Update 12-24-13
Hi,
Yep, another early newsletter. I'm going away for a week-or-so. So happy holidays. The next newsletter may be on time. And this one's all about Lee and Morty Kaufman.
From Linda Cohen Greenseid: Lee Kaufman was my daughter's 2nd grade teacher at William L. Buck School. It's a second marriage. Lee met Morty when he came to see her for a parent-teacher conference to complain that his son wasn't learning in her class. The rest is history. I believe it's his daughter who works for an ad agency and was asked if she knew an elder couple for the ad. She said, "Yes, my parents." That's how that happened.
From Bernie Scheidt: It's a second marriage for the Kaufmans. You can Google them and get more information. My son had Lee Kaufman as a first grader at William L. Buck. I'm not sure when Lee started teaching at Buck, but she's old enough to have been there when we were in elementary school. Though at that point, she had a different last name. Maybe some of the Buck graduates will have more information.
From Donna Chirico Mungo: Morty and Lee Kaufman were both widowed. Morty's son, I think, needed some tutoring, so Lee tutored him, and she and Morty ended up marrying. Lee was a 1st grade teacher at William L. Buck School.
A possibly more factual article that Linda sent from the Huffington Post:
In their 90s, Morty and Lee Kaufman of Valley Stream, N.Y., are an impressive married couple.
With six children and five grandchildren, Morty, 91, is a retired pharmacist who now helps supervise a program at Nassau Community College that allows those 60 and older to attend classes for free. Lee, 90, is a retired teacher who still works part-time. They love theater and challenging their brain by learning about astronomy.
But that's not all that sets this pair apart. The two have also become overnight Internet sensations.
On July 1, the cleaning brand Swiffer launched a TV campaign based around a documentary-style YouTube series. The stars of both? Morty and Lee Kaufman.
Drawing more than 4.5 million views already, "The Swiffer Effect" commercial features the couple talking about how tough it is to clean floors with an old-fashioned mop and bucket. P&G delivers a box of Swiffer products to their doorstep. After inspecting the items, a smiling Lee begins cleaning -- with the help of Swiffer. They. They finish each other's sentences. And at the end, they dance together in the kitchen while Lee sings to her husband.
In short, the two are adorable and people can't get enough of them.
"Is there already a Lee and Morty Kaufman fan club? Because if not, I need to start one. I love their Swiffer commercials. And as I also climb up on furniture to clean things, I’m hoping my Morty is around to make sure I don’t fall -– or to hand me a Swiffer," wrote one blogger.
In an interview with HuffPost, the couple explained how they fell into acting at the age of 90.
"Our daughter knew a casting director and he told her he was looking for a mature couple for an ad. She said 'well, what about my parents?' And so we began a new career at the age of 90," Lee said. "Morty worked for 40 years and has been retired for 30 and now, all of a sudden, we're doing something completely new."
They shot the commercial in their own home over a two-day period. There was no script and the conversation flowed naturally, just as if there wasn't a camera around. When someone suggested Lee sing a song, she replied with her favorite: "Let Me Call You Sweetheart."
There's no doubt the pair relishes their new and sudden stardom.
"People are even asking for our autograph. I had a 12-year-old boy ask me for one," Lee said. "We're recognized when we go to the diner or a restaurant. We get glances and smiles. We see people nudging each other. It's all very exciting."
So why do they think the commercial is such a hit?
"Frankly I think it's our age. You usually don't see people our age in commercials," Morty Kaufman said. "We feel that all the commercials are made by young, beautiful people and we think our age group has been neglected and so we're holding up our end."
Perhaps there's a laundry detergent ad in their future? The couple remains open to future acting opportunities.
"I don't see why not," said Lee. "We're having so much fun."
With six children and five grandchildren, Morty, 91, is a retired pharmacist who now helps supervise a program at Nassau Community College that allows those 60 and older to attend classes for free. Lee, 90, is a retired teacher who still works part-time. They love theater and challenging their brain by learning about astronomy.
But that's not all that sets this pair apart. The two have also become overnight Internet sensations.
On July 1, the cleaning brand Swiffer launched a TV campaign based around a documentary-style YouTube series. The stars of both? Morty and Lee Kaufman.
Drawing more than 4.5 million views already, "The Swiffer Effect" commercial features the couple talking about how tough it is to clean floors with an old-fashioned mop and bucket. P&G delivers a box of Swiffer products to their doorstep. After inspecting the items, a smiling Lee begins cleaning -- with the help of Swiffer. They. They finish each other's sentences. And at the end, they dance together in the kitchen while Lee sings to her husband.
In short, the two are adorable and people can't get enough of them.
"Is there already a Lee and Morty Kaufman fan club? Because if not, I need to start one. I love their Swiffer commercials. And as I also climb up on furniture to clean things, I’m hoping my Morty is around to make sure I don’t fall -– or to hand me a Swiffer," wrote one blogger.
In an interview with HuffPost, the couple explained how they fell into acting at the age of 90.
