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[QT: PANDEMIC VALENTINE]
1/55
This Valentine's Day is probably the first of its kind in generations. Love in the thick of a raging global pandemic has a strange post-apocalyptic yet romantic ring about it. This thread tells the story of one such love affair from a different era.
1/55
This Valentine's Day is probably the first of its kind in generations. Love in the thick of a raging global pandemic has a strange post-apocalyptic yet romantic ring about it. This thread tells the story of one such love affair from a different era.
2/55
As of this writing, COVID's toll stands at a staggering 2.3 million. But there's another, less heeded killer that's silently clocked similar numbers every year for years, and continues to. At one time, it was killing one victim every 22 seconds.
As of this writing, COVID's toll stands at a staggering 2.3 million. But there's another, less heeded killer that's silently clocked similar numbers every year for years, and continues to. At one time, it was killing one victim every 22 seconds.
3/55
This story takes place in the thick of what's rarely seen as a pandemic but is every bit one, even if less "glamorous" than, say, the Black Death. Or COVID.
A Jewish family from Belarus had immigrated into America and settled in Queens, NYC.
This story takes place in the thick of what's rarely seen as a pandemic but is every bit one, even if less "glamorous" than, say, the Black Death. Or COVID.
A Jewish family from Belarus had immigrated into America and settled in Queens, NYC.
4/55
New York those days, Queens in particular, was a refugee haven. The city was rapidly filling up with Europeans seeking a semblance of normalcy far from the horrors of WW1.
By the time the war was over, the Belarusians had their first child, Dick. Short for Richard.
New York those days, Queens in particular, was a refugee haven. The city was rapidly filling up with Europeans seeking a semblance of normalcy far from the horrors of WW1.
By the time the war was over, the Belarusians had their first child, Dick. Short for Richard.
5/55
9 years down the line, they had two more. As the family burgeoned, it needed a bigger home. So it moved. Not too far from where it lived was the neighborhood of Far Rockaway, home to many refugee families, mostly Orthodox Jews from Eastern Europe, just like Dick's.
9 years down the line, they had two more. As the family burgeoned, it needed a bigger home. So it moved. Not too far from where it lived was the neighborhood of Far Rockaway, home to many refugee families, mostly Orthodox Jews from Eastern Europe, just like Dick's.
6/55
This made Far Rockaway the most ideal place for Dick's parents to raise their kids.
Dick wouldn't speak until as late as 3. Despite this late start, though, boy turned out to be quite the prodigy at school.
By the time he was 9, he was already the school geek.
This made Far Rockaway the most ideal place for Dick's parents to raise their kids.
Dick wouldn't speak until as late as 3. Despite this late start, though, boy turned out to be quite the prodigy at school.
By the time he was 9, he was already the school geek.
7/55
At Far Rockaway High, Dick earned himself an advanced placement in math. It's here that the resident whizkid met Arline Greenbaum and developed an instant crush, his first. With crush, as it often happens, came longing. Longing to be around her.
Only one problem though.
At Far Rockaway High, Dick earned himself an advanced placement in math. It's here that the resident whizkid met Arline Greenbaum and developed an instant crush, his first. With crush, as it often happens, came longing. Longing to be around her.
Only one problem though.
8/55
His crush, one year his junior was into arts. And he into math. Although they did share many classes, art class is where her passion thrived. The proverbial road to her heart.
So our boy does exactly what your average Mills-and-Boons hero would: He joined arts.
His crush, one year his junior was into arts. And he into math. Although they did share many classes, art class is where her passion thrived. The proverbial road to her heart.
So our boy does exactly what your average Mills-and-Boons hero would: He joined arts.
9/55
Sure, math and physics remained Dick's undying love till he died, but arts class gave his life two new meanings — romance, and drawing. And he excelled at both.
With time, very little time actually, Arline learned of the whole conspiracy.
And reciprocated.
Sure, math and physics remained Dick's undying love till he died, but arts class gave his life two new meanings — romance, and drawing. And he excelled at both.
