7-20-03

Some Memories of Barbara Brokaw Duryea

Although I probably did not know my cousin, Bobbie, as well as many of you who have known her over the years, I have probably know her longer than most of you. My first encounter with Bobbie was the summer of 1926 at our grandparents Golden Wedding celebration at their farm in Lawrence, Michigan.  Bobbie was about 9, and I was the youngest of the 7 grandchildren, about 6 months old.  Of course I don't remember it except from numerous photographs, especially one with all the assembled relatives: great aunts and uncles, the four Brokaw children (our parents included) and probably some of their cousins, and all the grandchildren: James, Barbara, Miriam and Jeanette Burns, Barbara Brokaw, and my brother, Richard Brokaw, and me, Adelaide.

The next time I remember spending time with Bobbie was the summer of 1933 when Dick and I spent several weeks at the farm.  Aunt Nina was there with Jeanette and Bobbie who were about 16.  After Bobbies mother died, she often lived with the Burns family in Chicago.  So she was much better acquainted with her cousins than were we, who lived in New Jersey.  I remember having lots of fun with Bobbie and Jeanette.  They helped me improve my swimming skills in the Pawpaw River that flowed through the farm and provided lots of other entertainment.  We often slept in a tent in the front yard of the farm.  Sometimes the teenaged girls went out in the evening with boys whom Aunt Nina referred to as 'beaux'  Bobbieís dad, my Uncle Jim, was there at least part of the time and I have warm memories of his humor and love.

After that my main information about Bobbie came from my dad who occasionally visited with her and Uncle Jim when they settled in Houston, where Dad went on business trips from time to time.  Mother kept in touch with Bobbie through letters as well.  So I knew that Bobbie had children named Dian, Tony, and Douglas, but I never met them. In the summer of 1978 Bobbie organized a 'Cousins Reunion', well attended by the surviving grandchildren of 'Grandpa Too', their spouses, and many of their offspring.  There were too many for me to remember them all, but I must have met Tony and Douglas then.  After Dian moved to Berkeley, I often saw Bobbie on her trips to visit Dian in the Bay Area.

Bobbie always seemed to know what was going on with the various branches of the family.  I even felt a responsibility to keep her informed of changes in our family status.  She often was a beacon, with warm light shining in all directions to all branches of the family, far and near, and she could be a calm ìport in a stormî when some of us lost our way.

I envy those of you who knew my cousin more intimately than I, but I feel proud and privileged to have been part of her large circle of friend s and family.
 

Adelaide Brokaw Tolberg

 

Cousins

cousins001.jpg From a negative I found.  I believe this is in Michigan

grampa2.jpg Gramp Too at 95

tolberg.jpg Ron, Elizabeth and Adelaide

tolberg2.jpg Bobbie holding cousin Dick Jeanette holding Adelaide

 

I will have more cousin's pictures to post here--Doug

 

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