“We Mesh Together Like One”: A Miami Love Story
In 1971 George Ju was running a Chinese restaurant in Miami, Florida. George was born in China and immigrated to the United States at the age of 10. After serving in the U.S. Navy, he settled in Miami, and this is where he met Angela Rivas.
One night, while attending her friend’s engagement party, Angela met George, who was cooking for the event. George was immediately smitten, and there began their journey of love and laughter.
Angela Ju and George Ju in Los Angeles, California Chinatown, in 1988. Courtesy of MJ Moneymaker.
George and Angela Ju came to StoryCorps, nearly 50 years later, to talk about falling in love and staying in love.
Top Photo: Angela Ju and George Ju at their StoryCorps interview in Spring Hill, Florida on October 21, 2018. By Morgan Feigal-Stickles for StoryCorps.
Originally aired March 19, 2021, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Chicago Siblings Remember Brother Lost To COVID and the Love He Left Behind
Growing up in the Little Village neighborhood of Chicago, Jorge and Jessica Valdivia looked up to their older brother, Mauricio. To many, he was a larger-than-life personality known to light up the room with his jokes and pranks. To his siblings, he was the rock of the family who always took the time to let them know they were loved.
Jorge remembers one Christmas when his parents couldn’t afford presents and Mauricio surprised him with his first Transformer, which he still has.
In April 2020, Mauricio, 52, died from COVID-19. He left behind his wife, their two sons, and a huge void in the lives of those who loved him most. Jorge and Jessica came to StoryCorps to share their favorite memories of Mauricio and what he meant to them.
Top Photo: The Valdivia siblings, from left to right: Eliseo Jr., Mauricio, Jessica and Jorge. Courtesy of Jorge Valdivia.
Bottom Photo: Jorge Valdivia holds the Optimus Prime Transformer that his late brother Mauricio got him one Christmas when they were young. Courtesy of Jorge Valdivia.
Originally aired February 5, 2021 on NPR’s Morning Edition.
2 Sisters on Enjoying Life: “Instead of a Drama or a Novela, Make It a Sitcom”
Brenda Ulloa Martinez and her sister, Corina Ulloa, grew up in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles in the 1980s.
Both of their parents worked. Prior to opening a bridal shop together, Irma worked as a seamstress in a factory and Arnulfo as a delivery truck driver. So the young sisters would often rely on public transportation to get to school. This also meant they’d return home to an empty house.
Left to right: Brenda Ulloa Martinez, at age 4, and Corina Ulloa, at age 2, in their family apartment in Los Angeles in the 1970s.
In 2010, they came to StoryCorps to share some of their hard-earned wisdom with the next generation: Brenda’s daughters, Camila Martinez and Isabela Martinez.
Top Photo (left to right): Corina Ulloa, Brenda Ulloa Martinez, Camila Martinez, and Isabela Martinez at their StoryCorps interview in Los Angeles, California on March 6, 2010. By Alejandro De La Cruz for StoryCorps.
Originally aired January 29, 2021, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
A Queens Family’s Tradition of Feeding Those in Need — 365 Days a Year
Since 2004, Jorge Muñoz has gathered with his family in their small kitchen in Queens, New York where they cook meals for those in need. Together, they’ve provided more than one hundred meals per day to day laborers, many of whom are undocumented immigrants, in the city.
They’ve kept up the tradition year-round for the last 16 years, providing approximately 500,000 meals — until May, when the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
Using StoryCorps Connect, Jorge spoke with his sister, Luz, to remember the beginning of their journey, and how their mother inspired them to give to those in need.
Top Photo: Siblings Luz and Jorge Muñoz spoke about how their meal program began in their recent StoryCorps interview from their home in Queens, NY.
Middle Photo: The Muñoz family, (from left to right) Jorge, Justin, Blanca, and Luz, prepares meals from their kitchen in 2010.
Originally aired December 4, 2020, on NPR’s Morning Edition.
“I Took An Oath To Respond To The Needs Of My Nation”: An Army Chaplain Remembers The Height Of COVID-19 In New York City
As a military chaplain, Army Major Ivan Arreguin has seen many overseas deployments. But in April 2020, while serving with the 44th Medical Brigade out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, he was deployed stateside for a mission unlike any other.
At the time, New York City had been dubbed the epicenter of the coronavirus. Hospitals were overrun with patients, and doctors and nurses were spread thin. Relief came in many forms, including military medical units, who were providing additional support and care.
Over StoryCorps Connect, Chaplain Arreguin told his wife, Aileen, what it was like to be stationed in New York City during the height of COVID-19.
