Peter, also known as Pete, was the 8th child born to Esther and Morris Feldman. He was named Peddy and was born at home on Aug. 9, 1907, in Brooklyn, NY.
Esther, his mother died when he was about 4 years old. His father kept the family together which was unusual for the time period. Often a single parent gave the kids away to relatives or put them in an orphanage.
In 1910, he lived with his family on 197 Beaver Street. They moved constantly from one apartment to another.
Even after his mother passed away, the family continued to move from place to place.
circa 1916
In 1920, he live on Vermont Street.
In 1925, they lived at 1925 Rockaway Parkway. He was 19 years old and still in school. His married sister, Ida, also lived there with her husband and daughters, Estelle and Shirley. He was especially close to Ida since she helped raise him.
In 1930 when Peter was 22 years old, he lived at 1925 Rockaway Parkway with his family and worked as a clerk in a dry goods store.
From 1935 – 1940, he lived with Ida and her family at 302 Albany Avenue. He had completed 3 years of high school and now worked as a shipping clerk for a dress manufacturer. At 32 years old, his annual income was $1612. Today (2019) that would be equivalent to about $29,105.35.
Peter enlisted in the army on Feb. 11, 1943, and served until Oct. 29, 1945. He was a technical sergeant forth grade. His service number was 139092847 which was obtained by Naomi Rapeport from the insignia on his photograph.
Marlene Dittenheimer
1943
While in the army, he saw his nephew, Eddie Wissner, but once they came back to the states they lost touch. Peter was overseas at the war’s end and was involved with the liberation of a camp. Before he returned home, he sent his family postcards from Paris.
Essie Rosenberg
At some point before 1951, he moved to New Jersey where he signed up for a Social Security Number. Ida Feldman Rosenberg’s brother-in-law, Henry Rosenberg, got him a job in a garment factory. Peter worked in the shipping department of the factory. In August of 1952, he married Sophie Peters in South Orange, NJ.
He and Sophie did not have any children. His niece, Estelle Eisler, remembers him with great fondness from her childhood. Cousin David Ockman remembers meeting Sophie and Peter, while Cousin Alberta Mandelblatt, Albert’s wife, called Peter’s wife chic.
Peter always had a special spot in this heart for his sister, Ida, since she helped raise him after their mother died. He even visited Ida several times in CA where his neice, Estelle Rosenberg Eisler, also got to meet his wife, Sophie. Estelle also remembers that Peter was not as tall as his brothers, but was very handsome.
1956
Peter died on August, 16 , 1984 in Hallandale, FL, at age 77. He had lived at 1000 Parkview Dr. Hallandale Beach, FL. Before moving to Hallandale, they lived in a few other communities in Florida. From family stories we learned he had Parkinson’s Disease, although his obituary asks for donations to the Heart Fund.. His obituary appeared in several different newspapers. Here are two of them.
From the News Beacon and Dispatch-Fairlawn NJ-24 Aug 1984
From The Record-Hackensack NJ-19 Aug 1984
Peter is buried in King Solomon Memorial Park in Clifton, New Jersey.
He is buried in the Ruth Section, Block 2, Plot 22, Grave 3.
From FindAGrave.com
Note that his father’s name on the stone is incorrect. It looks like it might have been engraved backwards (left to right instead of right to left)
In 2018, Cousin Estelle Eisler added Peter’s name to the WWII Museum in Washington, DC. The museum is being renovated and is putting up a Wall of Remembrance with names of all people who served in WWII. Estelle wanted Peter Feldman’s name on it.
Sources:
Money Inflation Converter
Outstanding Questions:
- When and where did Sophie and Peter get married?