Howard Reinglass
"I met my wife when we moved to the north side of Chicago," Howard Reinglass recalls. "My best friend said, 'I have a girl I want you to meet.' We stood on the porch and talked about an hour, an hour and a half. Then my friend and I walked back, and I said, 'I'm going to marry this girl.'" Howard was just 13 at the time. Despite his friend's skepticism, Howard's prediction came true. That girl, Beverly, would indeed become his wife. Beverly and Howard married at 21, while Howard was still in medical school. Beverly put her own career on hold to support Howard's education, paying for his tuition and staying home to raise their children. When their youngest child entered junior high, Beverly returned to her own pursuits. She became a beloved teacher and later a principal at a private day school. Howard and Beverly now have three children, ten grandchildren, and recently celebrated their 56th wedding anniversary. However, none of this would be possible without the unique story that brought Howard to this point.
Early Life
Howard Reinglass was born in a displaced persons (DP) camp in Santa Maria de Lueica, Italy. He explains, "It's on the east coast of Italy. And it's right by the heel. You know Italy, shaped like a boot. So I was born by the heel, and it's a major port for the Italian economy."
Howard's parents were Holocaust survivors. His father had been liberated from Auschwitz and sent to the DP camp in Italy, where he met Howard's mother. Howard's first language was Yiddish, reflecting the strong Jewish community in the camp.
An extraordinary event occurred during this time. Howard shares, "David Ben-Gurion came to the displaced person, the DP camp that my parents lived in and where I was born. And he gave a speech to have people try to come to Israel and not go to other places in the world. And there was a small group of people in the DP camp that were chosen to meet one on one with David Ben-Gurion. My dad was one of them."
When Howard was three years old, his family decided to immigrate to the United States. They landed on Ellis Island on December 22, 1949 - Howard's birthday. The family settled in Chicago, where Howard's father had a brother, one of their few living relatives from Europe.
Threads of Wisdom
Much of Howard's childhood revolved around his family's grocery store. He started working there at a young age, gaining valuable life lessons along the way.
The grocery store became a place where Howard learned about business, customer service, and human nature. He shares a particularly poignant story:
"This little old lady came in with a plastic gallon of milk. On the bottom is literally a little bit of milk, and the date is from two weeks ago. She's had this milk for two, three weeks. And she says, 'Arnold,' that was my dad's name, 'This milk is sour.' My dad tells her, 'Take a gallon of milk. Tell the people at the checkout counter that Arnold said, it's no charge.'"
Confused by his father's decision, Howard questioned him. His father's response became a lifelong lesson: "Today she got me. But I have a customer forever." Howard reflects, "I learned that you have to take care of your customer. And even though, as a doctor, it's, you have to take care of your patient, not only as patients, doctors, but as people, as human beings. And if you take good care of them, they'll stay around a long time to be with you."
Reflections
Howard's journey from a DP camp in Italy to becoming an eye surgeon in Chicago is a testament to resilience and hard work. His experiences in the family grocery store laid the foundation for his future career, teaching him the value of customer service, hard work, and human kindness.
Today, Howard's most prized possession is the signed photograph of David Ben-Gurion given to his father in the DP camp. It serves as a tangible link to his family's history and the broader story of Jewish resilience.
As he reflects on his life, Howard emphasizes the importance of family, heritage, and being a good person. "Just be good," he advises. "Be what you'd expect other people to be to you. Be good, be fair. Try to help out."
Howard Reinglass's story is a rich tapestry of historical events, personal experiences, and valuable life lessons. From his birth in a DP camp to his years in the family grocery store, each experience has contributed to shaping him into the person he is today. His story serves as a powerful reminder of the resilience of the human spirit and the enduring importance of kindness and hard work.
Howard with Beverly, his wife of 56 years, on their honeymoon.
