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My Fathers' Houses: Memoir of a Family – From Immigrant Bayonne to the New York Times
From Steven V. Roberts comes My Fathers' Houses, a memoir of growing up in Bayonne, New Jersey, an immigrant community in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty, and the story of how his father and his grandfather's dreams–and their own passion for writing and ideas–influenced Steven's future, and inspired him to seek his fortune in New York City, the media capital of the world.
This is a story of a town and a time and a boy who grew up there, a boy who became an New York Times correspondent, TV and radio personality, and best–selling author. The town was Bayonne, New Jersey, a European village so close to New York that Steve could see the Statue of Liberty from his bedroom window. The time was the forties and fifties when children of immigrants were striving to become American and find a place in a booming post-war world. The core of Steve's world was one block, where he lived in a house his grandfather, Harry Schanbam, had built with his own hands.
But the story starts back in Russia, where the family business of writing and ideas began. Steve's other grandfather, Abraham Rogowsky, stole money to become a Zionist pioneer in Palestine before moving to America. The tale continues through the Depression, when Steve's parents lived one block apart in Bayonne, wrote letters to each other and married in secret.
During the war years, Steve's father wrote children's books and based one of his best sellers on outings he took with his twin sons to the local train station. As his byline, he used his boys' middle names–Jeffrey Victor–so Steve got his first writing credit before he was two. The story concludes with the boy leaving Bayonne, going on to Harvard, meeting the Catholic girl who became his wife, and starting work at the New York Times–across the river, and worlds away, from where he began. Now a grandfather of five, Steve Roberts looks in the mirror and sees his own father and grandfather looking back at him–a family chain that started in the 19th century Russia and thrives today in 21st century America.
This is a story of a town and a time and a boy who grew up there, a boy who became an New York Times correspondent, TV and radio personality, and best–selling author. The town was Bayonne, New Jersey, a European village so close to New York that Steve could see the Statue of Liberty from his bedroom window. The time was the forties and fifties when children of immigrants were striving to become American and find a place in a booming post-war world. The core of Steve's world was one block, where he lived in a house his grandfather, Harry Schanbam, had built with his own hands.
But the story starts back in Russia, where the family business of writing and ideas began. Steve's other grandfather, Abraham Rogowsky, stole money to become a Zionist pioneer in Palestine before moving to America. The tale continues through the Depression, when Steve's parents lived one block apart in Bayonne, wrote letters to each other and married in secret.
During the war years, Steve's father wrote children's books and based one of his best sellers on outings he took with his twin sons to the local train station. As his byline, he used his boys' middle names–Jeffrey Victor–so Steve got his first writing credit before he was two. The story concludes with the boy leaving Bayonne, going on to Harvard, meeting the Catholic girl who became his wife, and starting work at the New York Times–across the river, and worlds away, from where he began. Now a grandfather of five, Steve Roberts looks in the mirror and sees his own father and grandfather looking back at him–a family chain that started in the 19th century Russia and thrives today in 21st century America.
288 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 17, 2020
Nothing earthshattering but a pleasant memoir of his grandfather coming from Russia, & then his father & eventually Steve growing up in Bayonne, NJ. A little surprising how much was focused on the father & grandfather & how little mention there was of his twin, Marc - you come away feeling living in Bayonne was more important & impactful to his life than having a twin. But other than that little strangeness, it is a nice read about a different time in America
November 16, 2021
Memories of Bayonne and a parallel life
Steve Roberts has a better recollection of specific experiences about growing up in Bayonne than I do...but both of us remember how it felt to live and be embraced by family and friends on “the block.” I took part in Sandra Dee Day as well. I represented my school, Holy Family, gifting the starlet an American flag at the lunch following the parade in her honor. What fun to relive those days! Thanks for the memories, Steve.
Steve Roberts has a better recollection of specific experiences about growing up in Bayonne than I do...but both of us remember how it felt to live and be embraced by family and friends on “the block.” I took part in Sandra Dee Day as well. I represented my school, Holy Family, gifting the starlet an American flag at the lunch following the parade in her honor. What fun to relive those days! Thanks for the memories, Steve.
November 5, 2022
When I saw the author mention Bayonne NJ (my hometown), I knew I had to read this. It was a real trip into the past. And that included an actual quote from my high school English teacher in the book. I read so many names of families and businesses that I recognized. It was great. But the story itself was also great. The connection to his heritage. The ups and downs of the family. The history. I would have enjoyed it even with the references to my own home. Must read.
June 8, 2012
Steven Roberts is, of course, Cokie Roberts’ husband, and a journalist and radio commentator who worked for the New York Times for more than 25 years. He is the grandson of Abe Rogow, a Polish Jew who immigrated to America and settled in Bayonne, NJ. (Steve’s father, Will Rogow, changed his name to Roberts when Steve and his twin brother Marc were two years old.) The family lived through very hard times during the Depression, when the moneymaking schemes of Abe, Will, and Will’s brother often failed. Roberts writes well, and my interest in family history made me really appreciate the stories of his grandparents and parents’ lives. He ends the book soon after his marriage to Cokie, and I am interested to see if “From This Day Forward” which he wrote with Cokie, is a continuation of this autobiography.
December 13, 2014
I really enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. I'm not from this part of the country, culture, or generation, but so many things were very universal. And he's just a good story teller, so it was an intriguing read, made even more interesting by the fact that it was all true. I think it made me want to read more memoirs. I spent 6 months as a missionary in New York city, some of the neighborhoods I was in reminded me a lot of his descriptions of Bayonne (where I never had much success, which is understandable after his description of how tight knit some these communities are) I'm also going to be giving this book to my dad- I think he'll really enjoy it.
February 6, 2011
This gentle memoir was a pleasure. I've been enjoying it a few pages at a time for months and could go back and continue re-reading. It's a nice collage of personal tales steeped in place and time in history. A refreshing change from the tell-all genre, the author finds the sweet spot in describing his family members to the reader with a careful balance of quirky reality and kindness.
May 1, 2013
very slow and methodical writing. took a long time to finish cause a chapter would put me to sleep. i didn't like or dislike the narrator, but since i knew he grew up to be a successful author, i didn't care much what happened to him along the way
August 23, 2010
Enjoying so far (Cokie's husband) but found it hard to keep the relatives straight at the beginning.
February 24, 2011
Enjoyable memoir about the author's father and grandfather. His is the husband of journalist Cokie Roberts.
July 10, 2014
Good stories about family & growing up.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews