Greenacre Family History & Genealogy

Colin Wear Greenacre was born on October 27, 1939 in Pudsey, England United Kingdom to Tom Wear and Gladys (Dutton) Wear. Colin Greenacre married Beryl Mary (Isaacson) on April 23, 1962 in King's Lynn, Norfolk County. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Colin Wear Greenacre.

Beryl Mary (Isaacson) Greenacre of King's Lynn, Norfolk County, England United Kingdom was born on August 16, 1938 in King's Lynn, and died at age 77 years old on February 9, 2016 in King's Lynn.

Rita (Blum) Greenacre was my nanny. She and my granddad, George Greenacre (June 15, 1923 - July 26, 1992), met in either the late 30s or early 40s, after she, her mother (Elsa) and her brother (Curt) fled Vienna Austria (separately) during Hitler's occupation. George was from a family in Munford, England. Both Rita and George were in the army when they met, and married shortly after (I think it was 1942). On December 3, 1944 my mother, Colette, was born. Granddad was there at the birth...they had sent him hunting. Mom was born in the farmhouse, and it was a race between the cow having a calf that day in the barn and mom being born. Sadly, who won that race has been lost to the ages. But mom is still here, so I think she won in the long run. Shortly after that, Granddad was sent back overseas to serve in North Africa. The story goes that my mom didn't like this stranger when he returned from the war effort a year or so later. In 1948 they emigrated to the United States, first in Chicago, where some of the surviving Spitz's (Nanny's mother's family) had settled when they were able to flee Austria. A few years later the 3 of them moved to Philadelphia, where Nanny's brother, Uncle Curt (??? - January 6 or 8, 1987), had settled with their mother, Elsa (1894 - June 1983). Curt (born either June 22 or 24, 1920) never married. He and his mother are interred in Springfield, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Elsa remarried sometime after arriving in America to a terrible person (Cooper) who I thankfully never met. Anyway, Nanny was a wonderful person. She was intelligent, funny, loved her family dearly, and showered us with attention until the day she died. She had 3 daughters, my mother Colette, her middle daughter, Aunt Sandra (married Uncle Joseph Walter Kanhofer (we call him Uncle Wally, though his only sister calls him Joe, and he is Uncle Joe to her kids...I never knew this until his youngest son's wedding (Brian)), and her youngest, Aunt Cara (married Uncle Phillip Staurowski...a master carpenter, and he has mad skills/talent). According to my father, Nanny was also brave. She apparently did some things like run messages in and out of the Jewish ghetto as a young child, as she could pass for a non-Jew. He made it sound inspiring, but didn't have a lot of details. Only that his mother-in-law had some serious courage. Her grandfather on her father's side (Josef Blum was Elsa's husband, Nanny's father, my great grandfather) died after 5 or 6 years in a concentration camp (disappeared on Kristallnacht, and camp records show his death in 1943 or 44...my cousin Danny, a historian/professor, Wally and Sandra's oldest son, found this out while doing research). Josef died shortly after he and Curt tried to escape out of the country around the same time as his father's disappearance. Nanny died on January 1, 1986, at age 61. She was to have 2 valves replaced in her heart, and during some routine test on December 3, 1985 (mom's 41st birthday) her artery was torn, and she had a massive heart attack. She was out of the hospital in time for Christmas, but suffered another heart attack 2 days later, and died a few hours after surgery on January 1, at 11:46 am. Odd note, though she was Jewish, my mom and aunt's were raised Methodist because when they moved out of Philadelphia to Springfield, Delaware County, Pennsylvania (early 50s, right before Cara was born) the C.C. Hancock Church on Sproul Road (route 320) was being built. My sister, Stacey Colleen Barton (born January 22, 1971) and I were baptized there, and my mom and dad (Colette Greenacre Hammond and William Merrill "Chuck" Hammond (October 26, 1944 - June 28, 2022)) and my aunts and uncles were married (my parents on May 22, 1965). As a result, we celebrated Christian traditions/holidays. My nanny, who was a Jew, kept Christmas better than anyone I ever knew. She was insane with Christmas decorations/gifts/etc. I think because it was a time of family, which meant everything to her. She should be remembered for one thing above all else. Her love for family and friends. She was a giant among people because of how much she loved. Rita Blum Greenacre was one of the greatest people to ever walk the earth. Rest of her family: Colette married William (Chuck) Hammond, Rita's grandchildren: Colin Derek Hammond (3/18/1970) (I was Granddad's favorite...there, I said it out loud for the rest of you guys to know), married, Denise Marie (Koob) Hammond, 2 children, Ryan Connor Hammond, 8/8/2000, about to graduate from Shippensburg and become a teacher, and Maureen Alexis Hammond, 4/13/2002, rising 2nd classman (Junior) United States Coast Guard Academy); Stacey Colleen Barton (1/22/1971) (married Michael Barton in August 1997), 2 children, Jack Barton, 7/12/00, May 2023 graduate of James Madison with a business degree, and will be getting his graduate degree from there next year (2024), and Samuel Barton (Sammy), born 9/11/04, and about to graduate Downingtown East high school and will be attending Colgate University next year. Sandra married Joseph Walter (Wally) Kanhofer, Rita's grandchildren: Daniel Kanhofer (born 8/2/84) (married in 2019 I think, really cool place, at a shipwreck in Maine to Caroline, 2 children (Hal and Elizabeth Kanhofer, twins born 2020), Brian Kanhofer (married Corrine Casey Kanhofer, 1 child so far, son Trevor (TJ) born 2021, really cute kid, but he peed on me on his first Christmas, and I don't know if I can forgive him (wink, wink), 1 daughter on the way) Cara married Phillip Staurowski, Rita's grandchildren: Alysia Staurowski, married, born 4/9/1979, Michael Staurowski (born 5/10/1983), and Robert Staurowksi, born 10/25/1988. Now you know more than you ever wanted to know about Rita (Blum) Greenacre, and her descendants.

