William Kirsch was born July 14, 1914 to Isadore and Katie Drucker Kirsch. His family was living at 903 Dekalb Avenue in the Bedford–Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, New York. At that time, he had two older siblings, a sister Lillian, and a brother Sidney. Eventually, he would have two younger siblings, Helen and George.
By the time of the 1930 Federal Census, William was 14 years old and the family had moved to New Jersey and were living in a house they owned at 739 E. 24 Street in Paterson. [1]
In the 1940 Paterson City Directory, William is listed as a student living at home. [2]
In the 1940 Federal Census, William is now called Billie. It shows he completed 4 years of high school and is working 50 hours a week as an attendant in his father’s gas station, and is still living at home. [3]
According to his 1940 Draft Card, he was 5’7″ tall and weighed 150 lbs. We also learn that he had a ruddy complexion, blonde hair, and gray eyes. [4]
During World War II, he served with the Army Service Forces, one of three separate branches of the US Army. He served on the European front. We know that he was in France for at least part of the time, if not all.
On his return, he brought his sister, Lillian, a tablecloth from France.
He applied for a marriage license on August 21, 1946. He was marrying a cousin, Florence Beatrice Wiegan from New York. [5] On their first date, they went to the Old Mill Bathing Beach in Paramus, New Jersey.
They married on August 30, 1946, at the Hotel Commodore in New York. Florence was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Wiegan. She was their only child. [6]
Below is the Kirsch / Rothman table at Bill and Florence’s wedding. Note that Bill’s sisters were given corsages and his brother and brother-in-laws were given boutonnieres. Where were George and Estelle? Prehaps they were seated an another table.
Back row: The Kirsch Siblings: Lakey and Sidney Kirsch, Abe and Helen Warren, Paul and Lillian Rothman
Front row: The Rothman Siblings: Reuben and Rosalyn Spitz, Leo and Ruth Germain, Freida and Milton Berkowitz
Below is a photo of the Kirsch and Rothman couples at the Bar Mitzvah of their accountant’s and friends’ son.
Seated: Paul and Lillian Rothman, Katie Kirsch, Florence and Bill Kirsch, Helen Warren
Standing: Sidney and Lakey Kirsch, Estelle and George Kirsch, Abe Warren
Along with his brothers, Bill worked at the gas station / oil company that his father started. Each brother had his specialty. Bill managed the office and kept the books. For more about the business, see the Kirsch Oil page under the Kirsch tab above.
Because Isadore left the station to his three sons and did not leave anything to his daughters, whenever the brothers (Sid, Bill, and George) made an investment, they would also invest for their two sisters. A full share would go to each of them and a half share each to Lillian and Helen.
Here are Florence and Bill lighting a candle at their nephew Sandy’s Bar MItzvah.
Around 1960, Bill and his brothers, George and Sidney, bought some concessions on the boardwalk in Asbury Park, New Jersey. All of their children, along with their nephew, Stan, have fond memories of going there and/or working there. To learn more about the Asbury Park venture, read the blog “Asbury Park Memories”.
The above postcard can be purchased on Ebay.
Bill is posing with his brothers, George and Sidney
Bill and Florence retired to a beautiful apartment in Lauderhill, Florida. The apartment overlooked a golf course.
The Kirsch siblings meet up in Florida. Florence is 3rd from the left and Bill is 3rd from the right.
Bill died on June 12, 1999, in Florida. [7] He died from pancreatic cancer.
Florence lived until February 26, 2009. Remembering that his mother’s and father’s first date was to the Old Mill Bathing Beach, her son, Ira reflects:
” What is ironic is that in my mom’s final days, she was a resident of a long term health care facility that was directly across the street from where the Old Mill Pond once stood in Paramus.”
Sources
- [1] 1930 United States Census for Isadore Kirsch’s family – 1930 Census for Isadore Kirsch and family – Year: 1930; Census Place: Paterson, Passaic, New Jersey; Page: 20B; Enumeration District: 0045; FHL microfilm: 2341115 Title1930 United States Federal Census AuthorAncestry.com
- [2] 1940 Paterson City Directory – 1940 US CIty Directory for Paterson, NJ – U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 Author Ancestry.com
- [3] 1940 United States Census for Isadore Kirsch’s family – 1940 Federal Census for Isadore Kirsch and Family – Year: 1940; Census Place: Paterson, Passaic, New Jersey; Roll: m-t0627-02431; Page: 4A; Enumeration District: 26-80B Title1940 United States Federal Census Author Ancestry.com
- [4] WWII Draft Card for William Kirsch – National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For New Jersey, 10/16/1940-03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147; Box: 348 TitleU.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947AuthorAncestry.com
- [5] Marriage License Application – New York City Municipal Archives; New York, New York; Borough: Manhattan; Volume Number: 42 New York, New York, Marriage License Indexes, 1907-1995 Author Ancestry.com
- [6] Wedding Announcement – The News; Publication Date: 30/ Aug/ 1946; Publication Place: Paterson, New Jersey, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/526150761/?article=a4d98db2-fae0-4ef6-99b7-0fa59390551f&focus=0.26355207,0.47079185,0.3916536,0.62918377&xid=3398TitleU.S., Newspapers.com Marriage Index, 1800s-1999 Author Ancestry.com Publisher Ancestry.com Operations Inc
- [7] Obituary for William Kirsch – https://www.newspapers.com/clip/132516212/obituary-for-william-kirsch/?xid=637 Newspapers.com – The Record – 14 Jun 1999 – Page 38 PublisherThe Record Publisher date14 Jun 1999 Publisher location Hackensack, New Jersey