Top Photo: Army Major Ivan Arreguin (center), and other soldiers, escorting the remains of a veteran who died from COVID-19 while being treated at the Javits New York Medical Station, in New York City, April 19, 2020. Photo by U.S. Air National Guard Major Patrick Cordova.
Middle Photo: Army Major Ivan Arreguin and Aileen Arreguin at their son’s wedding in Sanford, NC, in June 2020. Courtesy of the Arreguin family.
The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement.
Originally aired November 14, 2020, on NPR’s Weekend Edition.
‘You Are Both’: A Chicano Arts Historian Celebrates His Mexican American Heritage
Tomás Ybarra-Frausto grew up in the 1940s, just outside of San Antonio, Texas, on a ranch that belonged to his grandfather. He was raised in a bilingual family, but when Tomás started elementary school, he was told that he and his classmates could only speak English — not Spanish.
At StoryCorps, Tomás told his longtime friend Antonia how the land he grew up on, coupled with his family’s emphasis on language and culture, helped him appreciate his Mexican American heritage.
After spending more than two decades in New York, working as a Chicano arts historian, Tomás returned to his roots and settled back in San Antonio, Texas.
Top photo: Antonia Castañeda and Tomás Ybarra-Frausto at their StoryCorps interview in San Antonio, TX on March 23, 2012. By Anaid Reyes for StoryCorps.
Bottom photo: Tomás Ybarra-Frausto at his StoryCorps interview in San Antonio, TX on March 23, 2012. By Anaid Reyes for StoryCorps.
Originally aired July 31, 2020 on NPR’s Morning Edition.
What Carries Me Through
When this season of the StoryCorps podcast kicked off in April 2020, we found ourselves facing the greatest global health crises in the last century. The months since then have been filled with more questions than answers. But on this final episode of the season, we’re bringing you stories from multiple families who are dealing with COVID-19, and having tough conversations along the way.
We start with Dan Flynn, a funeral director in southern California. When the pandemic hit, Dan traveled across the country to join an emergency mortuary response team in New York City. At the time, it was one of the most high-risk areas in the country.
Next, we hear from Dr. Joseph Kras, who works in hospice and palliative care in St. Louis, Missouri. Even though he and his 18-year-old daughter, Sophie, weren’t separated by geography during the pandemic, they found themselves grappling with another kind of distance.
The quarantine gave way to another conversation between a father and daughter. At 90 years old, Ken Felts was compelled to let go of a secret he’d been holding since the 1950s. He sat down for StoryCorps with his daughter, Rebecca, to talk about it.
Our next story dates back to 1946. Army Staff Sergeant Leo DiPalma, who had fought in World War II, also served as a guard at the first Nuremberg trial. When he passed away from COVID-19 earlier this year, his daughter Emily came to StoryCorps to remember him.
Our final story comes from Dr. Roberto Vargas, the Director of Microbiology at a hospital in Rochester, New York. He’s spent most of the pandemic working long hours in the lab, running COVID-19 tests.
To reduce the risk of exposure, Roberto originally stayed at a hotel while his wife and four young kids were at home. But he eventually came back to the house, and built a makeshift apartment in their basement. That’s where Roberto was when he recorded a remote StoryCorps interview with his wife, Susan, and their 10-year-old son, Xavier, who were upstairs.
Top photo: Roberto Vargas (left), Xavier Vargas, and Susan Vargas at home in Stafford, New York on May 16, 2020. Courtesy of the Vargas Family.
Second photo: Dan Flynn and his daughter Shannon Doty for StoryCorps. Photos courtesy of Daniel Flynn and Shannon Doty
Third photo: Dr. Joseph Kras and his daughter, Sophie Kras, at their StoryCorps interview in Olivette, Missouri on June 13th, 2020. Photo courtesy of the Kras family.
Fourth photo: Kenneth Felts (L) and his first love Phillip (R) in the 1950s. Courtesy of Kenneth Felts.
Bottom photo: Staff Sgt. Emilio Di Palma, far right, on guard at the Nuremberg Trials in 1945. Courtesy of Emily Aho.
Released on July 21, 2020.
A Reason To Smile
The poet W.H. Auden once said, “Among those whom I like or admire, I can find no common denominator, but among those whom I love, I can: all of them make me laugh.”
On this episode on the StoryCorps podcast, we’re bringing you stories of people who, in addition to making us laugh, also remind us that even in challenging times there are still reasons to smile.
