Planning for the Bloom Family Reunion

Vera and Moishe Bloom, 1905

This coming Saturday my Dad's side of the family is having a reunion. Our cousin Jo has offered her home for the afternoon's festivities. Jo has a great ranch house in Valley Glen with a pool and plenty of area to entertain. It's the perfect place for a family gathering. Thanks, Jo!

Basically, we're all descendants of Vera and Moishe Bloom, pictured above. The Blooms had seven children: Lawrence, Reta, Sonya, Anna, Masha, Luba and Sasha. At this particular gathering most of us are related to Lawrence (my grandfather) and Anna. Other cousins are on the east coast or in Chicago and couldn't make it this year.

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The Bloom Sisters: Luba, Masha, Anna, Sonya, Reta

We've been having various versions of this reunion since my generation grew up. When we were little kids, the cousins, aunts, uncles, Grandma and Grandpa used to get together almost every Sunday. I remember helping to organize our first reunion in the late 1970s at Greystone Park in Beverly Hills.

The Chicago Relatives, 1922

Most of the Bloom family eventually settled in Chicago and many stayed there (and STILL live there). My portion of the family moved to Los Angeles in 1919. I've been going through all of the old photographs that I have, printing out some and assembling them, along with old letters for a family scrapbook to bring to Jo's house on Saturday.

Lawrence and Ethel Bloom with their sons, Mort, George and Baby Hi. Boyle Hts., Los Angeles, 1922

In this modern era, we try to get together every few years. Our parents' generation is almost gone. The two who are left, Roz and Mary Jane, will be in attendance this Saturday.

Los Angeles, CA, 1993

Valley Glen, Los Angeles, CA 2011

Fallbrook, CA, 2013

I look forward to seeing my cousins this Saturday, and we will miss those that are gone and those that could not travel across the country!