Ron, Joe and Sadie Rosenzweig’s grandson, sent me these wonderful photographs of Joe and Sadie with their great-grandson Bradley as a newborn in 1982 and then as a toddler in 1982.
Joe and Sadie Rosenzweig in 1982 with Bradley Marc, their great grandson
1983
These photos reminded me of some pictures I have of my parents with their great-grandson Nate. As magical as it is to be a grandparent, I can only imagine what it must be like to be a great-grandparent—to see yet another generation, your grandchild’s child, enter the world and become a person.
My father with Nate June 2010
My mother with Nate 2012
Today it is not all that rare for people to live to see great-grandchildren. What a contrast to the experience of those who were born in the late 19th and early 20th century. My great-grandfather Joseph Brotman lived to see just one grandchild’s birth, Ethel Brotman, Abraham’s daughter. My great-grandfather Moritz Goldschlager died before any of his grandchildren were born. My great-grandmothers were much more fortunate; they both lived long enough to see the births of all their grandchildren, but none of their great-grandchildren.
We are so much luckier today. Every minute I spend with my grandson Nate is a joyful, magical moment for which I am so grateful. When I see these pictures of children with their great-grandparents, it makes me realize how lucky those children are and how lucky those great-grandparents are to be able to have those moments together.
Rose Fischer Schoenfeld
In loving memory of Rose Fischer Schoenfeld, who passed away last night at the age of ninety-eight. She was my son-in-law Brian’s beloved grandmother and Nate’s adoring great-grandmother. She was blessed to live to see and know many great-grandchildren, including Aaron, Ben and Nate. May her memory be a blessing.
Brotmanblog: A Family Journey 
So sorry for the family’s loss but so happy for the memories and for the privilege I our grandson had to have known a great grandparent and for your son in law to have had a Grandparent for so many years. Indeed may those memories always be a blessing.
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Thank you, Ron. And thanks so much for sharing your pictures and memories. They touched me and helped me to think about what I wanted to say about Rose and about great-grandparents in general. I certainly wish we had known our own.
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We are so sorry to hear of Nate’s great-grandma’s death. Please send our love to all.
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Thank you—we will.
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Oh that was so sweet to read. My dad only got to meet one grandchild Sharon Lynn Riley and only for a short time as Sharon was born in Sept 1976 and dad passed in April 1978. How he would have loved to have be able to meet all of his grandchildren and now Marissa has named her newborn son after a grandfather that she herself never got to meet. Please welcome our newest Michael Paul born March 13, 2014 at 5:34 pm weighing in at 8 lb. 1 oz. 19 1/2 inch long. Pictures to follow. Oh by the way he was a full head of RED hair.
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Thank you, Robin, and thank you for sharing the good news. I will post about it as soon as I get a chance. Your dad was really deprived of so much, dying so young. His grandchildren and great-grandchildren would have adored him just as we all did.
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