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forgotten clue suddenly nibbled at the edges of my mind. My father had said that I
had been baptized at St. Vincent Ferrar.
“The priest said there was no baptism record for me there, and that I should try the
New York Foundling Hospital. The nun who greeted me acknowledged my having
been at the Foundling Hospital, verified my birth date, stated my orphanage name
as Mabel Ryan, and gave me my baptismal certificate listing the Grueles as my
parents.
“My father was not well when I returned from New York, so I never told him that I
had found out. He died shortly thereafter. After much searching, I found that my
birth name was Mabel Rubin, my mother’s name was Jennie Rubin (age 19), and
my father’s name was Moe Cohen (age 21).
“I do not think that the revelation of my adoption changed my feelings for the
Grueles. I continued to think of them as my parents. Mine was a lonely childhood,
but not due to any lack of love. My parents fostered in me a love of reading, and of
learning from the world around me; and, by example, they helped me develop
values that have served me well.”
had been baptized at St. Vincent Ferrar.
“The priest said there was no baptism record for me there, and that I should try the
New York Foundling Hospital. The nun who greeted me acknowledged my having
been at the Foundling Hospital, verified my birth date, stated my orphanage name
as Mabel Ryan, and gave me my baptismal certificate listing the Grueles as my
parents.
“My father was not well when I returned from New York, so I never told him that I
had found out. He died shortly thereafter. After much searching, I found that my
birth name was Mabel Rubin, my mother’s name was Jennie Rubin (age 19), and
my father’s name was Moe Cohen (age 21).
“I do not think that the revelation of my adoption changed my feelings for the
Grueles. I continued to think of them as my parents. Mine was a lonely childhood,
but not due to any lack of love. My parents fostered in me a love of reading, and of
learning from the world around me; and, by example, they helped me develop
values that have served me well.”
ANNE GRUELE HARRISON
Born February 16, 1909
“As long as I could remember, I had taken for granted
that I was the birth child of John Joseph and Anna M.
Gruele of Colorado Springs, Colorado. To me, they
were mother and father. Then one sunny day in New
York City, when I was 27 years old, I found out they
had adopted me.
“I remember my early childhood with them as a time of
many moves in search of a better climate for Anna,
who had contracted tuberculosis. Despite these moves
she died in Tucson, Arizona when I was eleven.
“When I was 25, I was able to go east to try and make
a career for myself as a singer. Apparently my
adoptive father had never planned to tell me the truth,
but when I was eight he did give me a clue, which at
the time meant nothing to me.
“Two years after my arrival in New York City, I was
walking up Lexington Avenue when I realized that I was
passing St. Vincent Farrar Catholic Church. That long
Born February 16, 1909
“As long as I could remember, I had taken for granted
that I was the birth child of John Joseph and Anna M.
Gruele of Colorado Springs, Colorado. To me, they
were mother and father. Then one sunny day in New
York City, when I was 27 years old, I found out they
had adopted me.
“I remember my early childhood with them as a time of
many moves in search of a better climate for Anna,
who had contracted tuberculosis. Despite these moves
she died in Tucson, Arizona when I was eleven.
“When I was 25, I was able to go east to try and make
a career for myself as a singer. Apparently my
adoptive father had never planned to tell me the truth,
but when I was eight he did give me a clue, which at
the time meant nothing to me.
“Two years after my arrival in New York City, I was
walking up Lexington Avenue when I realized that I was
passing St. Vincent Farrar Catholic Church. That long