Remembering my father
My late father, Sherman Winthrop, would be celebrating his 93rd birthday on Feb. 3, 2024. He died in 2005 of a malignant brain tumor. My father’s cancer was the same type that John Mccain and Beau Biden died of. Even though it has been 19 years since my father died, I still miss him. My youngest son, Brandon, was born on Feb. 1. My father wanted to share Brandon’s birthday.
My father was born on Feb. 3, 1931, to my late Grandpa George and Grandma Mary. Grandpa George came to this country from Russia, at age 17. He did not speak any English. Grandma Mary also came at a young age from Russia. In Russia, George’s last name was Weintraub. While in Russia, George would have been drafted into the Russian Army. For a Jewish man, this could have been a death sentence. A friend of the family that did not have any children adopted George. Hence, the name Weintraub. Since George was now the only child, he would not be drafted. When George came through Ellis Island, his name was changed to Winthrop, considered a good American name. Ironically enough, when I was traveling in London, Winthrop was considered a good English name.
George and Mary opened The Ideal Market, a small grocery store in Duluth, Minnesota. The Ideal Market was a small community store that was willing to deliver groceries. One of my favorite stories is of my father helping in the Market. This was at a difficult time in America’s history, when many products were scarce. My father was terrible with languages. Even so, my father always received good grades in Latin. His teacher was a customer of the Market and was able to get fresh fruit and sugar. My father spoke about how working in the Market helped form his ability to listen and help other people. I enjoyed visiting my grandparents’ store in Duluth and watching their eyes twinkle with the pride they had of my father, and his family.
My father graduated from the University of Minnesota and went to Harvard Law School. He clerked for Roger Dell, chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court, from 1955 to 1956. The late Walter “Fritz” Mondale also clerked for another Supreme Court Justice at the same time. My father and Mondale knew each other. I used to take horseback riding lessons with Mondale’s daughter, Eleanor. Eleanor died of the same type of brain tumor in 2011. I received a beautiful note from Mondale, after I wrote him a note on how sorry I was to hear of Eleanor’s death.
My father was a huge sports fan. Some of my fondest memories are of going to the Vikings Games with my father. I had a chance to watch “The Purple People Eaters,” which consisted of Alan Page, Carl Eller, Gary Larsen and Jim Marshall. I will never forget Bud Grant wearing short sleeves while coaching outside in winter. We had season tickets for University of Minnesota Golden Gophers basketball. We watched games in Williams Arena, or at that time called “The Barn.” It was loud and exciting. I had a chance to see some future stars such as Dave Winfield, Tony Dungy and Kevin Mchale.
My father had many wonderful sayings that I still live by. “If you lose, say little. If you win, say less.” “If you smile, the whole world smiles with you. If you frown, you frown alone.” On those occasions when I would say something negative about a person, my father would say, “They spoke very highly of you.”
I think about my father’s gentle nature, humility, love for myself and others. I know he would be horrified by what is going on politically in America, and the world today. My father taught me about values, listening and humility. He showed me what listening to and having compassion for your fellow person means. Today, I honor the memory of my father. I know he is looking down and smiling. Thank you, Dad, for helping me become the person I am today. “Your memory will always be a blessing.”
Sue Winthrop is a longtime resident of Longmont. Sue had the wonderful experience of knowing her grandparents and great grandparents, who were immigrants. This experience along with being her father’s oldest and only daughter has shaped who she is today.