HENRY SIWEK

Death date: Nov 26, 2020

Henry Siwek, age 74, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 26, 2020, in Houston, Texas. He was born on July 16, 1946 to Adek (Eddie) Siwek and Mala (Tenenberg) Siwek in Furth, Germany. Adek and Mala were both holocaust sur Read Obituary

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Mark Rubin

251w ago

Very Dearest Regina and Jordan ~

I sincerely apologize that it’s taken me a couple of weeks since hearing the sad news of Henry’s passing to put a post here on the Beth Israel website. Irwin Leibowitz was kind enough to forward to me your email to him, and so I have your contact info.

Please accept my deepest condolences on your profound loss, and my condolences to anyone lucky enough to have known him. By the way, our friend Paul Grange— who gave me the sad news— would want me to add his name to this email, as he was extraordinarily close with Henry for years.

Just now on the site I saw the wonderful photo of you, Henry, your dad and Jordan at the piano….. and though I never got to meet Jordan, the beautiful faces of you (fairly unchanged since our last contact when you were still a pre-teenager!), Henry, and the very familiar face of your dad (who was always, like your mom, so kind to me) set off waves of wonderful memories that have been coming to me for the past 2 weeks. My deepest sadness is that we fell out of communication when Jordan was born, though I know we were never out of touch on inner levels as soul buddies.

As you know, Henry and I were pretty inseparable for 20 years— from discovering that we were fellow Art & Design schoolmates while
riding the Remsen Avenue bus to school (the big black portfolios were a giveaway), through Cooper Union, our stints as teachers at P.S. 138, and our design studios. And, in fact, every New Year’s Eve I reminisce about him convincing me to go to Times Square on 12/31/1966, something I think we both regretted for years to come :-). We also partnered in many very financially-unsound business projects as young artists (which fortunately we were able to laugh about while laboring).

No one could ever have had a more loyal, caring, supportive— and adventurous— friend than I had in your brother. The gusto with which he loved picking me up in his T-Bird to go either to one of the schools or anywhere else was boundless, and a treasured memory. My parents loved him, as did my brother Dave— who with me, Henry and Dave Klaboe formed a philosopher’s group that met very often for years at one of our offices to try to make sense of art, life and the female of the species.

There are far too many memories to share about Henry’s unique greatness to relate here, but perhaps we will get to say hello, and to Jordan as well, if he’d like to make contact. My cellphone number is 941-356-9922, and my email address is [email protected].

Regina, it sounds from your email to Irwin that you’re doing well, which warms my heart, as you were the sweetest, cutest ‘little sister’ anyone’s buddy could have had….!

I celebrate Henry’s life, and truly always have, for he helped my own life to get off to a much better start through his friendship and love. I feel like I'm experiencing inner communication with him these very days, so I’m doubly blessed.

With much love, and wishes for a Happy New Year ~

Mark Rubin

Irwin Leibowitz

253w ago

Dear Regina;
This is Irwin Leibowitz. I don't know if you remember me, but I was a friend of Henry from his years at 138. I just 30 minutes ago learned of Henry's passing from Mark Rubin and I am devastated--i just had to write you before I even had a chance to fully compose my thoughts. Henry was such a dear, dear friend--I loved him as a brother and we took care of each other as best we could during those horrible 138 years. I had tried to track him down many times over the years--through Dave Klaboe and internet, but was never successful--perhaps because i innocently focused on searching in New York.

If you have a spare moment in the coming months I would most appreciate you reaching out to me for a chat; I would be proud to contribute something to his legacy page--i have a lot to say.

I do hope you and your family are safe and healthy and that the years have been kind to you. Do you still like the Grateful Dead?

Most Sincerely,

Irwin
914-419-2678
[email protected]

Jessica Carp

255w ago

Part 2

A couple of years ago, I was sitting alone with Henry and he asked me how Jordan was doing as a music teacher. I told him the truth — that Jordan was doing a fantastic job. That Jordan was just so passionate about it and was always working to make his teaching better and better and that it paid off — his students just adored him and he brought up the team. I explained that Jordan definitely has no idea what a terrific teacher he is. Henry told me he was glad I found Jordan and gave him this job. He told me I was a special person because I could always see how brightly Jordan shines. “When you shine that brightly, sometimes it’s hard for other people, you know?” I told him I understood.

