Genealogic Commentary

En Masse

2009-04-26T16:35:00.000-07:00

The database was updated today, with about one hundred new individuals, marking the largest number of individuals put online at one time since the site went online last year.

More Updates

2009-03-14T08:58:00.000-07:00

Dozens of individuals added to the database today, including several new treetops (ancestors along a given bloodline that are older than any previously listed individual in the database.) As always, corrections and/or comments can be directed to webmaster@lafamilie.com.

Long Time Coming

2008-07-01T20:00:00.000-07:00

After a significant delay, the database has been fully updated for the first time since going online in April. If you e-mailed the webmaster with corrections for a particular entry, you can re-check it now to see if those changes were made.

The database has also been updated to reflect the recent death of Geraldine Reicher on the 13th of June, 2008.

The Envelope, Please..

2008-04-25T11:41:00.000-07:00

The database abounds with esoteric achievements; one such achievement belongs to Ian Toporoff, who is pictured to the left receiving an Emmy in 1999 for his work on the daytime TV drama Sunset Beach. In addition to Sunset, Toporoff has worked as an editor, director and writer for a myriad of other daytime programs, including One Life to Live, As the World Turns, and The Bold and the Beautiful. He has also worked on the sitcom The King of Queens as a technical director.

What's in a Surname?

2008-04-11T13:05:00.000-07:00

For Reina Pontremoli, the answer is the trembling bridge and the fountain of the mill. The former is taken from the Latin, pons tremulus, from which the Italian town of Pontremoli is named (after an old bridge that once crossed the Magra river.) However, Jean-Marie Gelinas points out that the original family surname was actually Fuentremoli, according to Shlomo Simonhson's book History of the Jews in the Duchy of Mantua.

The Pontremoli family is known to have fled Spain for Mantua in the 16th century, yet there is no record of a Spanish town named Fuentremoli during that time; Gelinas argues that the word should be analyzed and broken down in the Catalan language - fonte moli, the fountain of the mill. This makes sense, assuming that the family originated from the Catalan region of northeast Spain. As the family fled the Inquisition for Mantua, they passed through the town of Pontremoli and adopted a new surname similar to the original.

It is appropriate, then, that such a precipitous journey should require passage over a trembling bridge.

The Roaring 20s

2008-04-07T12:16:00.000-07:00

To the left is one of the most charming pictures in the database -- Edna Isaacson, circa 1925, in a decidedly vintage glamour shot. Edna was the 4th youngest child of Adolph and Sadie Isaacson, one of the largest families in the database with 9 children on record. Unfortunately, an extensive list of descendants is only available for Jeanette Isaacson, the eldest daughter of the family.

Even more interesting is the "Strand" signature seen in the lower right corner of the photograph. One is tempted to guess that this photograph was taken by the famed Paul Strand, who was working in New York City at the time and was known for his interest in portraiture.

Ancient History

2008-04-05T12:12:00.000-07:00

The oldest person listed in the database is Samuel Marrache. Although there's no available information on Mr. Marrache himself, it is known that his son, Jacob Marrache (eminent Tetuan kabbalist), was born in the late 1600s in Fez, Morocco. Therefore, one can reasonably guess that Samuel was born in the 1650s.

His youngest living blood relative in the database is Vivian Levy, his great great great great great great great great great granddaughter (x9!) Vivian was born in 2007 on the east coast of the United States -- meaning that their births were separated by an estimated 350 years and 4,000 miles.

Welcome!

2008-04-05T11:01:00.000-07:00

The site, as well as this running commentary, have officially gone online as of April 5th, 2008. This space will be reserved for stories, details, and clarifications regarding individuals in the database. Information on genealogy in general may be covered as well.

Any questions, comments or concerns are welcome!