Uncle Gene (Part One)

Thinking about fishing yesterday, I asked my Aunt Jeanne to send me some photos of Gene, thinking I would write about him some time. Gene died this year. I attended his memorial in Arizona.

This photo captured his warmth and energy.

Gene, my dad's brother was all about fishing. Passionate. Jeanne sent many photos and a wonderful brief unfinished history of Gene's life. I realized that I needed to write about Gene. Right now.

I gotta start out with my favorite fishing picture of Gene and my grandfather Meyer

This picture is from the 1950s. In Petaluma. My grandfather is holding a huge  white sea bass. Gene has a salmon. Note Meyer's big stogie. They probably caught them in Tomales Bay. We'll never know. See  how strong Gene looked. He was strong as an ox and tough as steel; though he was probably only 5'6" tall. I have childhood memories of him holding himself up vertical from a stop sign, using only his arms. I also like this picture because catching a white sea bass is legendary  these days. I am still looking for my first.

Jeanne sent me this brief unfinished history of Gene's life base on what Gene told her (I am going to edit it for brevity):

SEATTLE

Born Seattle Washington in 1932, Gene has no memory of living there. His brother Allan Gorelick was born in Los Angeles in 1930 in the county hospital. 

Their father Meyer had driven from Connecticut and New York with another man to organize the Lady Garment Makers Union around 1924. They were given $75.00 for the trip. Flat tires took the money because the roads were bad. Food came from farmers along the way.

Meyer was a good tailor and worked for many shops. If the work stopped, he moved to another shop.  There was often a clash between union and non union workers.  Their father was a known union organizer and many people hated the union. There were fights and parades for the I L G W U. Living was a struggle and other tailors often helped Meyer's family with clothing.

SAN FRANCISCO

Their family was poor but they always had something to eat. Meyer and Gene would often fish and share their catch. They lived in an apartment at 1885 Golden Gate, the corner of Baker Street.  They would often go to Mc Alister Street nearby where there was a streetcar stop. When the streetcar would start, the children would hop a ride on the bumper for no fee. They rode either to Fremont Grammar School one way or the other way to the Ukraine Bakery and the other shops in the Jewish district. Often were given baked goods- or across the street pickles or pickled herring. The people in the shops knew them and knew they had no money.

Gene and Al attended Fremont Grammar School. Gene was a hand-full. He liked mathematics but didn't like to read. Al was the opposite. The boys played basketball at the school.

Vacation Capitola by the Sea

Meyer managed to find an inexpensive place to stay from Mrs. Packer. Mrs Packer was one of Gene's early fishing companions, fishing for small trout from the river. The river was where Gene and Allen swam. They didn't go into the ocean. 

  

Theodore Roosevelt Junior High School, 460 Arguello, SF.

Gene played basketball on the junior high team as well as Hayes Valley recreation teams. Both the Hayes Valley Recreation and the Junior High teams were chosen by sex, age and size. Gene played on the small player teams. He played guard and the teams were very successful. Allen liked to watch the games and was Gene's biggest fan. 

During junior high Gene worked at Alioto's fish market, often for salmon or smoked salmon sticks. Sometimes the fishermen coming to the market would toss Gene a fish so he could go home and say he caught a fish.

SEBASTOPOL CALIFORNIA

 The family moved Sebastopol to follow Meyer's dream of owning a chicken farm. It was the first property Meyer had ever owned. They owned chickens and a cow.

Allen contracted tuberculosis and lived in the county hospital.

Analy High School was where Gene and Al completed high school. During that time Gene played basketball, ran track and was in Future Farmer's. After school and on weekends he was practicing sports or working on neighboring farms for FFA experience. Gene was involved with the chicken judging competition in high school, winning the State and the National competition in Waterloo, Iowa. In basketball, their Analy team didn't lose a single game in the northern California league. 

[End of Jeanne's history]

I realize this is getting way too long. Here is Gene and his son Dave with a big halibut, presumably in Alaska. Below that is Meyer and Gene's deceased son Bobby with a nice haul of striped bass in the 1960s. Gene probably took the picture.

Gene had a colorful and interesting life. To be continued tomorrow. Viva Las Vegas!