Page 21 - Boca ViewPointe - April '20

April 2020 Viewpointe, Page 21

Meet Our Neighbor: Seymour “Si” Robbins

By Mort Mazor “ Assoc i a t i ng wi t h During this event I met many company heads of international
these men taught me how companies, including becoming friendly with Henry Ford, Jr.
Si, 92 cherishes a memory of an unexpected walk in 1952 to manage people which In 1982 until 1995 he struck out on his own, forming
with ex-president Harry Truman one Sunday in Kansas City, served me well throughout Creative Fabric Consultants.
MO. where Si had arrived for an early Monday morning business my business career.” “My work took me to distant parts of the world, including
appointment. He married Dorothy in Japan and China, as I accumulated knowledge and expertise
Truman had just finished a speech outdoors to a Junior 1948 and raised a family in fabric manufacturing machinery that produced knit and
Chamber of Commerce group and had been presented with a of two boys and one girl woven goods and the process of silk screen printing colorful
large spectacular multi-colored Indian headdress as a gift. He which has grown to three designs on these fabrics.”
started walking to where he had parked his car. Si happened to grandchildren and two great Beginning in 1990 the textile manufacturing industry left
be walking in the same direction and asked Truman if he could grandchildren. Sadly, Dorothy the U. S. and moved to China, Pakistan and India. By 1995 Si
carry the headdress for him. passed in 2011. decided to retire. These days he enjoys playing poker, walking
Truman smiled and said “No thanks, I can handle it. You Si worked at M. and continuing his lifelong hobby of photography.
can walk with me if you like.” Si was delighted. There was Lowenstein, a large fabric manufacturer as a salesman from
no entourage, no Secret Service detail—just the two of them 1950 to 1955 and then moved to United Merchants Co. from Mort Mazor and his wife Lucille were West Delray
strolling along with this Indian Chief headdress. 1955 to 1982 where he grew to V. P. of the Printed Fabric residents for 27 years prior to relocating to Stratford Court,
“Truman couldn’t stop talking about Bess and their daughter Division. Some of this work was done in a new factory in Boca Raton, Oct. 7, 2014. They celebrated their 74th wedding
Margaret during the 20 minute walk” said Robbins. “It was a Israel. In addition the separate division of United Merchants anniversary March 20, 2019.
pleasure to be in his company. Today that headdress is exhibited that manufactured bedspreads, curtains, etc. was utilizing Since 2008 he has written over 500 articles for the weekly
in the Truman Library in Independence, MO.” another new factory in Israel. He worked closely with the sections of the Sun-Sentinel. Current topics cover senior’s
Si Robbins was raised in the Bronx, attended Townsend finance minister of Israel and production people to start outstanding achievements, wellness, and finance.
Harris H.S. and went on to earn a B.S. in Education at City manufacturing merchandise in this factory. He retired in 2018 from teaching a weekly course in
College of New York. At C.C.N.Y. he was influenced favorably “During my two month working stay in Israel I also took Creative Writing began in 2002. The course continues at
by famed basketball coach, Nat Holman and football coach part in an economic conference to develop new business in Weisman Community Center, West Atlantic Ave. Delray Beach
“Chief” Miller. Israel and expand Israeli businesses to other parts of the world. every Monday, 1 to 3:00 pm. 
Clowns On Call

