Bertram Levinstone, October 10, 2014

Susan Falciani Maldonado: How did you end up at Muhlenberg? How did you choose Muhlenberg for your program? How did you choose Muhlenberg for your undergrad?

Bertram Levinstone: When I got out of high school, or near graduation of high school, it was 1938. My father was a lawyer, but things were bad for the--for the past eight years. The Depression hit him very hard. He said before the Depression in 1928, he could've sent all three of us to college. But by the time I came, my older brother had not gone to college. And here I am graduating from high school and no money to go to college.

I saw a little piece in the New York Times, about a half inch long, four or five lines, that said, Muhlenberg College in Allentown is offering full tuition scholarships on the basis of a competitive examination, call Haps Benfer, blah, blah, blah. So I showed it to my dad, and he said, "Sure, go for it." So we called and we made an appointment; Benfer came up to Newark and met us in a 00:01:00hotel. And we were reasonably impressed. And I went down to Allentown and took this exam with 63 other guys. That meant one in eight had to win, that was a pretty good--pretty good odds. Well, needless to say, I won one of the top scores, but it doesn't matter. We were all equal: eight of us. And so that's how I came to Muhlenberg, and I had free tuition.

SFM: That's a wonderful story; that's great.

BL: And my first year there wasn't room in the dorms. So I lived on Liberty Avenue, opposite the cemetery, for $5 a week rent.

SFM: In a house?

BL: In a private home, yeah. A woman rented me the room. And at one point, I had another guy in with me, a roommate, a New Yorker, who was an interesting person. He was about three or four years older than I was. The one thing I remember about him was he'd come in late at night and his jacket was here, his shirt was here, his pants were here, his shoes were here, and socks...and he was in the bed. [laughs]

SFM: Now, you mentioned Haps Benfer, whose name comes up all the time, I mentioned him in the exhibit--.He was very involved? Like, he had a personal relationship with you, with students?

BL: Not more than the average student, but everybody considered him a friend. And I think his son was in the class behind me.

SFM: I think I've come across that also. I think he served, also, in the military.

BL: Haps was everybody's friend. He was ubiquitous and he was into everything.

SFM: I know. I've heard a lot. I believe that at reunion this year, I think David Miller was talking about paying tribute to Haps. That's part of the reason I've kind of featured him so much in the exhibit because I know he's a very big part of the memories of that time.

What would you say are some of your most vivid memories of Muhlenberg? If you're going to pick a few, what stands out?

BL: Well, after that rooming house, I got a room in E[ast] Hall, on the top floor. And it was fun to be there. A little cramped...Not the most comfortable place, but you know, we said this is the way it has to be. And I had a roommate, Gene Laigon, who was also in med school with me. You've seen his name in some of my letters. And that was enjoyable; and I also enjoyed working on weekends. I 00:04:00got a job in a shoe store in Allentown where I made something like five or ten dollars a day, which was big money. But at night I played with a band in Emaus [Emmaus] at a drinking club. I made $15 and that was fun. So that was--I also played in the college band, the marching band, and for a while I worked in the commons, serving. That's a storage building, now, right? It's that brick building next to the football field. That's where we ate.

SFM: Right. And that turned into--served as a mess hall during the V-12 program, I believe.

BL: Well, we were before that.

SFM: Yeah. The print shop is in the back of that building now, so it's still used.

BL: Well, we didn't dream of anything like the, like the--what's the name of the eating place now?

SFM: The Seegers Union, and the Dining Commons.

BL: Yeah, yeah.

SFM: Did you play sports? Were you involved with any of that?

BL: No, I was never into sports. I was always afraid of a ball hitting my glasses, and I couldn't even catch a baseball. So I was rarely into sports. I wasn't a good runner. And that was one area of my life that--. [laughs] I wasn't a good swimmer, never got into golf and tennis. So I was one of those guys, like a musician.

SFM: Yeah, well, you can only do so much. Now, a lot of the letters are addressed to either John Wagner or Gordon Fister, who was the PR director, of course, and the alumni secretary. And they seem to have a very--a warm relationship with a lot of the guys. The letters are very personal. Do you--do you remember them, in person?

