New Friends
Leo Gerechter and Louis Zand have been friends for nine years and for most of that time they’ve been talking – and arguing – about life. Both men are interested in politics, Israel, and in what it means to be Jewish. Louis laughs, “We talk about everything, but we don’t always agree.”
This special friendship started when Louis decided to volunteer for the JF&CS Friendly Visitor program and was matched with Leo. Louis said, “I don’t view this as volunteer work. I view JF&CS as an unexpected way of making a very dear friend.”
Born in 1921 in Berlin, Leo Gerechter came to the US in 1939, narrowly missing the cutoff to leave Nazi Germany. His father had passed away shortly after Leo's bar mitzvah and he moved here to live with his uncles who had settled near Pittsburg. Leo attended the University of Pittsburgh and in 1941 he enlisted in the US army.
After the war he returned to Germany and learned that his mother, grandmother, and three sisters had perished in the Holocaust. With his family gone, he moved to New York City to start over. There he met his wife of 51 years, Golda, and worked in the garment district as a salesman. He and “Goldie” had three children and he now has six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
When Golda passed away 11 years ago he moved to Massachusetts to be with his children. Even though he was now near family, Leo was alone all day. He said, “I was a stranger in town and I didn’t know my way around.” Someone suggested he call JF&CS and he was connected with the Friendly Visitor program. Leo said, “I highly recommend Friendly Visitor to anyone. It has helped me a lot. I always feel very grateful to JF&CS.”
His first visitor was a “lovely, bohemian lady” with whom he visited for about a year. He then moved to Centre Street in Newton and was matched with volunteer Louis Zand and his wife Lynn. Louis is a retired dot com executive who saw a small ad in the newspaper, asking for volunteers to visit the elderly.
They spend time together every Friday, walking at the reservoir, eating kosher dinners, and spending time at Louis and Lynn’s home in Brookline. Leo suffers from macular degeneration and is legally blind. He especially appreciates the many books that Louis reads aloud to him. Louis also takes Leo to his doctor’s appointments. Leo said, “Louie is always there for me. He’s like a close relative.”
Leo is an unflagging optimist with a great sense of humor and a hearty laugh. His philosophy is, “You’re here and you might as well make the best of it.” Louis said, “Even after all he’s been through Leo has a joy about life. He stands out as a role model - someone who is extraordinary without being world famous. He’s a true mensch - a thoroughly decent man who can balance the laughter and the heartache of life.”