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Lessons Learned From the Great Depression
By
Marty Maskall
Guest Columnist
In
these trying economic times, it is helpful to share the lessons my
friend Ted Robinson learned during the Great Depression. Several
years ago, I heard Ted talk about his amazing role in helping to
rescue John F. Kennedy during World War II. I had no idea about his
experiences with the Great Depression until I read his powerful book, “Water
in My Veins: The Pauper Who Helped Save a President.”
Ted is a Sacramento County Parks Commissioner who lives in Arden Arcade. Even
though he’s nearly 90 years old, he still plays tennis and is very active.
Ted was born on April 14, 1919, and his story about the Great Depression moved
me to tears.
Ted and his older brother Jack were born to a life of privilege, because his
father was very successful in business. That changed abruptly in 1920 when Ted
was an infant. His father died in the great flu epidemic. They had a home in
Flushing, New York, and his grandparents came to live with them.
During the 1920s, the 70-year-old grandfather took a job as a mechanic, and he
was able to support his daughter and the two small boys. But after the stock
market crash of 1929, he was laid off, supposedly to give the job to a younger
man who had a family to support. They never knew this old man was supporting
his wife, his daughter and his two young grandsons.
His bank failed, taking his life savings away. Shortly afterwards, his wife died.
Grandpa, or “Pop,” as he was called, didn’t want to live, and
he ran in front of a moving car in a suicide attempt. Whatever money the family
had left went to pay for his three month hospital stay.
From the terrible years of the Great Depression, Ted learned some important lessons:
• Lesson 1 — Plant a Garden: When Pop came out of the hospital, he
realized how much the little boys needed him. He had read in the Bible about
the importance of planting seeds. He took 35 cents from their meager cash supply
and took the boys to buy seven packets of vegetable seeds: corn, beans, lettuce,
tomatoes, cucumbers, beets. Together they dug up the backyard, the front yard
and the neighbor’s front yard. They planted those seeds, and they grew
bountifully. Ted and Jack loaded the vegetables into their little wagon and sold
them to neighbors. And that is how they were able to eat and buy a few necessities.
They still had to hock most of their furniture just to survive. In the winter,
they kept the heat on just enough so the pipes wouldn’t freeze.
• Lesson 2 — Be Willing to Work: Even though Pop was 73 in 1932,
he didn’t stop looking for a job. He would stand in line day after day,
only to be passed over for younger men. Finally, he got hired as an assistant
janitor by Mack Truck. He was later promoted to mechanic, and he worked at Mack
Truck until he was 79, always supporting his family.
• Lesson 3 — Be Thrifty: Pop was unbelievably frugal. He would walk
for miles to save the 5 cent streetcar fare. When Ted graduated from high school
with honors, Pop brought out cigar boxes full of coins and small bills. The family
stayed up all night counting the money. The total was $3000, enough for him to
attend Duke University. Ted was overwhelmed with gratitude.
• Lesson 4 — Giving Is Better Than Getting: Pop
lived to see Ted graduate from Duke University and go into the Navy. When Ted
thanked him for
all he had done, Pop said that helping the family had given him a purpose once
again and for Ted to always remember that giving is better than getting. When
Pop died several years later, Ted was amazed to see all the friends and neighbors
who told him how much Pop had helped them. In his retirement, he spent his time
helping others. He only had one suit in his closet, but he had hundreds of friends.
These are some of the lessons Pop passed on to Ted. I am grateful to Ted for
sharing these valuable lessons with us. They are as important today as they were
75 years ago.
Marty Maskall is a resident of Fair Oaks, Calif.
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Metropolitan News Company, Inc.