BL: Actually, I have to say that the relationship developed more after I left the school, than while I was there. Cause Gordon was like the "alumni guy" and you're a student, you don't mix up with the alumni director. So I developed that relationship through the letters and through visits, but I wasn't that close to them while I was on campus.

SFM: OK. And that makes sense, that makes sense. Now during the war, if you could just tell us: where did you serve? During the war years.

BL: As I said, I was in med school until [19]45. At that point, we were in the army and, ah, they didn't need us. So they assigned us to the VA hospitals. It so happens that there's a VA hospital in this town called Lyons, and I was 00:07:00assigned there. I didn't live here then, [laughs] I lived in Newark, but I was assigned to Lyons, and there was a two year stint. During that time, I got married, the following November--after July [19]45, I got married in July--November [19]46. And ah, so that's where I spent World War II. I mean, I didn't go overseas and have active duty with the army. I had active duty--Oh, the interesting thing was, this was mostly a psychiatric hospital. So the GIs hated the--they didn't hate, but they got upset when they saw officers' uniforms. So we had to wear civilian clothes on duty, but if we went off the 00:08:00base, we had to wear uniforms. So that was a--sort of a twist that was kinda backwards.

SFM: So you would have seen cases--now they call it PTSD, but, were you dealing with a lot of those?

BL: Oh, some of--well, we were actually---This place was opened in 1921, I think, and as, uh, without a war going on and everything, it sorta ran down as a--and medically too. And here, an infusion of ten or twelve bright young guys just out of internship hit it; we were picking up all kinds of medical conditions and these--and these mental--mentally ill veterans. So that was--that was very interesting from the medical standpoint. We didn't do all psychiatry. And of course I, um, moved to the--to the surgical part cause I was interested 00:09:00in surgery. And, uh, actually, at the hospital where I had my surgical internship--ah, residency, I was out of internship--residency, in Newark, told me to come and work there in, uh, January of [19]45--uh, [19]47. And I said, "Why not June like everybody else?" They said "Don't worry about it. We want--we're starting a residency and we want to start now; we'll get you out of the army." So they did. They got me out of the army under a provision which said that I was more valuable to the civilian effort than to the military.

Well, it came back to haunt me in [19]53 during the Korean War; they said "You 00:10:00weren't in for two years, come back." And that was supposed to be for two years. And that's when I was up in Limestone, Maine, as a--as a captain in the Air Force. But then again, after six months there, they--Congress changed the law, and I got out. So I was only in the Air Force for six months in [19]53, but I had already established a practice, an office practice in Newark. And I had to give everything up and break it up and go up to Maine and start all over again when I got back. So I did. That was my contribution to the war effort.

SFM: Are there any--any other mentors or people from Muhlenberg that you stayed in touch with that helped shape your career? Like after graduation?

BL: Yeah, Papa Shankweiler was-- was everybody's idol in the--in the pre-med 00:11:00group. And he worked hard to get us into med school, and he did, got us into a great medical school. And--and we owe him a lot, taught us--and John Trainor was--was his associate after awhile. Other professors that I remember fondly was--were--was Dr. Everitt, the English teacher. Dr. Corbiere taught me all the French I know. Dr. Brandes, chemistry. I had an interesting thing in chemistry. I never took chemistry in high school and I was behind everybody. That first year, I did very badly, the first semester. But I caught up right away and got right up there with Brandes's help and with the old brain. So--'cause I was in a pre-med course anyway, so it had to be science.

Who else? Truman Koehler in math. And maybe I'll think of some more; but they were all great teachers and they all related to the students. And the students, I think, prospered under them, academically.

SFM: Now, we talked to the Alumni Relations people when we were setting up this visit and they said that you are the--that you come back for reunion and homecoming very frequently, that you're the most senior returning alum[nus]--- I saw you there just a few weeks ago.

BL: Yeah, I did last year. Actually, as I said, I had no reason to come back for class reunions, but when David Miller started this thing with the Weekly, I jumped at it, and it was an opportunity to get back on the campus.