With time, very little time actually, Arline learned of the whole conspiracy.
And reciprocated.
10/55
Sparks flew and before they knew, the two starry-eyed teenagers were in a relationship.
This would prove to be a gross understatement later.
Sure they were just teenagers, but the resolve and commitment would become a generational legend.
Sparks flew and before they knew, the two starry-eyed teenagers were in a relationship.
This would prove to be a gross understatement later.
Sure they were just teenagers, but the resolve and commitment would become a generational legend.
11/55
At Far Rockaway High, Dick earned himself an advanced placement in math. None of this helped him get into Columbia though. Reason? Jewish. The university would only take so many Jews each year and Dick didn't make the quota.
So he settled for MIT.
At Far Rockaway High, Dick earned himself an advanced placement in math. None of this helped him get into Columbia though. Reason? Jewish. The university would only take so many Jews each year and Dick didn't make the quota.
So he settled for MIT.
12/55
By the time Hitler invaded Poland and inaugurated the sequel to the Great War, Dick had graduated from MIT with a bachelor's.
Although a vast ocean separated America from the carnage, a more personal tragedy befell the young couple around the same time.
Tuberculosis.
By the time Hitler invaded Poland and inaugurated the sequel to the Great War, Dick had graduated from MIT with a bachelor's.
Although a vast ocean separated America from the carnage, a more personal tragedy befell the young couple around the same time.
Tuberculosis.
13/55
It was Arline. First there were random lumps in the neck that seemed to appear out of nowhere and disappear just as randomly. Then came the fevers.
Eventually, she landed in a room at Farmingdale Hospital. Even then it took fatally long for the doctors to figure it out.
It was Arline. First there were random lumps in the neck that seemed to appear out of nowhere and disappear just as randomly. Then came the fevers.
Eventually, she landed in a room at Farmingdale Hospital. Even then it took fatally long for the doctors to figure it out.
14/55
At first they called it typhoid. This was bad but not nearly as bad as the actual thing.
Tuberculosis was no laughing matter in the 40s. Still isn't today. Back then, the bacteria was killing one individual every 20 minutes in America. Around the world, every 22 seconds.
At first they called it typhoid. This was bad but not nearly as bad as the actual thing.
Tuberculosis was no laughing matter in the 40s. Still isn't today. Back then, the bacteria was killing one individual every 20 minutes in America. Around the world, every 22 seconds.
15/55
It was incurable. And was friends with one of the most perfect killers the world has ever known — AIDS. Arline didn't have the latter, but even on its own tuberculosis was a death note.
She didn't know that yet though, nor did her doctors. They still went with typhoid.
It was incurable. And was friends with one of the most perfect killers the world has ever known — AIDS. Arline didn't have the latter, but even on its own tuberculosis was a death note.
She didn't know that yet though, nor did her doctors. They still went with typhoid.
16/55
Arline did start recovering at once point. Nobody knew how. But that soon proved to be a false hope as the illness returned, more aggressively this time.
By now, although still unaware it was tuberculosis, the doctors had precisely given up. Whatever it was, was incurable.
Arline did start recovering at once point. Nobody knew how. But that soon proved to be a false hope as the illness returned, more aggressively this time.
By now, although still unaware it was tuberculosis, the doctors had precisely given up. Whatever it was, was incurable.
17/55
She was then moved out of the hospital to make room for other patients. Death was imminent, so might as well wait in the comfort of your home and the company of your loved ones.
What destroyed Dick emotionally was obviously this countdown, but also something else.
She was then moved out of the hospital to make room for other patients. Death was imminent, so might as well wait in the comfort of your home and the company of your loved ones.
What destroyed Dick emotionally was obviously this countdown, but also something else.
18/55
It was Arline's ignorance of the imminent. Nobody had the heart to break the news to her. The illness would kill her, telling her that would kill her will to live even until that point. That's what everyone feared.
Not Dick. Keeping secrets from his beloved was cruel.
