HOLBERT'S ON THE LICENSE PLATE FRAME CONNECTS A LONG-LOST FAMILY — Sharon Mark Cohen, MPA, UN Representative for IHAN

Why was I crying? The family history, the memories, the shrinking of our large family (see our SHRINKING AND GROWING FAMILY, dated December 30, 2025, at sharonmark.cohen.com), and those who celebrated the good times. The tears started flowing as those were just some of the things I was sitting and thinking about when my Cousin Hank’s daughter sent an email from California informing me of her father’s passing on November 28, 2025, at age 86.

Then, there’s the DVD Hank, a retired attorney, sent to me of his family, including his grandmother, who had been married to my grandfather’s beloved brother, plus the picture Hank gave me of my parents, brothers, aunts, uncles, and cousins at his 1952 bar mitzvah celebration in Pennsylvania. While that was before I was born, I heard about that occasion again and again. That milestone was shortly before his family moved to California, where he finished his schooling, married, and raised his family.

Time after time, when we traveled to California, we made a point of visiting with Hank and his family, just as our families of past generations visited one another in Philadelphia and Newark. Our family history was strong. Hank’s grandfather and my grandfather were brothers who made their way from Chudnov, Ukraine, in the early part of the 20th Century, his grandfather settling in Philadelphia and mine in Newark, New Jersey.

My father and Hank’s mother were first cousins. My parents spent their 1940 honeymoon at Hank’s parents’ house in Philadelphia when the car they borrowed from my uncle broke down on the way to Washington, D.C. Hank was an infant at that time.

I sent messages about Hank’s passing to family members who may have known him. One of the beautiful responses came from the son of Hank’s first cousin Bernie. Bernie, as Hank, was also my second cousin, whose bar mitzvah my family also attended before I was born.

Steven wrote:

“Sad to hear this…

“Interesting story: In 1998, I had a show on display at the Beverly Hills Car show, a large event held at the high school. Due to our friendship and connection with the racing Holbert family (who also owned dealerships in Bucks County [Pennsylvania]), I had a Holbert license plate frame on my car. As I was walking nearby, I heard someone say, ‘That’s where Bernie worked.’ Of course, that got my attention and started a conversation, and of course, it was Hank. Although we had both been living in Southern California, we had never crossed paths or really talked much at all.”

Upon reading that note, the idea of writing a blog post came to me immediately. My thought was to ask Steven to send me pictures of the car and the Holbert’s license plate frame. At first, he said he would have to research those old photos, but almost instantly, he found the perfect pictures for this post.

When Hank’s daughter Erika wrote in response to my reaction and appreciating that I would notify others, “Thank you Sharon. Glad we have kept in touch, you are the only contact I have with family.” Erika’s remarks reminded me of my mother’s saying, “Look what happens to a family.” Now you know why I was crying when dear Cousin Hank died. Hank’s passing marked the end of an era.

Rest in peace Cousin Hank. I carry the fondest of memories, including the times we spent at your home in Venice Beach and walks along the beach. I know that your children, Erika and Leif, and their families, will keep your memory alive.

Hank - 27 Aug 1939 - 28 Nov 2025