Identifications on reverse of photograph: Back row, L-R: Cantor Simon Bergman, Lois Bergman, Etta Harmell, Stefanie Evans holding Erica Evans, Jeremy Walton held by Sandi Walton, Carolyn Willougby; Front, L-R: Faye Swartzer, Jerri Swartzer, Ira Sheer, Elaine Sheer, Rebecca Cramer, Sandy Cramer, Michele Willougby and Mark Willougby
Barbara Kaufman (née Raben) was born on August 01, 1941 to Hymen Raben and Harriet Goodman. She married Bernard Kaufman on March 26, 1961. They moved to Las Vegas, Nevada in 1968. Barbara and Bernard have two children together, Carrie and Andrew Kaufman. Barbara focused herself on raising their children, Carrie and Andrew, and once the children were in their teens, she went to work for her brother as a bookkeeper. Barbara, as of October 27, 2014, is still a bookeeper.
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Berkeley Bunker was born August 12, 1906 in St. Thomas, Nevada. His grandfather was a Mormon pioneer who moved the family to Southern Nevada. Bunker attended Moapa Valley High School in Overton, Nevada, and graduated from Las Vegas High School in 1926. After graduating from high school, Bunker filled a Mormon Mission for the church in the Southern States Mission. He met his wife during his mission and was married in the St. George Mormon Temple in St. George, Utah in 1933. Bunker passed away January 21, 1999.
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Jacob "Jake" Kozloff was a casino investor and manager in Las Vegas, Nevada during the 1940s and 1950s. Born in Russia, he moved to Redding, Pennsylvania in 1905. Beginning in 1933, Kozloff was president and treasurer of Lebanon Valley Brewing Company in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. In the 1940s he moved to Las Vegas where he invested in and oversaw operations at the Thunderbird, the Frontier (1951-1955), and the Golden Nugget.
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Oral history interview with Cathrine Abrigo conducted by Cecilia Winchell and Stefani Evans on July 20, 2022 for the Reflections: the Las Vegas Asian American and Pacific Islander Oral History Project. In this interview, Abrigo describes her early life in the Philippines, where she attended Catholic school and briefly studied medical technology in college. She describes immigrating to Las Vegas, Nevada with her husband and the difficulty of leaving her immediate family behind. She discusses working for the Cosmopolitan in 2011 and becoming deeply involved with the Culinary Workers Union Local 226. Throughout the interview, Abrigo talks about religion, food, and her activism with the Culinary Union.
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Michael Jay Shane is a natural musician and entertainer. Born in New York City in 1961, Shane is a graduate of the famous High School of Performing Arts, and later attend Peabody Conservatory of Music, before leaving to launch his musical entertainment career full-time. Shane has had a varied and full career ever since as a musical entertainer, working as emcee, comedian, voiceover actor, and musician, showcasing the piano, guitar, saxophone, clarinet as well as vocals. He moved to Las Vegas in 1995, and jobs have included playing the piano at Wynn?s Tower Suite Bar, Bootlegger, and currently, Italian American Club. In this interview, Shane shares about his family and a childhood filled with music. He discusses his career trajectory, and the influence Judaism has had in his upbringing and work. He details differences between working in New York City and Las Vegas, what makes Las Vegas unique for any musician or musical entertainer, and talks about changes in the local entertainment scene since corporations took over the gaming industry. He also shares stories about his career, including working with Jerry Lewis and following Andrew Dice Clay?s standup act.
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The documentation of the Holocaust of World War II reveals the desperation of Jewish families to protect their loved ones from doom. In this oral history, Sonja (neé Niekerk) Walter recalls the story of being an infant handed off to a family friend for safety and nurturing. Next to Sonja is Wilma, her “sister” and the biological daughter of that friend. Sonja and Wilma are tethered together by history and love for Cor Vandenberg, mother and protector. Sonja was born in 1943 Holland to Simon and Rose Niekerk. At thirteen days of age she was given sanctuary by Cor, who raise her as her own for the next two and half years. She and Wilma reminisce about the circumstances that brought them together, their love of Cor, and the impact of being a child survivor of the Holocaust. Sonja also shares her family’s journey to the United States and to Las Vegas.
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