Jonathan Jay Jacob --- sharing the history of my family
My family album has to begin with dad's
incredible picture story. We have been digging thru
boxes and albums to find these old pictures. I hope
you enjoy the journey.
My dad, John Julius Jacob, was born May
17, 1938 to Heinz and Gerda Zimmermann Jacob in Berlin,
Germany. At the age of one his family left their native land for
refuge in China. Shanghai was under the rule of Japan
at that time.
Gerda with son John on board the Conte
Verde 1939
The Conte Verde was an Italian ship
that carried many refugees to Shanghai, China which was the
only port of entry available to Jewish refugees. China didn't require
passports.
From what we hear, the
Conte Verde traveled with as few crew members
as possible in order
to take more Jewish refugees to a safe port.
The
ship provided
safe passage to my family but ironically was sunk
the same
year my grandmother Gerda, died.
Pictured left to right are Helen & Bodo
Zimmermann
Mary and Leopold Zimmermann
Leopold and Mary Zimmerman are my dad's
maternal grandparents;
Bodo is their son and Helen was his wife.
Bodo and Helen Zimmermann, John,
Heinz, Hanna and
Irving Jacob. Heinz is my grandfather, Hanna was dad's
step-mother,
and her son Irving was seated at the far right. While dad did serve in the military
for
three years, (from 1957-1960)
I believe at this time that was probably
his
ROTC uniform that he proudly wore.
The Dallas Morning News reports the
visit of my great grandparent's
visit to Dallas. Pictured are Heinz Jacob, Leopold and
Mary Zimmermann.
Date: 1962-03-26;
Paper: Dallas Morning News
The document below is part of the obituary of Gerda Zimmerman.
She died July 1,1942
Leopold and Mary Zimmermann buried two of their three
children in Shanghai.
With the untimely death of both Gerda and Herbert, Bodo was
the only one left
to carry on the family name.
Dad gave my mom this large family Bible
the year before they married. My parents were married May 3,
1958. Mom
recorded as much of the family tree as she knew back in the
early 60's.
Leopold and Mary
Zimmermann
Their three children:
Herbert Zimmermann Berlin Death in
Shanghai, China (no children)
Gerda Zimmermann Berlin,
Germany approx 1916- Died in Shanghai, China July 1,
1942
Bodo Zimmermann, Berlin, March 20, 1928 -
May 3, 2007
Julius and Sarah Jacob
Four children:
Erwin Jacob, Germany died in the
Canary Islands (no children)
Herbert Jacob, Germany died in Dallas, Texas (no children)
Heinz Jacob, Berlin, Germany
November 2, 1911 - 1969 Dallas, Texas
Eva Jacob, Germany - Baltimore, MD
Heinz and Gerda (Zimmermann) Jacob
One child: (my father) John Julius
Jacob, Birth May 17, 1938 Berlin Germany
Bodo and Helen (Gohstand) Zimmermann
Two Children:
Allen Herbert Zimmermann
Audrey Zimmermann
Audrey Zimmermann, Karen Jacob, J J Jacob, John Jacob
my sister Karen holding me (J. J), my dad, John Jacob
holding Ernie.
Left
to right
Bodo Zimmermann, John Jacob, Irving Jacob
Irving is dad's half brother. His mother is
Hanna Ruth Jacob
Top left, Herbert Jacob, Heinz Jacob
2nd Row: Hanna Jacob, John Jacob, Sarah Jacob, Eva
Jacob
This picture was taken in 1945 in Shanghai, China
.
Both Heinz and Gerda had brothers named Herbert.
Pictured here is
granddad's brother Herbert, who came to the US, settled in
Dallas and
lived there until his death. Uncle Herbert had no
children of his own.
Aunt Eva Omansky, seated at the far right, died
when she was struck and killed on the
streets of Baltimore. Eva was deaf and did not respond
to the horns and traffic
as she crossed the street. She was survived by a son,
Joel, who was also deaf.