Our first story comes from Ramón “Chunky” Sanchez. He grew up during the 1950s, in a small farming town in California. At StoryCorps, he sat down to remember his elementary school days, and in particular, a classmate whose name made the teachers blush.
Next, a love story that starts at a hotel in the Catskills in the summer of 1946. That’s where identical twins Hunny and Bunny were waiting tables, and unbeknownst to them, another set of identical twins, Danny and Elliott, were working as musicians.
At StoryCorps, Hunny and Elliott remember what happened when the fated foursome got together.
Next, we hear from 94-year old Betty Jenkins, who came to StoryCorps in 2008, to remember an explosive moment from her youth that involved an inflatable bra.
We end with Tariq and Tabinda Sheikh, a couple who first met each other in 1989. Tabinda had recently moved to the U.S. from the Dominican Republic, and was working as a housekeeper at a hotel in New York City. It was the same hotel where Tariq, who had recently immigrated from Pakistan, was managing the front desk. At StoryCorps, they sat down to remember how their love story began.
Top photo: Hunny and Elliott Reiken at their StoryCorps interview in New York, New York. Photo by Lily Percy for StoryCorps.
Second photo: Ramón “Chunky” Sanchez at his StoryCorps interview in San Diego, California. Photo by Piya Kochar for StoryCorps.
Third photo: Danny and Bunny, and Hunny and Elliott, at their joint wedding. Courtesy of the Reiken family.
Fourth Photo: Betty Jenkins at her StoryCorps interview in Cincinnati, Ohio. Photo by Michelle Swinehart for StoryCorps.
Bottom photo: Tariq Sheikh and Tabinda Sheikh at their StoryCorps interview in New York, New York. By Chaela Herridge-Meyer for StoryCorps.
Released on July 07, 2020.
Three Generations Of Women Pharmacists On Living Through The Pandemic
Vivian Garcia Leonard came to the United States as a Cuban refugee and fought to make a name for herself as a hospital pharmacist. She’s been on the job for 59 years, but in the wake of COVID-19 has had to stay home. Now her daughter, Vivian Janet Leonard, and granddaughter, Marissa Sofia Ochs, carry on the family legacy.
They spoke through StoryCorps Connect about the tough choices the coronavirus pandemic demands.
Top Photo: Vivian Garcia Leonard (left), Baby Liana, Marissa Sofia Ochs, and Vivian Janet Leonard. Courtesy of Marissa Ochs.
Bottom Photo: Vivian Garcia Leonard working as a pharmacist.
Originally aired July 3rd, 2020 on NPR’s Morning Edition.
Comfort From The Kitchen
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve heard lots of people say it’s the little things that are helping them through: so this week’s episode is dedicated to people who are finding comfort in the kitchen.
We start with a story from Private First Class Roman Coley Davis, who was born in Douglas, Georgia, and joined the military shortly after high school. By the time he was 20 years old, he found himself stationed in one of the most remote US outposts in Afghanistan.
At StoryCorps, Roman tells his friend Dan Marek about the one thing that helped him feel closer to home during his deployment.
Next, a story from two sisters, Estela and Candi Reyes, who were raised by their father, Juan Reyes, in El Paso, Texas. Juan had grown up in a small town in Mexico and moved to the U.S. in the 1940s.
During Juan’s later years, he struggled with diabetes, and as that struggle intensified, Estela and Candi took care of him. At StoryCorps, they sat down to remember his final days.
Our next story comes from New York City. That’s where Len Berk spent nearly 4 decades working as an accountant. But as he told his friend Joshua Gubitz at StoryCorps, he eventually developed an appetite for something else.
Our final story comes from Chloe Longfellow, who was just three years old when her father died. That’s when she and her mom moved to Arizona to be near family, and Chloe grew especially close to her grandmother, Doris. At StoryCorps, she sat down to remember her.
Top photo: Candi and Estela Reyes at their StoryCorps interview in El Paso, Texas. By Anaid Reyes for StoryCorps.
Second Photo: Roman Coley Davis and his meemaw, Laverne Tanner, in her South Georgia kitchen. Courtesy of Roman Coley Davis
Third Photo: Juan Reyes in the early 1970s. Courtesy of the Reyes family.
Fourth Photo: Joshua Gubitz and Len Berk at their StoryCorps interview in New York, New York. By John White for StoryCorps.
Bottom photo: Chloe Longfellow at her StoryCorps interview in Seattle, Washington. By Vanessa Gonzalez-Block for StoryCorps.
Released on June 30, 2020.