Saint John Jewish Family Tree

The Boyaner Family - Part 1 Don Boyaner (1860-1910) and Kate Poyas Boyaner (1869-1942) The Boyaner Family Don Boyaner Don Boyaner came to Canada from Poland in 1887, landing first in Montreal and then moving to Saint John in 1892. Like many Eastern European Jewish immigrants, he came with his family to escape the pogroms taken place in the Russian Empire. The family lived first at 606 Main Street in the city’s North End and then moved to 73 High Street, a nearby side street. Don Boyaner established an optometry business in the city in 1894, first on Main Street and then he moved to 38 Dock Street before 1910. He died suddenly on October 23, 1910 after a short illness. His obituary described him as “one of the many respected Jewish residents of the city.”  He married Kate Poyas in Montreal. Her family had come to Saint John from Warsaw, Poland in the 1890s.  The family group included, Etta Poyas, her daughters, Kate and Esther (Mrs. Samuel) Goldfeather, and a son, Abraham Poyas...

Boyaner Family -  Part 2 Don and Kate Boyaner had six children: Louis Boyaner (1890-1973), Harry Israel Boyaner (1891-1968), Dr. Eli Boyaner (1893-1966), Dr. Frank Boyaner (1898-1945), Frances Boyaner Smith (1895-1978) and Bertie Boyaner Elman (1900-1995) The Boyaner Family Louis and Bertie Boyaner Louis Boyaner (1890-1973) was the manager of Boyaner Bros. opticians at 38 Dock Street and 111 Charlotte Street. He was a world traveler – including visits to Hollywood to visit his friend Jerry Mayer, the brother of Louis B. Mayer - and to Egypt. In travels closer to home, he had the opportunity to sail on the original Bluenose and enjoyed many summers in Pamdenec, where many Jewish families had summer cottages.  He was an accomplished violinist and performed as part of the Young Judaea Orchestra and in the Saint John Opera House. He was a charter member of the Saint John Society of Music in November 1919 and the Saint John Kiwanis Club, as well as a life member of the Knight...

The Calp Family - Part 1   Abraham (1905-2001) and Fena (1907-1989) Calp   Abraham Calp Abraham Calp was born in Odessa, Russia in 1905. He came to Saint John in 1926 with his wife Fena, mother Sarah, brother Jack, and sister Celia. They were escaping from Russia after the family’s specialty men’s clothing shop was confiscated by the Bolsheviks. They left Odessa on December 6, 1924 and crossed the border illegally into Romania with the help of relatives. From there they obtained an American visa, but when American borders were closed to Jewish immigration, they were able to get a visa to enter Canada. They were assisted by a relative in Saint John and the Jewish Immigrant Aid Society. The Calp family arrived in Saint John on December 2, 1926. Abe Calp worked briefly for Harry Davis in construction, but soon turned to peddling, selling clothing he was able to get from the People’s Clothing Store, run by Joseph Stekolsky on Main Street.   He remembered that his cu...

  The Calp Family -  Part 2   Jack (1912-1992) and Teresa (Ross) Calp (1913-1996)   Jack Calp  arrived as part of the Calp family group in 1926. He  worked alongside his brother Abraham until opening his own shop – Jack Calp’s Men’s Wear - in 1948. He learned about the quality of cloth from his father, Marcus. He, in turn, passed that knowledge on to his son, Norman as reported in the newspaper in 2000: “From the age of 8, [Norman] Calp was brought to showrooms and tutored on the art of distinguishing fine cloths and clothing. ‘He told me then that you have to develop your fingering to the touch and feeling of the cloth,” Mr. Calp explained. ‘You have to develop your fingers like a violinist would develop their fingers. I’ve learned from a great teacher, and hopefully, I’ve kept up the tradition my father started.’”   The focus of his shop was on quality – including top of line suits and shirts from well known and respected companies, both from Canada ...

  The Cohen Family Myer (1895-1963) and Bessie Levine (1896-1988) Cohen   Bessie Cohen with her children - Edgar, Israel and Jennie Myer Cohen Myer Cohen worked as a junk dealer and broker. He was among the first Jews to purchase a home on Summer Street and his daughter was the last Jewish person to move from the street. He was active in the city and arranged to have trees planted along the street. He was very active in political affairs for the Progressive Conservative Party and was a director of Congregation Shaarei Zedek. He was well known in the real estate business.   Myer Cohen also organized the immigration of other family members from Minsk, Russia after he settled in the city.   Bessie Levine Cohen Bessie Levine Cohen was the daughter of Louis and Elizabeth Levine and had four brothers - Abe, Isaac, Simon and Nathan, all of whom went into the grocery business - and two sisters - Nelly Haslett and Lillian Kashetsky.   In the community, she was...

The Davis Family Hyman (Harry) (1888-1969) and Ida (Rozovsky) (1890-1985) Davis Isadore, Eli, Rose, Samuel and Abraham Davis  Chaim Dovid (Hyman) Davis was born in Russia to Isaac and Sylvia Dawidowicz and came to Saint John before 1920 with his wife, Ida (Rozovsky) and two of their five children – Abe and Rose. Their sons Samuel, Eli and Isadore were born in Saint John. Harry was a general contractor who built and renovated homes, including those on Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Streets in the north end of the city in the 1930s and 1940s. He moved his family from Spring Street to Fifth Street and three of his four sons settled into homes on Sixth Street. He helped with several renovations on the Shaarei Zedek Synagogue on Carleton Street and for a number of Jewish merchants. He was involved with the Habonim organization and was among the group who met David Ben-Gurion, when he came to Saint John in 1917 recruiting men to join the Jewish Legion.   Ida Rozovsky Davis was de...