The Holland Avenue Boys: A Success Story The Holland Avenue Boys' story has been called, "a revealing portrait with ups and downs, heartbreak and hardship, camaraderie and conflict, joy and passion, love and reverence for a bygone era and spanning more than (60) years."
This is a different kind of success story. Success is not always about wealth or fame. For most, success is achieved through personal growth, satisfying careers, comfortable lifestyles and rewarding relationships. This is a story for people of all ages - - to provide something positive and uplifting - to provide inspiration, not by famous movie, TV or sports stars, but by ordinary people - to provide examples of the significance in ordinary lives so people can feel better about their own lives - to provide youngsters with direction, motivation and experiences that illustrate how people order their lives and how parents can have more of an impact on the lives of their children - to provide an understanding of what values, traits and thought processes are essential to the development of successful lives. It is hoped that this book will change some habits, nudge people of all ages in the right direction and encourage them to explore ways to make their lives successful. This is a positive, upbeat, revealing portrait of 11 men from Holland Avenue in the Bronx, New York spanning more than 60 years. An emotional, passionate, psychological portrayal it shows how each of these Boys, from working class backgrounds, has developed with respect to personal growth, careers, lifestyles and relationships while maintaining a camaraderie, brotherhood and intimacy through interaction and support for each other. The story vividly reflects character traits that have contributed to their successes and helped them overcome obstacles. It shows genuine feelings for each other, recounts poignant memories of their early lifestyle, informs as to how their successes have impacted on wives, children, parents and others and tells how they see their futures developing. · One man had an "ideal divorce." · Another loved his wife so much that he married her twice. · One man's daughter proudly proclaimed that her father could "read a book and build a house." (He did.) · Another was told by his high school guidance counselor that he should not try to become an engineer because it was difficult for Jews at that time - even though he had built the Eiffel Tower out of toothpicks at the age of 9. · One man helped develop the granola bar and Uncle Ben's Rice after he almost didn't make it through college. · Another man founded a museum of jazz even though he never played a lick. · One of the Boys became a distinguished cancer doctor even after having been diagnosed with a debilitating muscle disease. · A college dropout became a decorated jet pilot in the Viet Nam war, U.S. Presidents' travel advance man and Air Attaché to Morocco, where his daughter played at the palace with the niece of the King. · One of the Boys became a world-renowned physicist - in Israel, but passed away before his time. · Another built a newspaper about antiques and collectibles topping 40 pages and 292 advertisers without any employees. · One of the Boys overcame a devastating business loss and resulting depression to rebuild his life and a new business. · Another built a 70-employee garment business, retired at age 48, but could tell people only that he was "semi-retired." · One of the Boys' father said "every one of them, The Holland Avenue Boys, I would be proud to call my son." · One of the Boys' wives had only one regret - "that I was not one of the Holland Avenue Boys." This book reveals much about human relationships and also evidences the effect on the Boys' growth of environment, education, recreation, religion, societal and social pressures, family and peers. It captures important aspects of their development, such as competition engendered by street games, reunions, role models and career, personal and educational choices. Readers will be able to gain an insight into urban life of a bygone era in terms of values, support systems, opportunities and obstacles to success. This story also suggests how we can recapture some of these values and resources for current and future generations. Holland Avenue in the Bronx, New York may have been like thousands of other streets in New York City in the 1940s and 1950s. But some of its former residents have forged a rare bond and lived the good life for more than six decades. Their individual successes are not so different from millions of other big city natives. However, how they achieved these successes and the ties that among such a large group have endured and flourished over such a long period of time make this a compelling, revealing and instructive story. A Teachers-Facilitators Guide, Pointers for Parents, Friendship Poem and the Boys' Creed are included in the book. It is a piece of history that reaches across generational lines. The Holland Avenue Boys: A Success Story by Howard E. Fischer Published by Sundog Ltd. Nashville, TN ISBN 1-59744-059-0 Softcover, 176 pages with illustrations Publication Date: September 2006 Book Order - Prepayment Required Price - $15 + $3 (shipping in USA; foreign orders please inquire) = $18 Make payable to: Howard Fischer 155 West 72nd Street Suite 404 New York, NY 10023 Disocunts allowed for orders of 10 or more books. Please inquire. 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