Oh, I have to tell you: when I was courting my wife, one of her brothers was ready to go to college, and my father-in-law was so impressed with my education at Muhlenberg that he sent him there, to Muhlenberg, and then his brother after him. And both to them became physicians; one went to Jefferson and one went to Hahnemann. The older one has passed away, and the younger one has retired from medicine and is living in New York. And you'll know the name: Donald Rothfeld [Class of 1959], who donated all those pictures. That's--he's the guy that got into--into art--artwork and he used to spend all his weekends in art galleries. And he earned enough money in medicine and so forth that he bought very expensive stuff. And he was generous to Muhlenberg and now two grandsons--The 00:14:00older boy, he passed away, Edwin-- One just graduated from Muhlenberg, and one is attending now, I think. Bond, the last name is Bond. as native land. So, four guys went to Muhlenberg after me, on the basis of the fact that I had such a good time there.

SFM: That's just wonderful. What do you, what did you like? What do you think about the changes? [interruption; dog runs through room]

BL: Well, the changes are additions, but the old things are impressive too, like the Memorial Chapel and E[ast] Hall and the library and the "Ad" Building. They really are old memories and they stand out as something that I really enjoyed 00:15:00working in.

SFM: They do, and they've been re-purposed and maintained and you really get the feeling of the campus, you know, throughout the 20th century.

BL: The fraternity situation was interesting too. There was ah-- one Jewish fraternity, Phi Epsilon Pi, was on campus and four others: ATO and Phi KT[?] and I forget the others-- but I was extremely impressed with the fact that we were on an equal basis with them in the Inter-Fraternity Council, and we rotated every fifth year the presidency of the Inter-Fraternity Council. When I got down to Philadelphia to med school, I found out that there were "A" and "B" 00:16:00fraternities, Jewish and non-Jewish. And that was ah--I said, "Wow, look at this."

SFM: But at Muhlenberg that wasn't an issue.

BL: It wasn't actually discrimination, but it-- somehow didn't smell right. So I was very impressed with Muhlenberg's handling of fraternities. [Dog toy squeaks]. Now, Phi Epsilon Pi has-- has disappeared, it merged into ZBT. But--I don't think it exists on the campus? And Hillel sort of took over for the Jewish students. And I had a nice relationship with the Hillel director that just left, but I haven't met the new rabbi yet.

SFM: She's new, right?

SFM: Now, as far as the World War Two collection, which you came-- you saw the 00:17:00exhibit during Homecoming. Having these files, these archives of letters; how do you think that that's important, in terms of having them available for students to research or researchers, what do you think?

BL: Well, it's part of the school's history, and part of the country's history. So I think it's really very important. Somebody wants to do research in that field it's right there for them to access.

[Interview cuts to Mr. Levinstone reading from his 1940 letter from the collection].

BL: OK, this is a letter I wrote to Gordon Fister on June 13th, 1944.

"About a week ago, I started out to dispose of a pile of ten letters in my "unanswered" cubby hole. Yours, of course, was one of them. I'm still disposing tonight, but have again come across your letter because of your recent prompt answer. That is the story behind this prompt reply of mine.

"I was glad to be able to contribute to the Loyalty Fund and to keep things going and to feel in a tiny way that I am repaying a minute fraction of what 'Berg has done for me. If that's the spirit you referred to, you're right, and the college is certainly welcome. You didn't mention whether my pledge would be included in the fund or not, even if it comes after June 30th, but I'm afraid the money won't go astray whenever I send it, as I'll follow the original plan I had of taking the balance out of my next month check and sending it then. Also want to thank you for stationary refill. I don't have to tell you how good it is or how much we appreciate it anymore. You can probably almost hear it every time you see a letter written under the good old Plaster Pete figures. Is that 00:19:00blasphemy? See what a young tradition will do?"

BL: You know, that statue was plaster during my time on the campus; they hadn't cast it in bronze yet.

SFM: I did not know that!

BL: And that's why we called it "Plaster Pete." That was John Peter Gabriel Muhlenberg. And I don't think the bronze statue was put up until after I graduated.

SFM: I never knew the origin of that; you're not the only one who referred to it that way, but I just-- I just thought it was in fun. I had no idea.

BL: That's the reason for it: it was plaster. And he was a-- a Lutheran minister who became a general in Washington's army.

[Resumes letter].

