Ileene Rosenfield Robinson Papers

The Meyers portion of the family immigrated from Luptz, Russia (possibly an anglicized spelling of today's Lubcha, Belarus). Morris Meyers was born December 26, 1882 in Luptz as Meyer Osherovsky and changed his name after immigrating to the United States. He was married to Shana (or Shane) Bishkin Meyers, born July 15 1884, also of Luptz. Shana is identified as "Jennie" on the family's naturalization papers, but not elsewhere and her name is written as both Shana and Shane. They had three children, Mary "Maryion" (b. June 2, 1910, Luptz), Lawrence (b. March 22, 1912, Wharton, TX), and Herman "Hychie" (b. May 16, 1917, El Campo). The family first left Russia to Bremen, Germany and then to the United States through Galveston on June 16, 1911. They came with Shana's mother, Lillie Bishkin, and her brother, Leon Bishkin, to meet Max Bishkin. The Meyers family lived in El Campo, and all three children graduated from El Campo high school. Lawrence married Serena Lee Hurwitz of Houston. Herman "Hychie" moved to California and married Gerda, of California. Mary married George Rosenfield of Boston.

George Rosenfield immigrated from Russia to Connecticut in 1914. He lived with his mother and step-father, Jacob Eldin. He served in World War I and later moved to El Campo, Texas. There he met Mary Meyers. They married in 1937 in El Campo. George went on to serve in WWII. After, George was active in the American Legion and the Elks Lodge. Mary too was active in the Ladies Auxiliary of the American Legion, the El Campo Garden Club, and Hadassh, she taught religious school, and was a girl scout "Brownie" leader. George and Mary had two children, Ileene and Rita Sue. Rita Sue was born with intellectual disabilities. This prompted Mary to found the Association for Retarded Children branch in El Campo (now called Arc of the United States) and to begin a school for children with intellectual disabilities which she taught from her home. She became an advocate for children with intellectual disabilities and special education at a city and statewide level.

Ileene Rosenfield was born on December 6, 1944 as the first child to Mary Meyers Rosenfield and George Rosenfield. She grew up in El Campo and attended Shearith Israel Congregation with her family. She graduated from El Campo High School and went on to the University of Texas at Austin. She was active in Alpha Epsilon Phi, a Jewish sorority. She married Ward Polmer Robinson. She moved to Houston, where she was active in a variety of causes and activities. She was particularly active in supporting opera, as a member of the Houston Opera Guild. She also remained active in disability advocacy, and worked to create a Jewish Religious Program at the Richmond State School, so that her sister Rita Sue would be able to participate in Jewish holidays and observances. She was also a breast cancer survivor and advocate of breast cancer research. She died on May 21, 2019 and was buried in Shearith Israel cemetery in Wharton.