Women's History Month: An Unsung Story

March is Women's History Month.?It's a time to celebrate extraordinary, trailblazing women who've made a name for themselves and are featured in history books, but it's also a time for honoring the accomplishments of everyday women. These are the ladies who've made a difference, took a stand, and helped better themselves, society, culture, and even the world. We may not know their names, but we can learn about their vibrant, untold stories and be inspired by their courage. One such story is that of my great aunt, Charlotte.

When I think about Charlotte now, the first thing that comes to mind is her resilience. She was born in NYC in 1917, the year the U.S. entered WWI. She was the middle of three intelligent, curious children. Lester was her older brother and Dudley was her younger one. Dudley would ultimately become my step-grandfather. Her father worked as a pharmacist and her mother was active in a few social services organizations.

Charlotte had a difficult childhood. She felt rejected and unloved. There was constant strife between her and her mother in particular. Although her brothers had them, she had no toys nor games and was never told that she received any gifts for birthdays nor other special occasions. Charlotte eventually learned that her mother donated all of her gifts to charity.

She was never encouraged to pursue higher education. Lester was, however, and went on to become an attorney. (Even Dudley, though highly capable, since he was completely deaf, was sent away to military school, as their parents didn't have any idea what to do with him otherwise.) Years later, in her late 30s, Charlotte, after having worked some years as Lester's legal secretary and been deprived of an education, used the all money she saved to enroll at the prestigious New York University. Her dedication and love of learning not only enabled her to excel, but she became the Valedictorian.

Just as she saw the value of education, Charlotte was ahead of her time in other respects; a pioneer you might say. She inherently knew the benefits of health and wellness, whether it be exercise or nutrition. She'd walk roughly 30 blocks each way to get to work. She incorporated vitamins and supplements into her diet of only organic foods. Just as she didn't let her mother stifle her, Charlotte didn't allow herself to feel the societal pressures imposed on women of that era. Instead, she made a conscious decision to pursue a career and hobbies over marriage and children. She felt that even then, times were tough and she didn't want to raise children in what she saw could be a cruel world. You can bet that own troubled childhood and contentious relationship with her mother also influenced that choice.

She had some interesting boyfriends over the years and was only drawn to men who could match her intellect, creativity, and humor. I had the privilege of getting to know her last companion, Mal. He was a retired hematologist with whom our family enjoyed lively dinners at Patsy's Italian Restaurant, a place made famous by Frank Sinatra. (Even a health nut like Charlotte couldn't resist homestyle Italian cooking.) One time when the topic of her being an Atheist came up in conversation, Mal chimed in saying: "Thank G-d!" We all got a good laugh, especially Charlotte.

Although never given tangible gifts, she was able to leverage her inherent ones. A passion of hers was singing, particularly opera. Charlotte's talent enabled her to travel and explore life beyond the boroughs, accompanying a pianist and cellist. This Jew-turned-Atheist, never hesitated to share her gift for song by performing hymns, psalms, and prayers at houses of worship. She paid for her own voice lessons, again as her interests were never supported by her parents.

She fell in love with the vibe of NYC's Greenwich Village, known as the epicenter of the 1960s counter-culture movement, and where she lived almost all of her adult life in a tiny studio apartment. I remember thinking she was so cool; a real bohemian. She rented a fifth floor walk up in a charming brownstone, where I remember visiting her up until she reached her mid-80s. At that point, although extremely reluctant, she moved into an assisted living facility near me in NJ, where she got the help she needed (on one floor) and my family was able to see her more frequently. She was so unhappy there, as it was a far cry from the excitement of the lifestyle she'd grown accustomed to in NYC, but I made a point to visit as often as I could when I was back from college, sometimes bringing a friend along, and always cracking jokes.

At the time, I didn't know about the adversity she faced growing up and how she managed to become successful despite it. I wish I could've asked her about what it was like to put herself through college as an adult or perform in a band. Instead, I'm sharing her unsung story. I hope that you'll join me in saluting women like Charlotte; the ones who follow their mind and heart, persevere to beat the odds, and create a fulfilling life on their own terms.

Sara Greenhouse?is a dynamic connector and dedicated relationship cultivator. After a successful track record in fundraising, she founded a marketing company,?Generate Buzz, LLC, in 2013. Using her superior verbal and written communication skills, the company provides a unique, cross-disciplinary integration of traditional and digital marketing. The name Generate Buzz is much more than simply a brand name; it declares Sara's passion to help small businesses achieve greater success and promote positive social change. Generate Buzz, LLC offers per diem consulting in copywriting: persuasive, creative, and comedy, as well as editing and proofing services. You can rest assured that your message will be tailored to your collateral materials and social media platforms, conveying the right message, to the right audience, through the right channels, at the right time, all with the utmost integrity and enthusiasm.

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