Charles Portney1916 - 2008

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Eulogies

World War II Log

“Sayings of Chairman Charlie”

October 18, 2009

Eulogy by Robert EdelmanCharlie’s Nephew

Charlie had four sisters and a brother who died at Charlie had four sisters and a brother who died at birth. His father was only in his 30s when he died. The family was poor and lived on the Lower East Side. Charlie’s mother, my grandmother, placed Charlie in a Jewish home for orphans when she could no longer care for him.

I always thought that this was a great influence on I always thought that this was a great influence on his life. The experience made him extremely tough, both physically and mentally, and I think shaped his life. He was warm and wonderful but not easy to get close to. He later attended Cornell and then took off to the gold mines of British Guyana where he worked for several years before the beginning of WWII.the beginning of WWII.

At the outbreak of the war, he enlisted in the navy, and joined a new special operations unit called the UDTs or Underwater Demolition Teams. He participated in seven invasions in the Pacific. His toughness paid off, as the teams went, unarmed, to the beaches before the invasions to clean out mines, equipped with only swim trunks, a mask and a knife. He loved to recount how they left and a knife. He loved to recount how they left signs on the beaches saying, “Welcome, Marines! This beach cleaned for you courtesy of UDT Team 6.” The UDTs after the war became the Navy Seals. Charlie was a hero to his country and his family.

Charlie spent his entire career at Bache and Co.Bache went though many name changes, but Charlie stayed with the firm for more than 50 years.

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Herman Portney Born 1882 near Moscow, Russia. Died in New York City, 1920. AA Lower East Side entrepreneur, Herman developed a business leasing push-carts. At his death he owned more than a dozen carts. He died of an infection, possibly a complication of diabetes. His family remained in Russia. A nephew also named Charles Portney, a surgeon, was involved in the 1952 “Doctors’ Plot” against Stalin.

Fanny Portney Born June 18,1883, Budapest, Hungary. Arrived U.S. 1886. Died November 19,1945. Parents Feival Moskowitz and Gittel Birnbaum, both born in Austria. AA young widow with four daughters and an obstreperous son, Fanny saw no option but to place young Charles in an orphanage, where he’d enjoy male discipline, country air, and better educational opportunities. Though she and his sisters never wrote to him nor visited, in later life he said he regretted not having been a better son.

In the days before foster care was common, half-orphans as well as full orphans often lived in facilities like this. Charlie said that once he got used to it (i.e., quit running away), it wasn’t half bad.

Charlie’s Parents Hebrew National Yonkers,

Eulogy by Ronald N. Ollstein, MDCharlie’s First Cousin Once Removed

I will always LOVE Charlie Portney. I pledge to remember him. I pledge to remember him and REMEMBRANCE is our ultimate gift, our commitment as we face the sadness of loss.

Charlie and I met in 1945 after his warCharlie and I met in 1945 after his war—the good war, the right war, that is, if we can accept the reality and the inevitability of war itself.

I was a well-informed, patriotic 11-year-old boy…collecting rubber bands, tinfoil, lard, old pots and pans, selling war bonds. And Charlie was my hero returning at age 29, tall, powerful, slim, mature and as he would remain, comfortable with all he had faced and all he had done. He enjoyed being with both my mother Miriam, I believe hisfavorite cousin, and my father Dfavorite cousin, and my father Dr. Phil, a family doctor who would look after Charlie and his first wife, Ina Berkowitz, for the next nearly 20 years. The mutual affections were powerful and always a joy. Even when Dad died in 1979, we all had such powerful memories to Even when Dad died in 1979, we all had such powerful memories to sustain us…again the remembrances to hold dear. By then I was a practicing physician and Charlie my supportive friend and guide. Actually Charlie considered himself my colleague…and in fact he was remarkably well informed on health issues. He claimed to be a “brain surgeon-self-taught.” I never questioned the “brain” part of the claim…only the “surgeon” part.

