Gluck family papers

Irving Gluck (1921-2016) was born Ignác Gluck on November 14, 1921 in the small village of Polyán, Hungary (sometimes referred to as Bodrogmező, later Polyán, Czechoslovakia, currently Polyán, Slovakia) to Jeremias Gluck and Lena Gluck (née Schwartz). He had five siblings: Lajos Gluck, David Gluck, Hermina Gluck, Maria Gluck, and Herman Gluck.

Irving’s family was religious and lived in Polyán where his father owned a small business. In April 1938, Irving’s fraternal uncle Julius Gluck sponsored David’s immigration to the United States. He settled in Columbus, Ohio where other Gluck relatives were living. Irving, his brother Herman, and sisters Maria and Hermina all joined him in Columbus in February 1940.

Irving worked at a paint factory and registered for the draft in 1942. He reported for military service in March 1943 and trained as an infantry soldier at Camp Wolters in Texas. He served with 1st Armored Division, 6th Armored Infantry Regiment/Battalion. He was initially in North Africa, and later served in Italy where his unit fought at Monte Porchia and the Battle of Anzio in 1944. He later served in France and Germany with the 67th MP Company.

Irving was discharged in November 1945 with the rank of Private First Class. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics from Ohio State University in 1949, and moved to New York around the same time to join his siblings Herman, Hermina, and Maria. Irving initially worked in the vending machine business and later moved into real estate. He married Barbara Nagel in 1960, and they had two sons: Sherwin and Jerritt.

The Gluck family lived in the small village of Polyán, Hungary (sometimes referred to as Bodrogmező, later Polyán, Czechoslovakia, currently Poľany, Slovakia). Jeremias Gluck (1875-1944) was married to Lena Schwartz (1884-1932) and they had six children: Lajos Gluck (1904-1944), David Gluck (1912-1991, born Dezsö Gluck), Hermina Gluck (1914-1993, born Hencsu Gluck, later Hermine Solomon), Maria Gluck (1916-2013, born Marcsa or Mariska Gluck), Herman Gluck (1918-2005), and Irving Gluck (1921-2016, born Ignác Gluck). The family was religious, and Jeremias owned a small business in Polyán.

Three of Jeremias’s brothers immigrated to the United States prior to World War I: Martin Gluck (1866-1926), Julius Gluck (1868-1941, also known as Jonas Gluck), and Henry Gluck (1872-1931). Numerous Gluck relatives settled and lived in Columbus, Ohio.

In April 1938, Jeremias’s brother Julius sponsored David’s immigration to the United States. He settled in Columbus. His siblings Irving, Herman, Maria, and Hermina all immigrated to the U.S. in February 1940 aboard the Vulcania, and initially settled in Columbus with David. Throughout World War II, the Gluck siblings corresponded frequently with each other, their father and brother Lajos in Polyán, and relatives in Europe and the United States.

David moved to California around 1943. He opened a series of businesses and restaurants. David and his wife Dorothy had one son, Frederick. The family moved to New York in 1959.

Herman enlisted in the United States Army in 1942 but was discharged shortly after. He later moved to New York and briefly was an investor in the stock market.

Hermina moved to New York. She married Eugene Solomon in 1950, and they had two daughters.

Irving registered for the draft in 1942 and reported for military service in March 1943. He served in North Africa, Italy, France, and Germany. After he was discharged in 1945, he earned his BA in Economics. He later moved to New York and married Barbara Nagel in 1960.

Maria moved to New York in 1946.

Lajos remained in Polyán with his wife Etelka Gluck (b. 1905, née Klein) and their five children: Emil, Lenke, Mityuka, Gyuszika, and Zoli. In 1944, Lajos, his family, and his father Jeremias were deported to Auschwitz. Lajos was transferred to the Ebensee subcamp of Mauthausen where he was murdered. The rest of the family were murdered at Auschwitz, likely shortly after their arrival. Of 23 immediate family members who were deported from their homes during the Holocaust, Emil Schwartz was the only known survivor.