Disciplines

Jewish Studies

Abstract

Summarized by Avi Frank

Ann Armoza spent her early life growing up in the Bronx as the child of first-generation American parents whose families immigrated from Eastern Europe, including regions that are now Slovakia, Ukraine, and Hungary. Her grandparents arrived in the United States in the early 20th century, initially settling in The Lower East Side before eventually moving to the Bronx. Armoza’s father worked in the structural steel business, while her maternal grandfather co-owned a deli. She was born during the early 1940s and spent her childhood living on Bush Street near the Grand Concourse.

Armoza lived in the Bronx until 1953, when her family moved to Central Islip, Long Island. She recalls her Bronx childhood fondly, describing a relatively safe and close-knit environment where children had freedom to roam and play. She attended PS 28, walked through the neighborhood independently, and enjoyed local businesses such as George and Harry’s grocery store and Krum’s candy shop on Fordham Road. She also remembers major events such as the Blizzard of 1947, as well as everyday experiences like playing in the streets, visiting the Bronx Zoo and Botanical Gardens, and taking trips to the local library.

Armoza describes her upbringing as culturally Jewish but not particularly religious. Her family celebrated some Christian holidays like Christmas while in the Bronx, reflecting the mixed character of the neighborhood. Religious identity became more prominent later in her life, especially after moving to Long Island and raising her own child. She notes that her parents’ limited religious practice may have stemmed from early family losses, including the deaths of both grandmothers when her parents were young.

After leaving the Bronx, Armoza remained in Suffolk County, eventually earning a master’s degree in Library Science and building a long career as a librarian.

Keywords: Bush Street, Grand Concourse, Fordham Road, PS 28, Blizzard of 1947, immigration, Eastern Europe, Lower East Side, Jewish identity, mixed neighborhoods, Long Island migration, Central Islip, public libraries, Bronx Zoo, Botanical Gardens, postwar Bronx

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