It was Arline's ignorance of the imminent. Nobody had the heart to break the news to her. The illness would kill her, telling her that would kill her will to live even until that point. That's what everyone feared.
Not Dick. Keeping secrets from his beloved was cruel.
19/55
It felt like crime. So he was determined to break it to get and support her in every way possible. But had to backtrack under family pressure.
This guilt wasn't easy on him.
Then one day she found out anyway.
From her mother.
It felt like crime. So he was determined to break it to get and support her in every way possible. But had to backtrack under family pressure.
This guilt wasn't easy on him.
Then one day she found out anyway.
From her mother.
20/55
Not that she was told. She just heard her mom speak to someone. Even at this point, nobody had guessed tuberculosis, but since it was terminal, guesses ranges from blood cancer to Hodgkin's, all equally morbid.
We don't know how Arline felt, but we know who she confronted.
Not that she was told. She just heard her mom speak to someone. Even at this point, nobody had guessed tuberculosis, but since it was terminal, guesses ranges from blood cancer to Hodgkin's, all equally morbid.
We don't know how Arline felt, but we know who she confronted.
21/55
He confessed he knew it all along, apologized for keeping it from her, and handed her an apology letter that he'd penned some time back for this very moment. And did one more thing.
He asked her to marry him.
She agreed.
But there was a problem. No, not her illness.
He confessed he knew it all along, apologized for keeping it from her, and handed her an apology letter that he'd penned some time back for this very moment. And did one more thing.
He asked her to marry him.
She agreed.
But there was a problem. No, not her illness.
22/55
About the time Arline contacted the illness, Dick had finished his bachelor's. Then it was time for a master's. And for a mind his kind of bright, nothing short of Princeton would do.
So he applied.
And made it.
Now there were two challenges — ethnicity, and money.
About the time Arline contacted the illness, Dick had finished his bachelor's. Then it was time for a master's. And for a mind his kind of bright, nothing short of Princeton would do.
So he applied.
And made it.
Now there were two challenges — ethnicity, and money.
23/55
The head of the physics department at Princeton wasn't terribly comfortable having too many Jews on his team. "They're hard to place," he'd remarked.
Only when the famous physicist Philip Morse intervened, did the head of department finally relent.
The head of the physics department at Princeton wasn't terribly comfortable having too many Jews on his team. "They're hard to place," he'd remarked.
Only when the famous physicist Philip Morse intervened, did the head of department finally relent.
24/55
Morse' argument? "Rest assured, he doesn't look Jewish."
So that was one problem solved. Dick was now set to study physics at the very epicenter of America's scientific temper.
The second problem was funds. This was quickly resolved with a scholarship.
Morse' argument? "Rest assured, he doesn't look Jewish."
So that was one problem solved. Dick was now set to study physics at the very epicenter of America's scientific temper.
The second problem was funds. This was quickly resolved with a scholarship.
25/55
Everything was falling in place. But the scholarship came with a rider.
Emotional encumbrances aren't welcome in fields that warrant fanatical focus. Think military, espionage, you get the drift.
Studying physics at Princeton was kinda like that.
Everything was falling in place. But the scholarship came with a rider.
Emotional encumbrances aren't welcome in fields that warrant fanatical focus. Think military, espionage, you get the drift.
Studying physics at Princeton was kinda like that.
26/55
Dick could not get married until he completed his master's. That was the condition. You marry, you lose the scholarship.
This was fine by him though. Just a matter of a few years. By the time he graduated, Arline would've recovered and they both could get married then.
Dick could not get married until he completed his master's. That was the condition. You marry, you lose the scholarship.
This was fine by him though. Just a matter of a few years. By the time he graduated, Arline would've recovered and they both could get married then.
27/55
Unfortunately, nothing went as planned. Tuberculosis rained the parade. Three short years down the line, facing the grimmest prospects of his love life, Dick decided to finally take the plunge. There was no luxury of time, doctors had given Arline less than a year.
Unfortunately, nothing went as planned. Tuberculosis rained the parade. Three short years down the line, facing the grimmest prospects of his love life, Dick decided to finally take the plunge. There was no luxury of time, doctors had given Arline less than a year.
