TICKTIN-KOSSIN FAMILY REUNION 2005

TICKTIN - KOSSIN FAMILY REUNION 2005

SATURDAY, JULY 2 - SUNDAY, JULY 3, 2005

The Wrap Up!

Dear Cousins,

I'm happy to report that a great time was had by all! The weekend couldn't have gone better.

Saturday, July 2, 2005

During the day, several of the cousins who had arrived early and were - like me - staying at the Sheraton Hotel at the Prudential Center in downtown Boston, stopped by my room to pick up their TICKTIN KOSSIN REUNION BAGS, name tags, TICKTIN KOSSIN REUNION T-SHIRTS, and the REUNION BOOKS. Each bag contained another little weekend souvenir - a REUNION COFFEE MUG.

I met up with Bob & Judy Fuhrer, Roni & Mark Epstein, Vernon Katz & Barbara Cohen, Warren & Phyllis Kossin, Gary & Nan Kossin, Rishi Schweig, and Stephen Ticktin. Several of them helped me carry the remaining bags to the first official event of the weekend.

As planned, everyone arrived between 6 and 7 PM at FILIPPO’S ITALIAN RISTORANTE at 283 Causeway in Boston’s historic Italian North End. The sun was just setting, a hazy clear sunset filled the sky with soft pinks, blues and golds against the harbor in the background. We had our own private dining room on the second floor, a typically charming Italian Trattoria decor.

Everyone didn't know what to do first - big warm hugs to cousins they hadn't seen in a while, or friendly greetings to distant relatives they had never met. Some were enjoying going through the reunion bags and discovering the REUNION BOOKS, both Ticktin and Kossin versions, and couldn't be pried away from reading them, pouring over the pages upon pages of information about over 1,400 relatives.

The buffet dinner began promptly at 7:30 PM with a short welcome by me, followed by champagne toasts for George & Irma Goldstein and Shirley & Milt Weinstein - both couples celebrating their 60th wedding anniversaries, and Bob Fuhrer - celebrating his 50th birthday, all in July.

We also announced the oldest people at the reunion - George & Irma; the youngest - Bennett Krentz at 2; who came the farthest - Vernon Katz & Barbara Cohen from Australia on their way back from seeing family in London; our Canadian attendees - Len, Patti, Aaron & Jessie Siegel; and the only actual Ticktin who came - Stephen Ticktin from Toronto!

The evening was videotaped by the Saks Family - Jerry and his daughters Jaymie and Rachel. I was also doing some videotaping with my new camera, but no one told me the microphone had an on/off switch, so I have a great silent movie of the evening, if anyone is interested! ;-)

Take a look at who was there -

1. Aaron, Patti, Len & Jessica Siegel

2. Jodi, Samantha & Gregory Kossin

3. Warren & Phyllis Kossin

4. Shirley & Milt Weinstein, Roberta & Ellis Goldberg, Zelda Stein, George & Irma Goldstein, Simmie & Bernard Jacobs

5. Alex & Nataly Reed Schweig, Sylvie & Philip Schweig, Becky Schweig, Judy Kossin & Ken McDonald, Rishi Schweig

6. Fran & Len Fuhrer, Warren Kossin, Marc & Roni Epstein, Bob & Judy Fuhrer, Barbara Cohen

7. Sierra MacDonald, Gabby Feigenson, Skye MacDonald, Jeff Krentz & Aarti Gurani w/Bennett Krentz, Richard & Sheila Krentz, Adam Shanor

8. Ellen Eisenberg, Neal & Tom Feigenson, Carol Cleveland & Mort Kaufman, Gary & Nan Kossin, Stephanie, Greg, Cassie & Jeremy Wolos

9. Jerry, Jan, Jaymie & Rachel Saks, Vernon Katz, Stephen Ticktin, David, Cathy, Daniel & Matthew Fuhrer

Sunday, July 3, 2005

On Sunday morning at 11 a.m., everyone decked out in their TICKTIN FAMILY REUNION 2005 T-SHIRTS, a very distinguishable teal color - you couldn't miss us, we all met at the Aquarium in front of our own private ferry with the TICKTIN FAMILY REUNION banner displayed prominently on top.

We boarded around 11:30 a.m. and a little after noon we sailed off on the half hour ferry ride to Georges Island, one of the Boston Harbor Islands, seven miles out. The weather couldn't have been more glorious. Although it had been raining for days, the weather cleared up the day before and that morning there wasn't a cloud in the sky.

The temperature was in the 80's, warm but not hot, a light breeze made even more enjoyable by the sailing across the ocean. Everyone kept saying the weather couldn't be more perfect. Considering how unpredictable Boston's weather is - if you don't like it, wait twenty minutes and it will change, we no doubt had someone looking out for us from up there!

Once we landed, our host George Silva of Silver Platters, the island caterer, organized us for our group photo, and then we were on our own to enjoy the island. George provided us with a delicious BBQ picnic under a shady pavilion. Children learned to fly kites, others played softball, and the rest of us were ducking out of the way of the Frisbees that were soaring around. The biggest activity was probably catching up - schmoozing and eating, and laying around under the sun.

Jerry Saks, joined again by daughter Jaymie and also son Andy, continued documenting the event and interviewed as many people at the reunion as were willing to confess their family stories to them. Seems those Kossins can't stop talking about their summers up in Kiamesha, but we're looking forward to hearing about George Goldstein's prisoner-of-war experiences, and Vernon Katz was a big hit - a gifted raconteur!

A couple of members of the younger generation borrowed my video camera for the day. We are looking forward to Hannah Seligman and Sierra MacDonald's interviews. They really got into it and took it very seriously. We may have a couple of budding filmmakers in the next generation.

The island rangers organized tours of FORT WARREN, a National Historic Landmark, built in 1847, and which was used as a prison for captured Confederate soldiers during the Civil War and - rumor has it - has a ghost! The tour was fascinating. No one saw a ghost, but I think Toby Rubin and I were holding hands tightly in a very dark tunnel where she supposedly hung out!

Warren Kossin in front of his namesake fort

As the sun was starting to go lower in the sky, around 5 p.m., tired out from all the fun and activity, we trekked back to our private ferry and cruised back to the mainland.

Click here for more reunion photos

Once we landed, it seemed like everyone quickly dispersed and went their separate ways. Groups went down to the Esplanade on the Charles River to catch the Boston Pops Orchestra performing the famous 1812 Overture, complete with a splendid FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR, other families made their way through downtown Boston to Fanueil Hall Marketplace for some more touristing.

It had been a wonderful couple of days that ended too quickly, but it could definitely be said - a great time was had by all!

Here is one more hearty thank you and goodbye to everyone who came this weekend - every one of you made the weekend special, and I look forward to seeing you all again soon!

All the best,

Elyse Eisenberg

P.S. One last thing -

The Ticktin and Kossin books were such a big hit, people are writing and asking to be sent their own hard copies. I have a few copies left of each book and I am happy to send them to everyone who orders one. I can also print more when I run out. The actual costs may go up on a second printing, but it would probably be under $5/book. If you would like to print out your own copy, please write me for an emailed PDF file.

I also have extra T-shirts (XL and XXL only), and the very handy Reunion Bags, as well as the Reunion Mugs, if anyone would like to order those too.

The cost for The Ticktin book with the DVD of the first reunion is $20. The Kossin book is now $10 as the actual printing costs were higher than my original estimate. All other items are $10 each. Shipping costs are extra.

Last updated 09/06/2006.

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