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Here’s her story: Margot Capell was born on October 18, 1920. Her hometown of Rulzheim, Germany was 10% Jewish. In 1934, 14-year-old Margot Capell was getting ready to be the valedictorian of her class. On graduation day, her teacher told her that she could not be the valedictorian because the Nazi Regime would not allow a Jew to hold this honor.
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From then on, the integrated friendly town she once knew turned hostile, and the Jews were separated from the rest of the community. Her best friend stopped speaking to her, and the shop where she worked was vandalized. Her home was broken into, and the police ignored her family’s cries for help.
The rise of anti-Semitism was slow and gradual, but nonetheless, Margot’s family knew they had to leave. Her mother sent Margot to England through an organization that helped Jews go there as housekeepers. She spent a year and a half in England before traveling to the United States to live with her uncle. Margot’s brother, Paul Wolf, built a new life in Sweden. |
Margot worked hard to save money for her parents' visas, so she could bring them to the United States. However, by the time she had the money ready, her parents were killed in a concentration camp in Poland.
She met Eric Capell at an event for refugees, and it was love at first sight. They got married in 1943 and bought a candy store in Brooklyn with a loan that Eric got from the Army. After 15 years, they sold the shop and moved to their own home in Staten Island. They hosted many wonderful dinners, discussion groups, and engagement parties for their nieces. Eric eventually bought Romac Foods, where Margot was his bookkeeper. Eric died in 1993, two weeks before their 50th anniversary. |
LocationSBERNIKOW/MID-ISLAND
1466 Manor Road Staten Island, NY 10314 718.475.5200 JCC EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER AT TEMPLE ISRAEL
10 Gregg Place Staten Island, NY 10301 718.475.5290 |
AVIS/SOUTH SHORE
1297 Arthur Kill Road Staten Island, NY 10312 718.475.5270 BERMAN EARLY CHILDHOOD CENTER
2221 Richmond Ave. Staten Island, NY 10314 718.475.5100 |
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