28/55
He even decided to forfeit his Princeton stint, not the easiest call for a physicist even today.
But Arline trumped physics. She trumped everything.
And that's when the news broke.
It was tuberculosis. Always was, just got diagnosed now.
He even decided to forfeit his Princeton stint, not the easiest call for a physicist even today.
But Arline trumped physics. She trumped everything.
And that's when the news broke.
It was tuberculosis. Always was, just got diagnosed now.
29/55
Dick was mildly relieved it wasn't cancer. But the physicist in him had grossly miscalculated. Tuberculosis, by that year, had already claimed more lives than the four WW1 years did.
By orders of magnitude.
Arline still didn't have time. The countdown only got faster.
Dick was mildly relieved it wasn't cancer. But the physicist in him had grossly miscalculated. Tuberculosis, by that year, had already claimed more lives than the four WW1 years did.
By orders of magnitude.
Arline still didn't have time. The countdown only got faster.
30/55
Dick's decision was met with strong and vehement opposition from his family. Not that they didn't like Arline, they loved her. But tuberculosis was not well-understood then. What if he contacted it from her? What if they had a baby? Too many uncertainties.
Dick's decision was met with strong and vehement opposition from his family. Not that they didn't like Arline, they loved her. But tuberculosis was not well-understood then. What if he contacted it from her? What if they had a baby? Too many uncertainties.
31/55
None of that changed the young romantic's mind though. So one summer morning in 1942, the couple took a ferry across the New York Harbor and reached Staten Island.
It was as plain an affair as it could get. And yet, just as surreal.
None of that changed the young romantic's mind though. So one summer morning in 1942, the couple took a ferry across the New York Harbor and reached Staten Island.
It was as plain an affair as it could get. And yet, just as surreal.
32/55
Dick had borrowed a car from a Princeton friend and driven it down to Arline's in the morning. There, she was waiting for him in impeccable bridal whites.
The driveway became the aisle as she walked down to Dick waiting in his car.
Dick had borrowed a car from a Princeton friend and driven it down to Arline's in the morning. There, she was waiting for him in impeccable bridal whites.
The driveway became the aisle as she walked down to Dick waiting in his car.
33/55
The couple then drove to the harbor and a ferry-ride later, was taking vows at a Staten Island city office. Not a single family member from either side, lest they get infected. The registration needed two witnesses. Two strangers offered to see that purpose.
The couple then drove to the harbor and a ferry-ride later, was taking vows at a Staten Island city office. Not a single family member from either side, lest they get infected. The registration needed two witnesses. Two strangers offered to see that purpose.
34/55
Thanks to tuberculosis, Dick could only kiss his bride on the cheek. A real kiss was a real threat of contagion.
Unfortunately, the couple couldn't go on a honeymoon. A medical facility in New Jersey was to be the new bride's new home.
Thanks to tuberculosis, Dick could only kiss his bride on the cheek. A real kiss was a real threat of contagion.
Unfortunately, the couple couldn't go on a honeymoon. A medical facility in New Jersey was to be the new bride's new home.
35/55
Barely six months down the line, one child Sunday morning, a wave of Japanese Kamikaze fighters rained bombs on Pearl Harbor killing over 2,000 in a little over an hour. This pulled a reluctant America into the Second World War and along with it, many physicists.
Barely six months down the line, one child Sunday morning, a wave of Japanese Kamikaze fighters rained bombs on Pearl Harbor killing over 2,000 in a little over an hour. This pulled a reluctant America into the Second World War and along with it, many physicists.
36/55
Why physicists? Because the war had to be won. And winning this one called for unconventional weaponry. A bomb to end all wars. A bomb that had never been tried before.
Nor built.
Or conceived.
It was time. The US Army Corps of Engineers was tasked with the job.
Why physicists? Because the war had to be won. And winning this one called for unconventional weaponry. A bomb to end all wars. A bomb that had never been tried before.
