In Dec 2004 with lots of the new information we had collected. I posted on an internet genealogy site asking if anyone knew this family and was contacted by a gentleman called Steve Milne and after much too'ing and fro'ing we discovered that we are 2nd Cousins he then dropped a bombshell on me. Did you know your Dad has at least 1 half brother called Ralph Rose, he lives in Boston. Here's a picture! Do you want his phone number.
I showed the picture of Ralph to my mum (my dad passed away in 1997) she asked when my father had been to Winsor as she was convinced it was my Dad, Ralph has the same build and shape as my dad.
After many emails, phone calls and long nights Ralph was indeed son of Zena Rose and my dad's brother. We first met Ralph and his dear lady wife in July 2005 when they flew to the UK to meet us all. He told me that he has been trying to trace his family for years and in recent years made contact. He told me that he was Fostered not adopted so he kept his family name and as he was fostered at age 7 had memories about his past. He too had spent much time looking for his family.
Ralph from what I can gather also had a rough time growing up and went to work (as a teenager) in Bermuda, where he met and married Eileen (a New Yorker) When we compared noted he grew up very close to where my mum lived after my dad passed away. He told me that after he married Eileen an opportunity opened to live and work in the USA so they moved with their first born to the USA.
He made regular trips to the UK to trace his mother (Zena) and made contact with Zena's sister Hetty, she was in her 90's and was a feisty old lady (I met her twice) She lived through a time where Jews in London were considered different. She told me she always shied away from being openly Jewish.
Ralph knew nothing of his Jewish heritage until he contacted the family. Incredibly each time he stayed in London on his family history trips he stayed around the corner from my mother.
I first contacted Ralph in January 2005 and we first met in July the same year. He bore an incredible resemblance to my dad. The first meeting was at my mum's family home with my brothers and all our children. It was an emotional and hectic get together with little quality one to one time to get better acquainted
In but after a trip to Boston
is going to include that get to know you better quality time and for Ralph more exposure to his Jewish heritage we learned more about each other.
Ralph is in contact with other cousins from Simons branch of the family who are living in Philadelphia Kim Mc Nicholas nee Milne. will be on the cards
Ralph and Eileen live in Chicopee, Mass. They have 3 children Douglas (currently serving in Iraq), David (travelling around) and Derek (married)
During my trip I met David and Derek and was honoured by being invited to Derek and Ericas wedding.
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