My grandparents, Simon and Helen Director, were part of a generation of immigrants whose hard work helped build this city. Simon Director (1891-1981) was born in the small Russian village of Chartoriysk. He arrived in Portland in 1910 and began work as a butcher. Helen Haltzman (1900-1976) was Warsaw, Poland. She arrived in Portland in 1916 and that same year met and married my grandfather. They had three daughters, June, Ruth, and Arlene.
By 1921 the couple had saved enough money to open the first of what would become a chain of variety stores across northern Oregon and southern Washington in the early 1930s they purchased the |
Jennings Furniture Company, a Portland business that they operated with great success. After selling the stores in the 1950s, Simon embarked on a new career as a real estate investor in downtown Portland, and Helen co-founded an art gallery.
Simon and Helen Directo served their community with distinction, paving the way for tier children and grandchildren and for generations to come. This park honors their memory and that of their generation in the hop that hose who follow will continue their efforts to help make Portland the wonderful city that we call home.
-Jordan Director Schnitzer |