"Our daughter knew a casting director and he told her he was looking for a mature couple for an ad. She said 'well, what about my parents?' And so we began a new career at the age of 90," Lee said. "Morty worked for 40 years and has been retired for 30 and now, all of a sudden, we're doing something completely new."
They shot the commercial in their own home over a two-day period. There was no script and the conversation flowed naturally, just as if there wasn't a camera around. When someone suggested Lee sing a song, she replied with her favorite: "Let Me Call You Sweetheart."
There's no doubt the pair relishes their new and sudden stardom.
"People are even asking for our autograph. I had a 12-year-old boy ask me for one," Lee said. "We're recognized when we go to the diner or a restaurant. We get glances and smiles. We see people nudging each other. It's all very exciting."
So why do they think the commercial is such a hit?
"Frankly I think it's our age. You usually don't see people our age in commercials," Morty Kaufman said. "We feel that all the commercials are made by young, beautiful people and we think our age group has been neglected and so we're holding up our end."
Perhaps there's a laundry detergent ad in their future? The couple remains open to future acting opportunities.
"I don't see why not," said Lee. "We're having so much fun."
And another one Linda sent from the Metro:
You’ve likely uttered a big “Awww” upon seeing Morty and Lee Kaufman sweep each other off their feet — and dust off the armoire — in that popular Swiffer commercial. And good news for romantics: The couple is just as in love in real life as they are in the commercial. We spoke to the Kaufmans, who live in Valley Stream, N.Y., about what’s kept their bond of 44 years so strong.
How did you two meet?
Lee: I was a widow and so was he, as we found out after we met. His little boy was in my summer reading class and Morty came for a required parent conference, and that was really how the whole thing started. And after that we kind of left Scotty on his own and got interested in each other.
Morty: I walked in and I said to Lee, “Scotty can’t read for beans, what are you gonna do about it?” She wasn’t too intimidated but nevertheless I felt that I laid everything out straight for her. And later on I came in to have another conference with her, and I said, “I didn’t come to speak about Scotty — would you care to go out with me?” And from then on it blossomed into a lovely romance. We’ve been married 44 years now. We got married on Valentine’s Day 1969, and we’ve had a good marriage. Our children are wonderful to us, and we’re wonderful to our children, and we’re wonderful to each other.
Lee: And I must add that Scotty is an excellent reader. It all worked.
What drew you to each other?
Morty: You know, we both had been widowed in our early 40s, and there was a common bond between us in that we had similar situations. We got along fine. She’s a lovely girl.
Lee: Wow. … It did work out well. We never really sat down and figured the points of what was good and what was bad — it really just went along, especially when our children began to get along.
Morty: I’ll tell ya, I think an important factor was the fact that our previous marriages were both very satisfactory. We both came in with good concepts of marriage and then we were widowed in our very early 40s and we re-entered into marriage with a good attitude.
What are your secrets to wedded bliss after so many years?
Morty: You have to know that you love the person and you gotta know that that person loves you. And you have to be considerate of each other.
Lee: I’m listening very carefully to all this.
How do you resolve arguments?
Morty: You compromise or you give in. No difference of opinion is that important as to interfere with your love for each other. Each one of us gives in more than we’d like. But we give in.
Lee: We were each of us the youngest in our family, and my bigger brothers and sisters always told me where I could sit and what I could do, and if I threatened to complain to mom and pop they threatened me back, so that’s what happens when you’re the youngest: You learn to accommodate. And we found each other very accommodating. Really, that was a good contributing factor.
Morty: You gotta take care of each other.
How do you keep things fun over the years?
Lee: Well, we’re quite sociable. We’ve been theater-goers in Manhattan —
Morty: Opera-goers for 40 years.
Lee: Yes, that got to be our thing. Actually, Morty introduced me to the opera part of it, and fortunately I discovered that it was a nice thing so it was a good thing for us to share. There are friends who join us — we’ve been a group for a long time who does that sort of thing — and then the rest is just nice socializing that most people do with each other and with their friends.
Morty: We eat a lot.
Lee: Yes, we eat a lot. (Laughs)
Morty: We don’t cook too much. After 90, you don’t want to really exert yourself. You want things done for you in a nice, easy fashion.
Based on the commercial, it looks like Lee does all the cleaning in the house.
Morty: Oh yes. I wouldn’t get my hands dirty with that.
Lee: Listen, for somebody who was not a participant — I’ll put that politely — in any manner or fashion, I manage. And I have a helper that comes in. But [Morty] is not a good contributor to that.
Morty: You know, she’s giving you a misconception. Ask her who does all the laundry. She doesn’t know how to work the damn buttons on the washing machine, so I showed her.
Lee: It’s true!
What would you say to a jaded person who doesn’t think there’s anyone good left out there?
Morty: There are many people out there! You just gotta find the good points in them. Find common ground. Enjoy each other. Enjoy your friends.
Lee: He really covered it.
Morty: You gotta be optimistic.
