Having cared for the B'nai Abraham Cemetery for many years, I have been privileged to observe our Congregants and their families during those stressful periods which so often are viewed as character-defining moments.  I couldn't begin to relate the many humorous and poignant tales I have heard during times of soulful reflection.  The irony of the following story needs an explanation.  About a year ago, I received a telephone call from Rabbi Garfunkel requesting that I call "some lady in New Jersey who used to live in Hagerstown and was asking questions about the Cemetery."   I returned the call only to find, in brief order, that we were distantly related and, in fact, only a few years earlier, at Ernie Nasher's 85th birthday party in Frederick (that's 'Ernie' of Ernie's Italian Kitchen fame), we had met.  Memorable? Not particularly.  But the birthday party was great.  Anyhow, Maxine Linzner Hargus spoke of having been born and raised here, going to school with Alan Levin, Richie Weiss and Bobby Ginsberg.  She asked about her infant brother who "was buried in our Cemetery", surname of Linzner, and questioned the specific location of the grave site.  Having a great interest in the history of our Jewish Community and being frighteningly aware of our census, I immediately told her that she must be mistaken since "there are no Linzner's buried in our Cemetery".  "There is, however, according to Hager-lore, one specific unmarked infant grave with an unknown occupant".  And so it began.  The following is a brief narrative offered by Maxine which I thought interesting enough to publish.  I hope you agree.  And "Thank you, Maxine and Melissa, for putting to rest this ultimate spiritual dilemma".

Jerry Falke, Chairman

Cemetery Committee

For me, Maxine Linzner, my life began on May 4, 1948. I have one older brother, Bob, born May 28, 1941. There was also another brother, unnamed, born April 20, 1946, and died April 20, 1946. All of us were born in Washington County Hospital and delivered by Dr. Robert Wells. I had heard my mother talk about this unnamed child, especially as we were preparing to move to New Jersey in December, 1964. My mother had concerns about leaving this child in an unmarked grave. My father was concerned about our move back to the Philadelphia area and our future. No further discussions were held to my knowledge. Years passed….Bob left Hagerstown in 1959 to attend Temple University and continued with his life as a CPA, first in Philadelphia, then the Atlantic City area. I graduated from high school and college in New Jersey, married, and began a teaching career, also in New Jersey.

My father, known as Hucky to his friends, passed away in 1975, nine months after my son Michael was born. My daughter Melissa is named after him, and oddly, was born on April 20, 1980, the same date as my unnamed brother. The date stuck in my mind. I mentioned to Melissa, when she was older, that she had an uncle born on the same date as she, but he died several hours after birth. She started to question me about him. I had no real information. She continued to push me to do some research. Hence, I called the Rabbi of Congregation B’nai Abraham to hopefully get some information. I wanted to find this brother of mine and give him the religious recognition his life deserved.

Hence, Jerry Falke entered my life. But, he isn’t just the caretaker of the cemetery. He is distantly related to me through his brother’s marriage to my Uncle Ernie Nasher’s stepdaughter. Ernie’s first wife, Belle, was my father’s sister. Jerry had walked the cemetery and found three infant graves. Only two of them had been recorded. My brother was the unmarked, unnamed, unregistered, unknown grave site.

Thanks to Jerry’s hard work, his love and genuine interest in the Jewish history of the area, and his compassion for the soul, my brother will have the religious blessings of a Rabbi on his final resting-place, which now has a marker.

So, thank you to my daughter Melissa for pushing me to do this. I’m sure her unnamed uncle is quite proud of her too.

Anyone that would like to comment or reply to me, my email address is mchargus@comcast.net or Maxine Hargus, 15 Tiverstock Dr, Pittsgrove, NJ 08318, 856-358-1420.

You are all welcome to attend the unveiling service.  See website schedule for August 17th.