Remembrances of My Dad
Remembrances of My Dad Stephen Kenneth Grodin was born in New York City on November 28, 1941 to a young mother named Rose and a father who I am named for (Harold Solomon). Harry passed away when Steve was only 8. Rose remarried Joseph Grodin, and through adoption became Steve’s father. He was raised in Brooklyn during a “golden-age” of postwar NYC. They were a working class Jews, living and working amongst working class Jews. My Dad was sent to Yeshiva instead of public school, presumably because he lacked some discipline. He ultimately graduated from James Madison High School in Brooklyn. Steve has a sister (my Aunt Marsha), who is 15 years younger than him. In Marsha’s telling, he was a good big brother, and they stayed close through young adulthood. After graduation in the late 1950’s, he tried college, but was ultimately persuaded to “learn a trade” as was a pretty common option during those years. He successfully completed a multi-year plumbers apprenticeship and became a du...