Cara (Greenacre) of Downingtown, Pennsylvania United States was born in August 1956. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Cara Greenacre Staurowski.

George Greenacre was my Granddad. He was born in England on a farm. He served in the British Army during WWII (served in North Africa). He met my Nanny, Rita, while in the Army. They married and had my mom, emigrated to the United States in 1948. He was a business owner, carpenter by trade (though he also owned a diner with my nanny). He was a kind person. He was active in the Republican Party. But most of all, he was a family man. And he loved Philadelphia sports, most of all the Phillies. We used to argue about Buddy Ryan (Buddy was the head coach of the Eagles, and he was a little too blunt and crass for Granddad...I will concede those points). He was also wise. We would debate politics, which drove my mother nuts, but I think it was out of these debates that I developed my viewpoints, which are mostly in line with his (and my parents). But he forced me to think (as did my Dad and Mom). He would do anything for family. He was a wonderful father to my mom, and my Aunt Sandra and Aunt Cara, and he treated my dad (William (Chuck) Hammond), and my uncles (Wally and Phil) as if they were sons, because, to him, they were. He adored his grandchildren, and I always felt bad that my cousins have less memories of him, if any, than I do, having been born 18 years sooner than the youngest. My sister (Stacey) and I were fortunate to have known him until I was 22 (she was 21), and my Nanny until I was 15, and Stacey 14 (weeks shy of her 15th...we are Irish twins, having been born 10 months apart). The rest of them were 7, 2, 1, not born, not born, when my Nanny passed away, and 13, 9, 8, 6, 4 when Granddad passed away. So we (my sister and I) were extremely lucky. Granddad liked to lecture you, because he loved you. He wanted you to be intelligent and thoughtful. He wanted you to grow to respect others. He was also generous with those he loved. I miss him. He was gone too soon.

Deborah M Greenacre was born on February 3, 1951, and died at age 48 years old on February 16, 1999. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Deborah M Greenacre.

Ralph R Greenacre of Torrance, Los Angeles County, California was born on March 19, 1917, and died at age 68 years old in February 1986.

Gertrude Greenacre was born on February 7, 1921, and died at age 60 years old in July 1981. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Gertrude Greenacre.

William Greenacre of Saltsburg, Indiana County, PA was born on July 25, 1932, and died at age 78 years old on June 16, 2011.

Judy Greenacre was born on June 5, 1944, and died at age 47 years old on September 7, 1991. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Judy Greenacre.

Ada Greenacre was born on October 14, 1878, and died at age 99 years old in April 1978. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Ada Greenacre.

Doris Greenacre of Fort Collins, Larimer County, CO was born on June 6, 1915, and died at age 85 years old on March 24, 2001.

Lucinda Greenacre of Custer, Custer County, South Dakota was born on January 5, 1890, and died at age 84 years old in April 1974.

Laverne F Greenacre of Fremont, Alameda County, CA was born on May 2, 1916, and died at age 84 years old on April 24, 2001.

Marjorie Elizabeth Greenacre of Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, New Mexico was born on January 19, 1923, and died at age 85 years old on December 20, 2008.

Irvan F Greenacre of Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, NM was born on June 19, 1918, and died at age 70 years old on July 16, 1988.

Bernard Greenacre was born on January 20, 1914, and died at age 56 years old in May 1970. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Bernard Greenacre.

Alshia L Greenacre of Linwood, Bay County, MI was born on June 5, 1973, and died at age 34 years old on November 15, 2007.

Walter C Greenacre of Clarkston, Oakland County, MI was born on August 7, 1921, and died at age 71 years old on December 12, 1992.

Elsie M Greenacre of East Jordan, Charlevoix County, MI was born on August 5, 1918, and died at age 75 years old on July 10, 1994.