Lee: You gotta stay optimistic and make sure that you’re a joiner so that you get to go places and get to be with people so that you can enjoy whatever it is that you’re doing.
Everyone wants to know: How do you keep the sparks flying after all these years?
Morty: Well, there is nothing racy. It’s just warm appreciation of each other. Your bodily demands vary with different ages as you get older. As you get older, you can just appreciate squeezing each other’s hand, hugging each other.
Lee: I just gave him a poke because I just want him not to divulge all the secrets of our successful life together.
Morty: Listen, there’s nothing quite as good as a loving hug and a good warm kiss. That keeps you going.
Lee: Thank you, Morty.
Morty: You’re welcome.
How did you two meet?
Lee: I was a widow and so was he, as we found out after we met. His little boy was in my summer reading class and Morty came for a required parent conference, and that was really how the whole thing started. And after that we kind of left Scotty on his own and got interested in each other.
Morty: I walked in and I said to Lee, “Scotty can’t read for beans, what are you gonna do about it?” She wasn’t too intimidated but nevertheless I felt that I laid everything out straight for her. And later on I came in to have another conference with her, and I said, “I didn’t come to speak about Scotty — would you care to go out with me?” And from then on it blossomed into a lovely romance. We’ve been married 44 years now. We got married on Valentine’s Day 1969, and we’ve had a good marriage. Our children are wonderful to us, and we’re wonderful to our children, and we’re wonderful to each other.
Lee: And I must add that Scotty is an excellent reader. It all worked.
What drew you to each other?
Morty: You know, we both had been widowed in our early 40s, and there was a common bond between us in that we had similar situations. We got along fine. She’s a lovely girl.
Lee: Wow. … It did work out well. We never really sat down and figured the points of what was good and what was bad — it really just went along, especially when our children began to get along.
Morty: I’ll tell ya, I think an important factor was the fact that our previous marriages were both very satisfactory. We both came in with good concepts of marriage and then we were widowed in our very early 40s and we re-entered into marriage with a good attitude.
What are your secrets to wedded bliss after so many years?
Morty: You have to know that you love the person and you gotta know that that person loves you. And you have to be considerate of each other.
Lee: I’m listening very carefully to all this.
How do you resolve arguments?
Morty: You compromise or you give in. No difference of opinion is that important as to interfere with your love for each other. Each one of us gives in more than we’d like. But we give in.
Lee: We were each of us the youngest in our family, and my bigger brothers and sisters always told me where I could sit and what I could do, and if I threatened to complain to mom and pop they threatened me back, so that’s what happens when you’re the youngest: You learn to accommodate. And we found each other very accommodating. Really, that was a good contributing factor.
Morty: You gotta take care of each other.
How do you keep things fun over the years?
Lee: Well, we’re quite sociable. We’ve been theater-goers in Manhattan —
Morty: Opera-goers for 40 years.
Lee: Yes, that got to be our thing. Actually, Morty introduced me to the opera part of it, and fortunately I discovered that it was a nice thing so it was a good thing for us to share. There are friends who join us — we’ve been a group for a long time who does that sort of thing — and then the rest is just nice socializing that most people do with each other and with their friends.
Morty: We eat a lot.
Lee: Yes, we eat a lot. (Laughs)
Morty: We don’t cook too much. After 90, you don’t want to really exert yourself. You want things done for you in a nice, easy fashion.
Based on the commercial, it looks like Lee does all the cleaning in the house.
Morty: Oh yes. I wouldn’t get my hands dirty with that.
Lee: Listen, for somebody who was not a participant — I’ll put that politely — in any manner or fashion, I manage. And I have a helper that comes in. But [Morty] is not a good contributor to that.
Morty: You know, she’s giving you a misconception. Ask her who does all the laundry. She doesn’t know how to work the damn buttons on the washing machine, so I showed her.
Lee: It’s true!
What would you say to a jaded person who doesn’t think there’s anyone good left out there?
Morty: There are many people out there! You just gotta find the good points in them. Find common ground. Enjoy each other. Enjoy your friends.
Lee: He really covered it.
Morty: You gotta be optimistic.
Lee: You gotta stay optimistic and make sure that you’re a joiner so that you get to go places and get to be with people so that you can enjoy whatever it is that you’re doing.
Everyone wants to know: How do you keep the sparks flying after all these years?
Morty: Well, there is nothing racy. It’s just warm appreciation of each other. Your bodily demands vary with different ages as you get older. As you get older, you can just appreciate squeezing each other’s hand, hugging each other.
Lee: I just gave him a poke because I just want him not to divulge all the secrets of our successful life together.
Morty: Listen, there’s nothing quite as good as a loving hug and a good warm kiss. That keeps you going.
Lee: Thank you, Morty.
Morty: You’re welcome.
The South '65 e-mail addresses: reunionclass65 . blogspot . com (remove the spaces)
The South '65 photo site: picasaweb . google . com/SouthHS65 (ditto)
The class of '65 50th Reunion dates: April 24 through April 26, 2015
Rich
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