Nor built.
Or conceived.
It was time. The US Army Corps of Engineers was tasked with the job.
37/55
Col. James Marshall was charged with organizing the logistics and administration in the US Army's behalf. Marshall went about his job right away.
Massachusetts-based Stone & Webster was hired as the principal materials contractor for the project.
Col. James Marshall was charged with organizing the logistics and administration in the US Army's behalf. Marshall went about his job right away.
Massachusetts-based Stone & Webster was hired as the principal materials contractor for the project.
38/55
Columbia University was to offer all the science involved. And the administrative assistance was to come from the Corps' North Atlantic Division.
To ensure smooth coordination between the three, Marshall needed to set up base as close to all three as possible.
Columbia University was to offer all the science involved. And the administrative assistance was to come from the Corps' North Atlantic Division.
To ensure smooth coordination between the three, Marshall needed to set up base as close to all three as possible.
39/55
So he set up headquarters on the 18th floor of Upper Manhattan's Tower 270. Everything in place, the project was officially inaugurated, in unprecedented secrecy, right here on Aug 13, 1942.
The Manhattan Project was born.
So he set up headquarters on the 18th floor of Upper Manhattan's Tower 270. Everything in place, the project was officially inaugurated, in unprecedented secrecy, right here on Aug 13, 1942.
The Manhattan Project was born.
40/55
The science part of the process was assigned to a physicist named Robert Wilson. You've heard of him if you've heard of Fermilab.
Of course, Columbia wasn't going to suffice. More universities had to be tapped.
One day, Dick received a call. It was Wilson.
The science part of the process was assigned to a physicist named Robert Wilson. You've heard of him if you've heard of Fermilab.
Of course, Columbia wasn't going to suffice. More universities had to be tapped.
One day, Dick received a call. It was Wilson.
41/55
Before he could comprehend what was going on, Dick was part of the Manhattan Project. He hadn't even finished his master's then.
His only worry? Arline.
She was still awaiting her fate at the hospital in NJ. He couldn't be away from her when she died!
Before he could comprehend what was going on, Dick was part of the Manhattan Project. He hadn't even finished his master's then.
His only worry? Arline.
She was still awaiting her fate at the hospital in NJ. He couldn't be away from her when she died!
42/55
It was decided that the research facility wood be set up in remote Los Alamos, a location as secure and inconspicuous as they could find.
By the following year, a Jewish refugee from the Third Reich was setting up the facility.
His name was Robert Oppenheimer.
It was decided that the research facility wood be set up in remote Los Alamos, a location as secure and inconspicuous as they could find.
By the following year, a Jewish refugee from the Third Reich was setting up the facility.
His name was Robert Oppenheimer.
43/55
Oppenheimer wanted all Princeton recruits in this new facility. For Dick, this was a problem. Leaving his wife alone as she breathed her last, was out of question.
So Oppenheimer found him a sanatorium in nearby Albuquerque.
Oppenheimer wanted all Princeton recruits in this new facility. For Dick, this was a problem. Leaving his wife alone as she breathed her last, was out of question.
So Oppenheimer found him a sanatorium in nearby Albuquerque.
44/55
On March 28, the following year, Dick and Arlene boarded a train to New Mexico. She was too sick to walk and had to be taken on a wheelchair.
Once in sanatorium, Arline continued to be in touch with her husband through letters. And Dick never slipped on responding.
On March 28, the following year, Dick and Arlene boarded a train to New Mexico. She was too sick to walk and had to be taken on a wheelchair.
Once in sanatorium, Arline continued to be in touch with her husband through letters. And Dick never slipped on responding.
45/55
Even the imminence of death couldn't affect the young wife's sense of youthful adventure. She knew her physicist husband enjoyed puzzles and riddles, so she'd write her letters in codes. Dick truly enjoyed the brainwork involved in deciphering them.
Even the imminence of death couldn't affect the young wife's sense of youthful adventure. She knew her physicist husband enjoyed puzzles and riddles, so she'd write her letters in codes. Dick truly enjoyed the brainwork involved in deciphering them.