Remembering is so easy with Charlie, his image and his strength so Remembering is so easy with Charlie, his image and his strength so imprinted…his giving and his caring, his politeness and his interests. We all hear of the soul, that transcendental part of us that distinguishes us one from the other, the part that makes us care about how we lived and loved so that it all mattered. Charlie with all his innate heart and vigor and effectiveness and concern had a giant soul —enough for each of us to share.

Charlie was my mentor in life…not, howeveCharlie was my mentor in life…not, however, in medicine, and I still so vividly remember after one of our longer and harder-edged discussions Charlie finally saying in conclusion, “Ronnie, I love you” …end of discussion. A gift which I fortunately recognized at the time for all time.

His secular passage from youth to decorated hero, Chief Petty Officer, U.S. Navy, field commander of UDT 6 was no less powerful.

Born in 1916 into a large Jewish Lower East Side familBorn in 1916 into a large Jewish Lower East Side family, Charlie was apparently more than his mother bargained for. In polite circles one might say he could not be directed…he saw his own solutions, his own paths. The decision was made to place Charlie in the Hebrew National Orphan Home in Yonkers, N.Y. He was actually only half-orphan, but that was merely academic. Charlie thrived at the home, proved a scholar, an outstanding athlete, a behavioral model to his many friends (most of whom stayed close to Charlie throughout his many friends (most of whom stayed close to Charlie throughout their lifetimes). He even was able to earn his own funds by working in the Home Business Office. His accomplishments earned him the privilege of attending Commerce High School, and during it all he

(Continued overleaf)His girlfriend in high school was his office co-worker Ina Berkowitz.

Orphans’ Home NY

Robert Edelman’s Eulogy, Continued

He was a great broker, a brilliant analyst, and extremely loyal to his clients.

This trait of loyalty extended to his friends and This trait of loyalty extended to his friends and family too. Although Charlie would not let anyone get very close, you always knew that if youreally needed him, he was there. This mysterious man was a part of my life that I will always cherish and remember. He was my favorite uncle.

Those summers were some of my fondest Those summers were some of my fondest memories growing up. Can you imagine what an eight-year-old from Texas who had never seen the ocean thought when Charlie said, “Get in, boy!” I was scared out of my wits but I felt safe with this tall man who taught me to swim.

Being from the South, we think it perfectly Being from the South, we think it perfectly appropriate to stop and ask directions. When I suggested to Charlie that we do that, he looked at me like road kill and said, “Never ask for directions!” He went on to add: “Never ask for anything. It shows weakness.”

In his special way he taught me what made people In his special way he taught me what made people successful. One summer we were staying at a hotel on Long Island that was just being completed. The first day we were there, we went outside to go to the beach. Guys were laying grass in the rear patio.

Charlie asked me to watch one particular man who Charlie asked me to watch one particular man who was on his knees placing grass. He was very sweaty, had grass and dirt all over his clothes. Charlie went over to him, shook hands and told him how great the place looked. As we walked away toward the

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Charlie’s girlfriend was a beautiful Portugesa in Georgetown.

Charlie and Robert, ca. 1954

British Guyana

As I remember some of those summers, there were several events that always come to mind. One in particular that always stuck with me was that we were in his car (at that time he drove the biggest Chrysler you ever the biggest Chrysler you ever saw), and we were dead lost.

Ronald Ollstein’s Eulogy, Continued

passed the NYS Regents Exams. Even at this time, I wonder if anyone could ever again be surprised by his accomplishments. Charlie in the late 1930’s gained admission to Cornell (The Agricultural College…the best buy in the entire university), but even he couldn’t swing his junior year with the tail-end of the Depression and war staring us boldly in the face. Japan had progressed its slaughter in China and Nazi Germany was gobbling-up Europe with little other than talk and threats.little other than talk and threats.