By Harriet Rubin, aka
Florabelle the Clown

Hello to all our friends and
neighbors in Boca Pointe. By
the time you read this article
(written on March 25th) I hope
and pray the virus has come
and gone!!! This has been a
tumultuous experience for all
of us, unimaginable, except
in a science fiction movie! I’m finding it very difficult to write
an uplifting article when there is so much fear, anxiety, and
helplessness circulating all around me; but I feel I want to put
some positive thoughts down to perhaps sooth my soul and those Juggles, Florabelle, Cutie Pie, and J.J. all dressed in our
around me. So here goes - Lollypop, Juggles and Cutie Pie at the Spring event at Calusa finest and “lookin good” at the Juvenile Diabetes Research
What can I do, as a clown, to make the world a little brighter? Elementary School in Boca. Foundation event in West Palm Beach.
I’ve given this a lot of thought in the past 10 days, and since I
am home, doing little, I’ve had plenty “think” time. Because I’m smile and perhaps even laugh at the “silly” face? I do admit, I Kiwanis Walk; A Fair at Calusa Elementary School; Juvenile
an older senior, with some health issues, I need to avoid crowds, did have second thoughts. When I am in full clown face and Diabetes Foundation Research Walk; and the Purim Carnival at
kids, etc. If I was more computer literate, I could video myself costume, I have always been able to do all the antics clowns are B’nai Israel. They were all well attended and we had a great time!
and do a show, or some magic tricks, or make balloons, or read known for. I have few inhibitions and as long as my actions are I’m not sure of any events coming up at this time. Like all other
a story, put it on YouTube and hope someone sees it and it cheers within the guidelines of the International Clown Code of Ethics I volunteer groups, we are waiting for life to return to normalcy
them up; but I don’t know how to do that! So what can I do? Well, do what I am comfortable doing. But - I would have no makeup and hope and pray we will all be safe and healthy when it does.
there has been so much emphasis on face masks recently that I got or costume to hide behind, just a mask! Well, Tuesday at 7:00am I would like to close with a beautiful anonymous poem I
an idea. Several years ago, I decided to invest in a hospital clown I was in line with perhaps 100 other Seniors waiting to get into recently uncovered in an old copy of “Clowning Around,” The
lab coat. It was after attending a clown convention in Chicago at Publix. I took out the mask, put it on, and 2 seconds later one WCA publication.
a lecture by a well known hospital clown from California. I was of the many club members and neighbors I would encounter The Clown’s Prayer
truly inspired by her experiences, and she was taking orders on a walked by me. I greeted her with a cheery “good morning” and “As I stumble through this life,
beautiful lab coat, so I ordered one and she also had nurse’s caps immediately got a bright smile and an “I love it”! That did it! For help me to create
and the cutest clown hospital mask! It had a red nose and red lips the next hour I kept the mask on, waited for people to see me and more laughter than tears,
on a white background. I also purchased a funny stethoscope with smile, laugh, and comment. Not a single negative comment or dispense more happiness than gloom,
a plunger at the end, a huge thermometer, and a new clown name look! Several shoppers (who I didn’t know) said “thank you for spread more cheer than despair.
badge, Dr. Quack-Quack. The whole order was about $150.00, making me smile.” I kept the mask on until I got into my car. I Never let me become so indifferent
and of course it sat in my closet for a very long time. Being a honestly have no idea how many of the shoppers wondered who that I will fail to see the wonder
hospital clown here in South Florida is a very specific voluntary or what I was. I did not wear my “BOCA POINTE CLOWNS in the eyes of a child
activity. You must become an actual hospital volunteer, and then ON CALL” badge, perhaps the next time I do this I will. All I or the twinkle in the eyes of the aged.
commit to a regular weekly schedule. Because of my working can tell you is “It made me feel so good.” A simple little happy Never let me forget
per diem (I’m a Speech Pathologist and cover nursing homes), clown mask brought some joy that my total effort is to
I am not able to pursue that path. I finally got to use the lab coat and distraction to a difficult cheer people, make them happy
and equipment in our “Miracle Machine” skit in “Wiggles and situation, and this is what and forget at least momentarily
Giggles,” but the mask was buried in a drawer with my socks Caring Clowning is all about. all the unpleasantness in their lives.
and gloves. We did have 6 events in And, in my final moment;
When Publix announced that they were opening especially March before everything was may I hear You whisper;
for Seniors this week at 7:00am, I had an idea. What if I put on cancelled. These included a “When you made My people smile,
the clown hospital mask when I went to Publix? How would visit to Boca Helping Hands you made Me smile.”
people react? Would they think I was mocking the virus and family dinner; The Walk
health workers? Would they wonder if I was ill? Or would they for Pancreatic Cancer; The Please remember to wave when a clown goes by! 