Melvin, Marvin, & Max Markowitz

In 1924, twins Melvin and Marvin were born in Houston to Ed Markowitz, a native of Rumania who worked as a jobber, and his wife, the former Anna Silverman. Sometime after brother Max arrived in 1929, Ed and Anna divorced, with Anna receiving full custody of the boys. In 1932, after Anna’s health began to deteriorate, she admitted her 7-year-old twins to the Home. By 1936, as Anna was preparing to enter the National Jewish Hospital in Denver to be treated for tuberculosis, Max joined his brothers in the Home.

While in the Home, Marvin and Melvin celebrated their confirmation at Touro Synagogue in 1940. In February 1943, following their graduation from Delgado Central Trades School, where they earned certificates in plumbing, the twins were discharged to their remarried mother in Houston. The next month, they legally changed their surnames to Marks.

Both Marvin and Melvin served in the military in World War II. According to the Jewish Herald-Voice, the 19-year-old brothers were riding in a military vehicle in Guam when it struck a Japanese landmine. When Melvin awoke two weeks later in a military hospital, he learned that Marvin had not survived the blast. Marvin’s body was brought home in 1948 for burial in Houston’s Beth Yeshurun Cemetery. For his service, Melvin received the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

Younger brother, Max, remained in the Home until June 1944, when he was discharged to their mother. While in the Home,  Max distinguished himself in athletics, dubbed by one reporter as Isidore Newman High School’s  “sparkplug” in basketball,  winning second place for pole vaulting 9’4″, and wrestling in the 115 pound category. After his discharge at age 14, Max completed his education at San Jacinto High School and University of Houston.

In 1950, according to census records, Max and Melvin were living with their father, Jack Marks, in Houston where Jack ran an automobile company and Max sold cars. Melvin sold wholesale plumbing supplies, a career that would last more than four decades. Later that year, Melvin married Hallene Fargotstein, with whom he raised three children. After Hallene’s death in 1976, Melvin married Eva Sue. He died in 2009 and was buried in Houston’s Emanu El Memorial Park. Melvin was missed by many people, including Alvin “Pat” Samuels, his lifetime friend from the Home.

In 1950, the same year Melvin married Hallene, Max married Saralee Goldberg. During Max’s military service, the couple spent two years in San Luis Obispo, California and San Antonio. They had two children. Marks died in 2004 and was buried in Houston’s Beth Yeshurun Cemetery.