Eisenstadt Family
Early in the century a teen-aged Russian Jew, Chaim Zvi (Max) Eisenstadt, left Minsk with a small group of fellow “free-thinkers” to the freedom and prosperity of the new world. From Ellis Island in New York Max made his way to Calgary about 1910, attracted by the promise of free land in the Canadian West.
At a picnic of Jewish newcomers in Shouldice Park, a radiant beauty from Gomel, Russia caught his eye. The vivacious and energetic Toba Frankel, who had also come alone to Calgary as a teen, and the now “adult” Max Eisenstadt were soon married, and ultimately became proud parents to four sons: Markus (Max), Aaron (Archie), Louis and Morris.
Times were not easy, and the Great War, the difficult 1920’s, and the Depression saw Max Eisenstadt participate in a number of business ventures, from fur trader to pool-hall operator, from a lumber yard to the scrap metal industry. He ultimately became a prominent grocer in the Riverside area of Calgary, naming his store Max Sons.
Max Eisenstadt was a founder of Calgary’s first synagogue, House of Jacob, and was on the founding Board of the I.L. Peretz Institute.
Max and Archie Eisenstadt worked beside their father in the store. Louis became a well-respected artist while battling a childhood ailment, rheumatic fever. Morris was a professional musician, moving to Toronto where he joined the O’Keefe Centre Orchestra and taught clarinet, saxophone and flute at the royal Conservatory of Music.
In the meantime, Max Eisenstadt began a courtship with Bessie Shapiro, daughter of Solomon and Sonia Shapiro. Max and Bessie were married in 1939 at the I.L. Peretz Institute. For a number of years, Max operated his own store, the Food Nest, on 7th Avenue in downtown Calgary.
During the Second World War, Max joined a reserve unit of the Canadian Army Field Ambulance but was not called to overseas duty. He and Bessie ran a large grocery store on 17th Avenue w. called the Nu-Way.
Bessie and Max Eisenstadt had two children: David Michael, born in 1944, and Marcia Ruth, born in 1949. The couple were active in the House of Jacob and later Shaarey Tzedec Congregation, as well as the Peretz School.
Max and Toba Eisenstadt lived for most of their Calgary years in the Riverside district. Max and Bessie lived in the Scarborough area, while Archie and his wife Virginia lived in the Tuxedo neighbourhood.
Family matriarch Toba Eisenstadt passed away in 1963. Max died in 1967. They were predeceased by their son Louis Eisenstadt, who died at age 31 in 1953.
At the age of 40, Harry Eisenstadt made a courageous career move and joined London Life, where he served in sales and supervisory position retiring at 55. Bessie was an active community leader and a Chapter President of Hadassah for many years.
Both Bessie and Harry passed away in 1993, Morris, of Toronto, died in 1992. Archie and Virginia Eisenstadt currently live in Kelowna, B.C.
Bessie and Harry’s daughter Marcia remains in Calgary with her husband Allan Bell. They have one son, Terry Bell. David Eisenstadt lives in Toronto with his wife Rhoda and their sons Harris and Evan.