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Cousin Mica Kaufman, Sculptor I n autumn I972 , an unexpected letter arrived from Mico Kaufman, stating he had been born in Buzau, Romania, the son of Herman Kaufman, my father's brother. After miserable experiences in Nazi labor camps during the Second World War, Mico left Romania to escape military service in the Russian Army on the last train possible, which was totally packed with people on top and under train carriages, fleeing to freedom. A few border guards could not stop this mob! With aid from Jewish charitable organizations he reached Rome. Hoping to become a sculptor, he passed entrance tests, won a scholarship, and studied for five years in that inspiring city. Mico then studied two years in Florence, where he fell in love with a GreekJewish science teacher. After their marriage they sailed for America, with the help of a Jewish agency, and reached Boston. He eventually obtained work as a medalist there, earning a distinguished reputation creating elegant medallions ofAmerican historical , literary, musical, and political personalities. He was chosen to make the official presidential medallions for Presidents Reagan and Bush. Mico knew he had an Uncle Isaac who immigrated to America and whose son Louis was a violinist. He tried unsuccessfully to locate me until a musician in Tewksbury, Massachusetts, where he had bought a home, suggested, "Write to the Musicians Federation in New York for information." In the letter Mico gave his telephone number. I said to Annette , "Of course he's my cousin. I remember going to my Uncle Herman 's wedding in Buzau when I was seven." I phoned Mico and said, "I'm definitely your cousin, come visit us." He replied, "Louis, I am doing well, I don't want to ask you for help-I just want to have some family here!" He flew to Los Angeles a short time later and we had a wonderful time together. Annette and I drove him to 357 358 A Fiddler's Tale Pasadena to see the splendid Norton Simon and Huntington Art Museums , the Los Angeles Museum, and the Getty Museum in Malibu. Mico, surprised by our great interest in art, stated, "My Boston friends will find it surprising to know what I did in Los Angeles!" Greatly impressed by our collection, he said, "Louis, you know more about art than I do!" He brought us a present, a small wax-model portrait he had made ofArthur Fiedler, and gave us some ofhis handsome medallions. I arranged a brunch in Encino with some cousins from Portland, Rose Kaufman and her handsome son Arnold Semler, with Blessing, his wife. Rose had known me from birth; my parents had stayed with her parents, Avram and Rebecca Kaufman, when they arrived in Portland. It was a jolly reunion. We visited Mico in Tewksbury and we enjoyed seeing the Fogg Museum in Cambridge together. Annette and I had visited the great Winthrop collection of Chinese art at his New York home; Winthrop had graciously also shown us his important collection of Pre-Raphaelite paintings. He bequeathed this great collection to Harvard. We were delighted to show Mico the handsome installation ofWinthrop's marvelous Chinese sculptures in Cambridge's new Sackler Gallery. Mico's studies in the Mediterranean world had not prepared him for the elegance,and grace of China. He was delighted to experience this previously unknown world ofart. Mico drove us to see some of his large statues. In nearby Lowell he had created a remarkable large statue of young female mill workers. In Tewksbury he had sculpted a splendid fountain of Helen Keller and her teacher, Anne Sullivan (who once lived in the town), who holds Helen's hands in the water, representing the first word she learned. The Japanese, who are intensely interested in Helen Keller, sent a television crew to make a film about that statue. Mico also made a life-sized statue of Saint Joseph for a Catholic church in Lowell. His large statue of Claude Debussy , depicting on its base scenes from Prelude de l'apres midi d'unfaune and Pilleas et Milisande, is on the campus ofthe University ofMassachusetts -Lowell. The French government has allocated a small plot in front of Debussy's birthplace in Saint-Germain-en-Laye for this important memorial to the great composer. When the statue is unveiled Annette and I hope to attend the ceremony. (Ed note: Annette, accompanied by Jacqueline Helion, attended the unveiling ceremony in November 2000.) In 1978 we met Mico in...

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