As Jordan’s first piano teacher, I like to take FULL credit for all of his musical accomplishments. Now, I know that’s not entirely true. Still, I’m so very thankful to have been Jordan’s teacher and to be able to work with him. During this unprecedented time there is still much to be thankful for. We talk about our students and families and how we are important parts of their lives and how they are important parts of our lives. It’s true. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Jordan’s Dad passed away on Thanksgiving.

To be filled with such fierce pride, to love so desperately and so completely, to respect everyone — what a tremendous legacy Henry has left us. And without Jordan’s Dad, we wouldn’t have Jordan.

Rest in peace, Jordan’s Dad. May your memory be a blessing.

Jessica Carp

255w ago

Part 1
Jordan’s Dad
for Jordan with love from Jessica

Before we get officially underway, I wanted to take a little bit of time to pay tribute to one of the original Jess And Friends dads. So original, it pre-dates Jess And Friends, back when I was just Jess.

I had just graduated high school and I was completely supporting myself. One job I had was selling merchandise at the front of the house for Les Miserables on Broadway. The audience would pass me by on the way in, maybe buy a program or a t-shirt or a lapel pin or a CD Rom as they had back then, and then they’d go in to see the show.

There was one audience member who I saw every day. From his first day there, I knew who he was because he made it a point to introduce himself to everyone at the theatre. His name, as he introduced himself, was “Jordan’s Dad.” I had never seen anyone more filled with pride for their child than this man.

“Hi! I’m Jordan’s Dad,” he said extending his hand, always a class act. “Jordan plays Gavroche! What’s your name?”

Jordan’s Dad, saw every single performance that Jordan did. And he didn’t just watch them from the back of the house. He figured out exactly where to stand during so that he could get the best view of Jordan’s acting in each particular scene. A few times, Jordan’s Dad would bring me around the audience with him and I was terrified we’d get into trouble!

Jordan’s Dad would run across the street to a little French bakery, called Le Mirage, to get snacks for Jordan and he’d always offer to buy me something too. “You’re so skinny. Are you hungry? You must be hungry. What can I get you? An apple turnover? A chocolate croissant? They’re delicious!”

Jordan’s Dad, Henry, as I’d later learn, remembered the name of every single person who worked in the front of the house, from the people who sold merchandise, the people who distributed the infrared hearing system, the ushers, the house manager, the ticket sellers, the scalpers, the janitors, the bartenders — everyone. And Henry always made it a point to say hello to everyone and ask about our lives and see how we were doing.

It was through one of these conversations that Henry learned that I played and taught piano. He knew that my main thing was singing musical theatre but that I felt strongly that every good musical theatre singer had to know at least some piano.

Whether someone was starring in the show, sweeping the floor or selling lapel pins, Henry regarded you with utmost respect. He invited me to come to his home and teach his son. And so I became Jordan’s first piano teacher.

Now, I was still a teenager myself. I had just stopped speaking to my father (and my mother) and at that time in my life, I felt so jealous when I saw parents with their children. But there was something about how genuinely and fiercely proud Henry was of Jordan and how desperately Henry loved Jordan, that instead of making me feel horrible, it filled me with with hope. And I just loved teaching Jordan. He was just the sweetest and so extraordinarily talented. Within a month he was creating arrangements using chords and we were belting out the top hits from our favorite new Broadway flop, Side Show, including Who Will Love Me As I Am? And I Will Never Leave You.

Years later, I found Jordan on Facebook and was so delighted to see that he was still playing piano and not just that — piano had become his main love. I asked Jordan if he wanted to join Jess And Friends, which was just unofficially getting started. He accepted. Jordan was new to teaching but after the first month or so, he told me that he just loved his job so much and that this is what he wanted to keep doing his whole life.

(see part 2)

Jessica Carp

255w ago

Part 1
Jordan’s Dad
for Jordan with love from Jessica

“Hi! I’m Jordan’s Dad,” he said extending his hand, always a class act. “Jordan plays Gavroche! What’s your name?”

(see part 2)

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