By 1941 Charlie had joined the James Stuart Company, a construction corporation, one of the navy’s first See Bee Units, contracted to build a military base in British Guyana, South America. Native workers managed, but most of the whites died of tropical diseases including malaria. Charlie thrived. When the U.S. finally entered the war after Pearl Harbor, Charlie enlisted in the U.S. Navy and, lured by a promise to train in the South, volunteered in a new program called Underwater Demolition (UDT). program called Underwater Demolition (UDT). Today such men are called Seals and are considered among the world’s most elite and successful military operatives. But losses in the early Pacific War were intolerable. And the UDT Mission was IMPOSSIBLE: Clear the Beach BEFORE the Invasion.

Charlie’s unit cut their teeth at Saipan emerging from their submarine into rubber boats, a silent progression to the island, then all-hell, “total confusion” Charlie would call it; explode barbed wire and concrete blocks; eliminate enemy troops as encountered; determine beach capacity to permit mechanized equipment, tanks and bulldozers to progress inland in support of the marines; swim to a dark ocean rendezvous at a precise moment; grab the rope from the PT Boat and head for the home ship. If you missed the pickup you were on your head for the home ship. If you missed the pickup you were on your own. No second chances.

Charlie, as he summed it all up, “survived seven invasions”…”Wild,” he would call it, but they did it again and again on the islands of Tinian, Guam, Peleliu, Anguar, Gnesebius and Leyte in the Philippines. He would love to tell me how he watched MacArthur wade ashore in the Philippines, fulfilling his promise “to return and liberate” these islands. Of course, after the UDT, the Marines and the Army had secured the area.

This soft-spoken man, facing all the obstacles of youth one could This soft-spoken man, facing all the obstacles of youth one could imagine, had by the age of 29, done it all. He recalled Tinian especially, since it would be the take-off point for the Enola Gay and Boch’s Car B-29s in August 1945.

Charlie returned with little or no display of his heroicsCharlie returned with little or no display of his heroics—the same quiet, strong, intelligent, caring UDT be-medaled man, a navy war hero. The G.I. Bill for education and the VA System for health care helped, but many of the WWII Veterans still suffered upon return. They even made movies about it, but Charlie saw his appreciated survival as simply one more mountain to climb. He asked for no help, and quietly after a few diversions wound up with an organization

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Charlie and his best friend, Sig Bergesson, in front of the ammo boxes where they played chess. Note the fresh bullet holes overhead.

Personal photographs of Saipan action.

UDT Team 6

Robert Edelman’s Eulogy, Continued

beach, Charlie stopped, looked at me and said, beach, Charlie stopped, looked at me and said, “That guy is the owner.” I have never forgotten that lesson.

As I grew older, I would ask him about the As I grew older, I would ask him about the economy or how he viewed the markets. Charlie would speak for hours on the subject. He knew more about the economic history of the US than anyone I have ever read or heard. My wife and I would call him and listen for a long periods of time discussing macro and micro economics. After we hung up, Diana would always ask me what he said hung up, Diana would always ask me what he said and what he meant. The standard joke was, after thirty minutes what he really said was buy low & sell high.

I called him after hours of trying to get though on 9-11. I of course wanted to find out if he was OK and get his thoughts on what happened. When he answered the phone and I said his name, his only response was “I can’t talk, we have a situation here.” He then hung up. Other times I would call, and he would say, “I can’t talk now, I have people here.” To this day, I never knew who they were, here.” To this day, I never knew who they were, but the comment and the way he said it always made me laugh.

I was always happiest aftera conversation with him, when just before he hung up he would say, “Goodbye,my boy.” I knew that was asclose to affection as Charlie could ever come. Charlie was the last of my aunts anduncles. I have no more. I loved him and the saddest part to me is that loved him and the saddest part to me is that someone I talked to all the time and thought about all the time and loved all the time will no longer be physically in my life.

Charlie loved New York, the stock markets, baseball, Tama, and I hope me, because I sure loved him.

Charlie, Robert and Robert’s mom, Charlie’s sister Claire.

Bache & Co.

Ronald Ollstein’s Eulogy, Continued

called Bache & Co. Bache is somewhere in the Wachovia family now, and my guess is that all the Charlies, and there were others, are by now almost certainly gone.

