ask one sister a long and good life.” how she feels about the other and you get the same answer. Rhonda is currently an adjunct professor of Political Sci“She’s my best friend in the whole world.”