The Ogulnick siblings, from oldest to youngest, are Pete, Annette, Hy, Joe, me, and Bob. I’ve shared that we lived in an apartment on the West Side of Chicago. It’s where I was born in 1926 and lived until after the service when I left Chicago for UCLA. But this is the story of my sister and four brothers.
Pete was bright, assertive, and a brilliant salesman. He was also high-strung and, although small in stature, willing to take on anyone and anything. He loved music, from Chicago Jazz to classical and opera. When he got his first job (For all of us, making a living was a driving force, not education), he brought some cash home for Ma and Pa and classical records. He was 17, and I was 7, but he insisted that I be with him when he played his records. I owe him much for gifting me a love for classical music at an early age, and it remains so to this day.
Nine of us, including Pa’s mother, were living in a 3-bedroom, 1-bathroom apartment, which made for challenging times, and conflict arose frequently between Pete, Hy, and Joe. I was never involved but preferred peace between them. Ma did her best, but it was Annette that arranged temporary cease-fires between them. Conflict continued between them until Pete moved out.
Pete began to work for a major insurance company and was one of their leading salespeople in the country. When the war started, he immediately volunteered but was turned down several times because he was blind without his glasses. Frustrated, he worked in a torpedo manufacturing plant during the war.
Pete and his wife Shirley had two children (Elyse and Ron) and lived a good middle-class life. Pete made a fine living; they had a nice home, traveled, and dined at the best restaurants. When Lenette and I needed money to buy/build Camp Shasta. Pete mortgaged his home for us.
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