"And loads of thanks for the addresses of the boys. I don't know if I can get a rise out of all of them, but I might try. While I hate to keep bothering you, I notice you have once again established contact with Chuck Burrell and would appreciate his address.

"Had I told you of my acceptance for an internship at the New York Beth Israel Hospital. That's a long way off, however: July 1st, 1945, and nine months thereafter. Al Weiss will go to Sinai Hospital in Baltimore and Gene Laigon to Philadelphia General Hospital here at the same time. We are getting a furlough--summer vacation, as it were--of two weeks, from July 1st to 15th. And it would be a welcome respite from this heat, but only means coming back to more after it. I don't suppose any of us here will be able to attend either the interesting-sounding affairs, both occurring on June 23rd, but you may be sure 00:21:00our spirit will be there along with all the other boys really at the fronts.

"Sincerely, Bert."

SFM: Thank you very much. Wow. So yes, it sounds like your correspondence did pile up.

BL: Chuck Burrell was a-- was I think two years behind me. And there were others in the group. I'm trying to recall some names but they don't pop into my head.

SFM: That was a frequent theme in the letters, was just asking for connection. And I know that Gordon and John made a huge effort to try to keep the addresses as current as they could.

BL: Yeah.

SFM: And the letters are also filled with people saying, I ran into this 'Berg man, and somehow they end up on the same ship together and they had no idea, so-- There was such a great feeling of com-- of brotherhood, really, based around the school.

SFM: Do you have any--any questions or--.

BL: No, well, you know how I feel about the school. And ah-- If I'm able maybe I'll be there next year.

SFM: I hope so!

Bill Keller: We'd love to have you.

BL: I'm turning 93 in a few days.

BK: When's your birthday?

BL: November 11th.

BK: November 11th?

SFM: Veterans Day.

BL: It was Armistice Day when I was born and now it's Veteran's Day. But it was Armistice Day and--and the war ended in 1918. My father was a peacenik. And when I was born on Armistice Day he was delighted. Even though it was three years later. Actually, my brother, my older brother, was born in 1918 when the war ended. But hadn't quite ended when he-- he was born in September the war ended in November, but he named him Winfred. Now "freid" in German is "peace:" "Win 00:23:00peace.". And he also-- his middle name was Absalom; in Hebrew, that's "father of peace," "ab shalom". So he was all into peace. And those were things that affected him when his sons were born.

SFM: And that war must've been shock-- because that war was different than anything that had ever happened.

BL: Probably, But I was far away from-- I was born three hours-- three years after it ended.

SFM: So your family's always been from the New York, New Jersey area?

BL: Yeah. Yeah. My father married a lady from Kearny, from Kearny, New Jersey, but Newark was really the base. And I was born on a-- when the family lived on a street called Speedwell Avenue. It's a little tiny street now, right off the 00:24:00Parkway at South Orange Avenue. I don't remember that. The first house I remember was-- they moved from there to Lyons Avenue, about half a block away from where the hospital is. And I lived there until I was about five and then we moved back to Clinton Hill where I started school. And I went to a school called Madison Junior High School. I think it still exists. My mother became president or the founder of the PTA there. And she was a great lady, even hard to remember her, but I do. She died when I was nine years old from a surgical infection that never should have happened. She had vaginal repair and developed the 00:25:00peritonitis. 1930. They didn't know how to treat peritonitis; it was six years before the introduction of Sulfanilamide. So she passed away in 1930 and my-- my dad remarried after that. But I do remember her as a very active lady and especially founding this PTA in grammar school.

SFM: Did that have anything to do with your decision to be a doctor?

BL: I don't think so. My dad was a lawyer and a Hebrew scholar and I was always going to be a rabbi or lawyer. But when I got into studies, I realized that science attracted me more than abstract psychology and things like that. So 00:26:00that's--I think that's what changed me. And I took a pre-med course, enjoyed it very much.

SFM: And that was really a strength of Muhlenberg at the time, right? There were a lot of pre-med guys? BL: Yeah. It gave me an excellent basis for med school. Shankweiler was a terrific guy,and he formulated the curriculum just so. So it's a great-- great heritage.

SFM: Yes. Wow. Well, thank you so much. I appreciate you---

BL: It's so nice of you to come out.

SFM: Our pleasure!