Jewish Heroes and Heroines in America, Descedents of East European immigrants

From WW11 To The Present

Born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, on August 25, 1918, Bernstein was the son of Russian immigrants.Bernstein was also known for his popular music. He composed music for Fancy Free, Wonderful Town, West Side Story and The Dybbik. He also composed a one-act opera, Trouble in Tahiti, a piano piece, Touches, and a piece in memory of Andre Kostelanetz titled A Musical Toast. Bernstein was a leader in introducing music to the youth through his television program, the Young People's Concerts. He displayed much enthusiasm and vigor in these concerts. Bernstein resigned as director of the New York Philharmonic in 1969, following the death of his Chilean born wife, Felicia Montealegre Cohn. The New York Philharmonic honored him by giving him the title conductor laureate. Bernstein's contributions cannot be measured. He will always be a giant in American music.

Beverly Sills' greatness and recognition as a coloratura soprano and as a director of an opera company is the epitome of the American success story. Her singing drew millions to the New York City Opera and her general director's skills of the company kept it flourishing. She was a Russian-Jewish descent. Beverly Sills launched her career in 1945 when Broadway producer J.J. Shubert was determined to make her a star. On April 8, 1975, she made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera as Pamira in Rossini's The Siege of Corinth and received an eighteen-minute ovation. She continued to sing here until she announced her retirement from professional singing to become the co-director of the New York City Opera. Beverly Sills is one of the few women who has achieved success as a general director of an opera company and as a coloratura soprano.

In 1984, Resnik became the second American woman to travel in space. Dr. Sally K. Ride flew a mission in 1983. On her first trip into space, Resnick was a mission specialist on the maiden voyage of the space shuttle DISCOVERY. On January 28, 1986, millions saw Resnik on television as she strutted aboard the CHALLENGER wearing a smile and waving her hand. She was joined by Dr. R. E. McNair and Lieutenant Colonel E. S. Onizuka (U.S. Air Force), two civilian payload specialists, G.B. Jarvis and S.C. McAuliffe, a teacher; Commander M.J. Smith (U.S. Navy), the pilot; and F.R. Scobee, the spacecraft commander. The CHALLENGER was launched from Scobee, the spacecraft command. The CHALLENGER was launched from the Kennedy Space Center at 11:38 a.m. Resnik and crew died at 11:39 when the CHALLENGER exploded seconds after it was launched.