46/55
Although this alarmed the officials who warned him against coded communications lest he be charged with espionage, Arline kept doing what she did.
Remember the couple hadn't kissed properly at their wedding thanks to tuberculosis?
Well, one day in 1945, they did.
Although this alarmed the officials who warned him against coded communications lest he be charged with espionage, Arline kept doing what she did.
Remember the couple hadn't kissed properly at their wedding thanks to tuberculosis?
Well, one day in 1945, they did.
47/55
And it didn't stop at kissing. They actually made love. At the sanatorium in Albuquerque.
For the first time since her diagnosis. Almost three years into the marriage.
It was risky but desires when tamed for too long, tend to have that effect.
And it didn't stop at kissing. They actually made love. At the sanatorium in Albuquerque.
For the first time since her diagnosis. Almost three years into the marriage.
It was risky but desires when tamed for too long, tend to have that effect.
48/55
She kept worsening. Her body began to revise working with her spirit. She began vomiting blood. Her weight dropped below 40 kilos.
Dick continued to push her tirelessly.
"I have a serious affliction, loving you forever," he wrote once in a letter to her.
She kept worsening. Her body began to revise working with her spirit. She began vomiting blood. Her weight dropped below 40 kilos.
Dick continued to push her tirelessly.
"I have a serious affliction, loving you forever," he wrote once in a letter to her.
49/55
It was June 16, hardly months since the day he'd made love to her for the first time. Dick received a call from Albuquerque.
It was about his wife.
Still without a car, he borrowed one and rushed to the sanatorium right away.
It was June 16, hardly months since the day he'd made love to her for the first time. Dick received a call from Albuquerque.
It was about his wife.
Still without a car, he borrowed one and rushed to the sanatorium right away.
50/55
We don't know if she recognized him, but even if she did, she couldn't communicate. Not even with her eyes.
Almost a corpse.
At 9:21 AM, as he held her hand, she heaved one last labored sigh and stopped being almost.
We don't know if she recognized him, but even if she did, she couldn't communicate. Not even with her eyes.
Almost a corpse.
At 9:21 AM, as he held her hand, she heaved one last labored sigh and stopped being almost.
51/55
Dick stayed still for what felt like forever. Then he got up, picked up a journal where she would document her symptoms and progress, and added a new entry:
June 16: Death
Then he quietly gathered her belongings and went about making arrangements for her cremation.
Dick stayed still for what felt like forever. Then he got up, picked up a journal where she would document her symptoms and progress, and added a new entry:
June 16: Death
Then he quietly gathered her belongings and went about making arrangements for her cremation.
52/55
Yes, she had to be cremated, thanks to tuberculosis.
Two years after Arline's death, on July 13, 1947, the world saw its first tuberculosis patient successfully cured with a revolutionary new antibiotic, streptomycin.
Yes, she had to be cremated, thanks to tuberculosis.
Two years after Arline's death, on July 13, 1947, the world saw its first tuberculosis patient successfully cured with a revolutionary new antibiotic, streptomycin.
53/55
Dick never really stopped loving his high school sweetheart and didn't even remarry for a good seven years after losing her.
On October 17, 1946, over a year after her death, the still-besotted widower wrote his dead wife this letter.
Dick never really stopped loving his high school sweetheart and didn't even remarry for a good seven years after losing her.
On October 17, 1946, over a year after her death, the still-besotted widower wrote his dead wife this letter.
54/55
Happy Valentine's Day.
Happy Valentine's Day.
55/55
Sources:
Sources:
PS/55
Know about the biggest contribution Arline made to Richard Feynman's life? Here:
Art class —> drawing lessons —> Feynman Diagrams —> Physics Nobel
Remember why he joined arts in the first place? ;)
Know about the biggest contribution Arline made to Richard Feynman's life? Here:
Art class —> drawing lessons —> Feynman Diagrams —> Physics Nobel
Remember why he joined arts in the first place? ;)
