- Ottawa Jewish Archives
- Ottawa Jewish Historical Society fonds
- Interview with Bob Gencher
Interview with Bob Gencher
Description only — contact the archiveO0045
- Held by
- Ottawa Jewish Archives via Canadian Jewish Heritage Network (incl. Alex Dworkin Canadian Jewish Archives)
- Dates
- July 11, 2000 (indexed as 2000)
- Level
- item
- Scope & content
- Date Digitized: April 26, 2021 Digitized by: Grace Turner Number of Cassettes: 1 Subject: Bob Gencher and his Family Interviewer: Joe Murray Date: July 11, 2000 Interview Location: Ottawa, ON Length of Time: 58:37 Trigger Warning: Racist Language Used -The Gencher family came to Canada after World War I. Bob’s grandfather Jakob Joseph Gencher was the first to come over; the family lived in a small village adjacent to Moscow. Jakob came over 6 years prior to the rest of the family to save the money needed to bring the family to Canada. -Jakob Joseph was a food peddler in the market and lived on Chapel and St. Patrick. Bob tells a story about Marty Saslov’s father who was a travel agent during this time. -Once the family arrived in Canada they moved to Billings Bridge. Bob also recalls a story of how Hy Soloway came to Canada under his father, Harry Gencher’s, passport. -The family lived in a house at 35 St. Joseph Street. The family had 6 children, 4 boys and 2 girls. Abe, Jeanie, Moe, Rita, Bob, and Irving. -Bob recalls that his father was one of the first peddlers to have a motor car instead of a horse and buggy. His father owned a T-4 and had a drop off route on both the east and west side of the canal. -Bob also recalls his family being among the first to have a radio in their home. One of his most vivid memories he has is of the community all coming over to listen to Hitler’s speech in 1939. -Bob then talks about the community and stores his family frequented. **racist term used** -Bob then mentions the Murray Street Shul as well as a few community members who stayed with the Gencher family for a short time. -Bob was born at the Civic Hospital March 15th, 1931. He attended York Street Public School and recalls 2 teachers; Cook and Mathews. -In 1939 the family moved to a house on Marlboro Avenue. Bob talks of his parents buying this house with money his brother Abe sent back from his work in the Air Force. Due to this move he changed schools and then attended Osgoode Street School. -Bob attended Hader at George Street and had very fond memories of his classmates there. -Bob goes on to talk about his neighbours in Sandy Hill; he played a lot of sports with the neighbourhood children and particularly recalls the Abelson boys who were the best at sports. -He talks about the community and the stores he recalls; AJ Freiman’s, the Bottanof Bakery (?), and a Kosher Butcher. He talks of how few jewish establishments there are now. -Bob spent time in Carlsbad Springs and tells stories of his memories there. -Bob recalls how the jewish community in Ottawa was very close and tight knit. -Bob attended Ottawa Technical High School after his brother Moe. He talks of how Moe convinced him to play an instrument. Bob took up the trombone and the drums. Later on his younger brother Irving also came to Ottawa Technical High School and took up the clarinet. The three brothers all got into the Ottawa Boys Band and later the Hull Regiment Band. -In 1955 Bob and Leah got married. Leah and Bob met on a blind date set up by Gail Smith in Montreal. The couple had 5 sons and 8 grandchildren. -Bob and Leah were both active in the community and particularly the Jewish National Fund. -Bob and Leah have travelled a lot and have been to Israel 15 times and Australia 13 times. -The family attends Machzikei Hadas. Bob discusses his son's weddings, the fond memories, and of attending Machzikei Hadas as a family. Bob used to be active in the Knights of Pythias, his memories of the organization are of the charitable fundraising and the poker games after meetings. -Bob discusses his son's marriages and careers. All of them are successful and happy in both. -The Gencher family became self proclaimed “ski bums”. Bob talks of spending every winter weekend skiing at Camp Fortune, which in turn meant his sons became great skiers. -In 1985 Bob was in Rome when he had some chest pains, soon after he received a heart bypass. -Bob spent 42 years as a Real Estate Broker and in 1974 he received his appraisal certification. He now works as a forensic appraiser. END OF TAPE
- Location
No place found in this description yet.
Where
More details
- Genre / form
- sound recording
- Format
- Audio
- Harvested
- 2026-10-17T20:12:50Z · source datestamp n/a · cjhn