Member Profile
Anna Verburg
Anna Hoffman Verburg turns 100 years old on April 27. It is with pride and mazel tov that we present a very short biography of her life in honor of this momentous occasion.
Anna was born in the Bronx in the City of New York in 1902, the fifth of six children and the third deaf child in a family where there had never been deafness before. Her parents had both immigrated from Russia but did not know each other until they met at the shirtwaist factory where they were both employed. Anna said "Because my family really knew nothing about deafness they sent my older deaf sister, Vera, and my deaf brother, Max, to the New York Institute for the Deaf and Dumb which was located in upper Manhattan overlooking the Hudson River. I was about three and a half at that time and was grief-stricken because they took away from me my only means of communication.
Anna Verburg
Up to this time, Vera, Max and I were a closely knit trio. Everything we did, we did together and now I was home alone with little attention paid to me and I cried most of the time. Although the school usually only took children who had reached their fifth birthday, my parents persuaded them to take me. So at three and a half I entered the school under the watchful eyes of both Vera and Max."
"The New York Institute of the Deaf and Dumb," Anna continued, "was a beautiful and peaceful location which housed and schooled almost 1000 pupils. It was a state school and thus affordable for my parents and the parents of the other students. It was run on the principle of love and discipline. The girls all wore uniforms of blue serge so there was no discrimination because of someone having better, nicer or different clothes The boys wore military uniforms and some days actually trained in military procedures.
We were a very mixed bunch with respect to religion and on Sundays the students were divided into groups and sent to services at the appropriate house of worship. There were about 100 or so Jewish students at the school and on Sunday mornings we were marched to a nearby synagogue and a deaf Rabbi, skilled in sign language, gave us religious instruction. We learned about our history and our culture, our holidays and even some prayers."
Anna went on to relate, "I knew we were Jewish from my home life. My parents observed the holidays and the Sabbath and I even recall my mother changing dishes on Passover. But because Vera and Max and I were at school most of the time and really only home for some weekends and vacations, it was our deaf Rabbi at school who taught us about our faith. Unlike many other schools for the deaf at that time, we were not forced to attend church services of another denomination, but could hold on to our own Jewish heritage. What we learned on those Sundays stayed with us all of our lives."
When they did come home for school breaks, the young deaf trio led by Max, usually found their means of entertainment at Yankee Stadium, perhaps because baseball was Max's favorite sport, but perhaps too because he knew his sisters needed some means of visual relaxation and fun. He explained all the intricacies of the game to them and to this day baseball is one of Anna's favorite sports, even though he also introduced them to football. As the oldest of the trio, Max chaperoned his sisters and together they took a car or subway to wherever their entertainment lured them. After Max graduated and the family moved to Brooklyn, the young teenage girls continued their travels on their own going home every weekend by subway to spend the time with their family but always returning to the school before the Sunday curfew at 5:00.
The New York Institute of the Deaf and Dumb eventually changed its name to the Fanwood School, and Anna told me, "We were never so thrilled in our lives to be able to remove the horrible stigma that went with its original name." The school trained its students for future employment in the business world and Anna learned the art of bookbinding which became her means of support when she graduated.
In 1939 Anna decided to move to California. Vera and Max were both married and settled in New York and their mother was living in the west, so Anna opted for a new life, tempted perhaps by the warm climate in southern California.
At a social, she met a tall handsome couple, Bill Verburg and his wife. and their young daughter, Reita. Bill was born in Colorado and had attended the school for the deaf in Colorado Springs. He trained there as an upholsterer and it was by these means that he earned his living. In 1942 Anna met Bill again. This time he was alone and Anna learned the sad news of his beloved wife's passing. Some inner magic attracted the handsome fellow to Anna and the feeling seemed to be mutual. It became a whirlwind courtship and within seven weeks Anna and Bill were married. They set up their home together and both showered their love and affection on each other and on Reita, Bill's teenage daughter. Bill continued to work at the upholstering trade and Anna became a seamstress working on her own out of their home.
Anna and Bill found their niche in the deaf community, especially at Temple Beth Solomon. When the Temple was founded in 1960, their names were among the charter members. They loved the Temple and attended almost all of its socials, services and celebrations. They chaired committees, held offices, hosted Passover Seders, participated in Purim Carnivals and put in long hours planning and running the famous parking lot sales. In 1974, Anna was awarded the first Hersh Woman of the Year Award. She was also honored by the Sisterhood as their Woman of the Year in 1971 and 1988.
When they were almost 70 years of age, Bill and Anna decided to retire from their business world but certainly not from Temple Beth Solomon. They took over the maintenance of the Temple premises for about 10 years, keeping it in perfect condition, always there when needed, always fulfilling any task or duty with such pride. Then as they neared their 80th birthdays, Anna and Bill retired once again. But not from the Temple! They could still be found participating in every event and affair. The Sisterhood rewards any member who has worked diligently up to their 80th birthday by allowing them honorary access to luncheons without demanding further participation. Anna Verburg refused this honor. At ninety years of age she was still an active member of the Sisterhood, holding the position of auditor on the Sisterhood Board and working at every Sisterhood social. Now at 100 Anna can, in all good conscience, sit back and be an observer.
In 1992 Anna and Bill celebrated a milestone 50 years of marriage and then the unthinkable: Bill passed away in 1995. There isn't a day that goes by that Anna doesn't turn to tell him something, only then remembering he is no longer physically with her. To have that much love has as its companion that much loss and she misses him as much as she loved him.
Anna has seen a lot happen in her 100 years. Giant changes in technology, economy and society. She has much wisdom and great stories to tell. She is truly one of TBS' treasures. More Profiles...