By THE NOVICKS – Gail, Mitchell, Eli, Roey, and Tali
(Mitchell alone)
Midge was family.
I first met Midge over a Shabbat lunch. She and David had recently moved into West Orange, and David invited me for lunch. As Midge told the story, she was unprepared for guests and did not have sufficient food. So, she asked David to stall for a few minutes as she whipped up something with tuna fish in the kitchen.
A few years later, Midge began working as my office manager. Without any formal training in the field, she took to the work with her unique brand of enthusiasm. The first day of work, she showed up with a pen and pad, and to improve order and work flow, began preparing a never ending string of checklists. Some of her developed checklists continue to be used today.
Midge was very involved in many activities which required her to keep in touch with countless individuals. In those old days before widespread e-mail and texting, one used the telephone. To add efficiency to her phone usage, Midge typed the entire AABJ&D Sisterhood phone directory into her Palm PDA (smartphone predecessor).
Midge also got our office involved in the annual Amit Purim fundraiser. We had one of the earlier small office laser printers. For many years (working with output from David's computer program to process the contributions), we printed the individual “Happy Purim” cards which were placed in the Purim baskets that were distributed around the community.
Midge became my personal clothing, etiquette, and dating consultant. We had an annual “office shopping day”, during which she would help me pick out appropriate business suits and clothing for dates. She would often critique how I looked before I went out, along with helpful ideas and suggestions.
Our office hosted an annual Sukkah party for those in our office building. The permanent location quickly became the Kra's sukkah. Along with the enticing food spreads, Midge helped get everyone living in the Sukkah for a while with entertainment. One year, many were watching the televised presidential debates in the sukkah; another year, the World Series in the sukkah.
Midge helped start a trend when she had one of the first birthday cakes in New Jersey with a photo printed on top; the cake was imported (via Federal Express) from Gus & Paul's bakery in Massachusetts.
When Midge and David decided to move to bigger quarters (around the corner), they even sold me their house.
By THE NOVICKS – Gail, Mitchell, Eli, Roey, and Tali
(the whole family)
Midge was there from the very beginning of our family.
Midge was a very important part of our wedding. She designed and crocheted the kippah Mitchell wore. She was the head of a committee tasked by Gail with making sure Mitchell got to sleep at a reasonable hour the night before the wedding. She coordinated numerous other details.
Midge and David catered our first meal as newlyweds. We did not get to eat during the reception. They arranged for our food to be packed up, set up a folding table in our new home (their old house), with candles, champagne, and the food. After the reception, we arrived home to this catered surprise. What a nice way to start off married life.
Midge was a great friend. She was a tremendous resource for recipes, supplies, and ideas. She was always available to help when needed.
After our first son was born, Midge became his first nanny. She watched him one day a week. She took on the moniker of “Aunt Midge” (pronounced in the New England manner – rhymes with “font”), which is how our children refer to her to this day. She treated them as her “American” grandchildren.
Thanks to Midge, all our children spent years growing up in a bedroom containing a calming, educational “Sesame Street”-like motif which had been created by a professional artist. Midge had the bedroom so painted when she owned the house, and the artwork was present in the house when purchased.
Midge would come to our house every evening to help Gail with the 3 little children under 3 years old.
Midge always had a song or tune on her lips. She introduced our children to music, and is probably largely responsible for their love of music. Like Midge, they are singing all the time.
She never tired of listening to or playing with our children. She always had plenty of toys with which they could play. And Murray.
Visiting Aunt Midge or borrowing something from her at her home (2 doors away) was the first place our children were allowed to walk by themselves.
We all miss Aunt Midge greatly.
(Mitchell alone)
Midge was family.
I first met Midge over a Shabbat lunch. She and David had recently moved into West Orange, and David invited me for lunch. As Midge told the story, she was unprepared for guests and did not have sufficient food. So, she asked David to stall for a few minutes as she whipped up something with tuna fish in the kitchen.
A few years later, Midge began working as my office manager. Without any formal training in the field, she took to the work with her unique brand of enthusiasm. The first day of work, she showed up with a pen and pad, and to improve order and work flow, began preparing a never ending string of checklists. Some of her developed checklists continue to be used today.
Midge was very involved in many activities which required her to keep in touch with countless individuals. In those old days before widespread e-mail and texting, one used the telephone. To add efficiency to her phone usage, Midge typed the entire AABJ&D Sisterhood phone directory into her Palm PDA (smartphone predecessor).
Midge also got our office involved in the annual Amit Purim fundraiser. We had one of the earlier small office laser printers. For many years (working with output from David's computer program to process the contributions), we printed the individual “Happy Purim” cards which were placed in the Purim baskets that were distributed around the community.
Midge became my personal clothing, etiquette, and dating consultant. We had an annual “office shopping day”, during which she would help me pick out appropriate business suits and clothing for dates. She would often critique how I looked before I went out, along with helpful ideas and suggestions.
Our office hosted an annual Sukkah party for those in our office building. The permanent location quickly became the Kra's sukkah. Along with the enticing food spreads, Midge helped get everyone living in the Sukkah for a while with entertainment. One year, many were watching the televised presidential debates in the sukkah; another year, the World Series in the sukkah.
Midge helped start a trend when she had one of the first birthday cakes in New Jersey with a photo printed on top; the cake was imported (via Federal Express) from Gus & Paul's bakery in Massachusetts.
When Midge and David decided to move to bigger quarters (around the corner), they even sold me their house.
By THE NOVICKS – Gail, Mitchell, Eli, Roey, and Tali
(the whole family)
Midge was there from the very beginning of our family.
Midge was a very important part of our wedding. She designed and crocheted the kippah Mitchell wore. She was the head of a committee tasked by Gail with making sure Mitchell got to sleep at a reasonable hour the night before the wedding. She coordinated numerous other details.
Midge and David catered our first meal as newlyweds. We did not get to eat during the reception. They arranged for our food to be packed up, set up a folding table in our new home (their old house), with candles, champagne, and the food. After the reception, we arrived home to this catered surprise. What a nice way to start off married life.
Midge was a great friend. She was a tremendous resource for recipes, supplies, and ideas. She was always available to help when needed.
After our first son was born, Midge became his first nanny. She watched him one day a week. She took on the moniker of “Aunt Midge” (pronounced in the New England manner – rhymes with “font”), which is how our children refer to her to this day. She treated them as her “American” grandchildren.
Thanks to Midge, all our children spent years growing up in a bedroom containing a calming, educational “Sesame Street”-like motif which had been created by a professional artist. Midge had the bedroom so painted when she owned the house, and the artwork was present in the house when purchased.
Midge would come to our house every evening to help Gail with the 3 little children under 3 years old.
Midge always had a song or tune on her lips. She introduced our children to music, and is probably largely responsible for their love of music. Like Midge, they are singing all the time.
She never tired of listening to or playing with our children. She always had plenty of toys with which they could play. And Murray.
Visiting Aunt Midge or borrowing something from her at her home (2 doors away) was the first place our children were allowed to walk by themselves.
We all miss Aunt Midge greatly.