On one side of my family, my grandmother (Elizabeth Cairns, a Scot) met my grandfather (William Nicholson, an Irishman) on the ship as they traveled to America. They fell in love during the voyage, then married not long after both passed through Ellis Island. They established their family in Westmoreland County, PA.
My German Jewish grandmother, on the other side of my family, arrived here before they did and established her family not terribly far from St. Louis, MO. This is the relative I'm named for, which gives me a sense of pride.
I wish I could have known my granparents, but they all passed before I was born. It is interesting, though, being the 'second generation' of my family, on both sides of my heritage.
So, He *is* Romanian Cardinal Robbins
It was very interesting to hear Belz's heartfelt story, about how his grandfather came to America. In "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," the character he plays -- John Munch -- was said to be Romanian. Many of his fans, myself included, thought that was merely part of the *character's* background. It was wonderful to learn they 'borrowed' it from Belz's own family history, and it adds even more depth to a well-loved character on "SVU."
Shipboard Romance
Cardinal Robbins
On one side of my family, my grandmother (Elizabeth Cairns, a Scot) met my grandfather (William Nicholson, an Irishman) on the ship as they traveled to America. They fell in love during the voyage, then married not long after both passed through Ellis Island. They established their family in Westmoreland County, PA. My German Jewish grandmother, on the other side of my family, arrived here before they did and established her family not terribly far from St. Louis, MO. This is the relative I'm named for, which gives me a sense of pride. I wish I could have known my granparents, but they all passed before I was born. It is interesting, though, being the 'second generation' of my family, on both sides of my heritage.
So, He *is* Romanian
Cardinal Robbins
It was very interesting to hear Belz's heartfelt story, about how his grandfather came to America. In "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," the character he plays -- John Munch -- was said to be Romanian. Many of his fans, myself included, thought that was merely part of the *character's* background. It was wonderful to learn they 'borrowed' it from Belz's own family history, and it adds even more depth to a well-loved character on "SVU."