In 1980, Ina, his companion in his most formative years died. I was frequently in their home in the months leading to her death from frequently in their home in the months leading to her death from cancer. I watched Charlie care for Ina with a glorious tenderness, with patience and with a never-diminished love. They had been partners in the best and worst of times and were not separated for a moment in the saddest.

Charlie seemed quieter after InaCharlie seemed quieter after Ina’s death, but his warm and caring nature never dimmed. He simply did not look back. He was not one for regrets. He returned to an ever-increasing work load and he honored me by receiving me as often as possible. He dined out less, so we often called-out for dinner and chatted and of course watched the Yankees. Out mutually affectionate styles of declaring the obvious returned, as did the heat generated by our conversations.

By then it was obvious to me he had done most of his traveling. He By then it was obvious to me he had done most of his traveling. He liked reading, often watched the news on mute, attended a few operas and ballets and supported me whenever he knew that I needed his presence.

And then he metAnd then he met Tama Starr, she of the “lights on Broadway” and New Years’ Eve in Times Square, as she counted the seconds and the world watched. Tama was by now central to his life, and I sensed his enormous pride in her many accomplishments, especially her writing. They continued to live in Manhattan but together built a home in New Milford, CT, a home they shared with friends and on occasion with Louise and me. Yet another time of joy was felt by all who knew them.

But now Charlie had begun to express his wonderment at the span of But now Charlie had begun to express his wonderment at the span of his life…”Wild” he would call it at 85, and “wild” again at 90 years. And he began to express to Tama and to others close to his heart that he awaited and wished for a quiet, peaceful death in his bed at home. He wanted no trips to the hospital, no surgeries, no heroics. And as Louise and I watched Tama accomplish his wishes, I could only marvel at their togetherness and at their deeply caring communication and a certainty in the good sense of it all. and a certainty in the good sense of it all. Tama was exquisite in fulfilling Charlie’s final wishes as she softly expressed her presence and continuing love during his last days. I’m sure had Charlie been awake in his last hours, he would have again said, “wild” as he granted Tama eternal thanks. But then again they had exchanged those vows so wisely so often before.

I love Charlie Portney and I thank Tama Starr with my fondest wishes and deepest respect. I will ALWAYS REMEMBER CHARLIE PORTNEY. I will always love my cousin Charlie and my remembrance and love for him will last forever.

Later Years

Eulogy by Tama StarrCharlie’s wife

When I first met Charlie some 30 years ago—he was just When I first met Charlie some 30 years ago—he was just about the age I am now—I was dazzled by his brilliance. I've met many intelligent people in my life, and quite a few of smart people, but Charlie was rare in being both smart—that is, understanding people—and intelligent—that is, understanding ideas. Clearly, he had a unique ability to see, and understand, and explain how the world workthe world works.

I soon learned his remarkable insight was only the tip of the iceberg. More essential to his nature was his quality of kindness. In all our time together I never heard him say a rude or an unkind word. This combo of kindness and intellect adds up to wisdom: the treasure King Solomon said was more valuable than all the world's riches.

There's still more. Charlie was a man of courage. And when you add courage to wisdom, you get the rarest quality of all: character.

Charlie was an originaCharlie was an original. And he died as he lived: independent, generous, thoughtful, rational, loving. He was happy, optimistic, and cheerful—qualities that don't always accompany brilliance. His lesson for us is that there are no limits to what you can do or be, if you're unafraid to express your potential, and if you exercise it with wisdom.

I'd liI'd like to conclude with some lines from a play, Rama's Last Act, by Bhavabhuti, an 8th-century Sanskrit poet. In a sad scene the hero, Rama, bids farewell to his beloved consort, Sita, whom he is forced to send into exile. He observes:

That state when two become onein joy as in sorrow,

where you find rest togetherand feelings never age

but deepen and ripen as you movethrough the layers of time,

that rare state of human fullnessthat rare state of human fullnessis real. You may find it, once,

in life.

Charlie receiving the Bronze Star

World War II