Spending a few hours with 92-year-old Baltimorean Morty Esterson in his home office, I gazed at the many plaques, trophies, proclamations, commendations, and citations adorning the walls of his office. Here is a man who has had a huge impact on the Jewish community as well as on the greater Baltimore community during his long and illustrious career. A master educator in Baltimore City Schools as well as Hebrew schools, he was also a pioneer of special education services, and has held many positions of leadership in Jewish education and community institutions and initiatives. Morty Esterson is simply a exceptional person to all who know and have worked with him. It is people like him who laid the foundation for frumkeit and chesed in Baltimore. Morty Esterson is totally genuine, a sincere and “ehrlich” mensch with an unassuming and delightfully upbeat personality.
His Youth
Morty was born on June 25, 1926 at Franklin Square Hospital, on West Fayette Street, to Julius and Celia Esterson, who lived across the street from the hospital in one of the Baltimore row houses famous for their white marble steps. Julius was a hardworking salesperson for the Baltimore Soda Fountain Manufacturing Company, selling both equipment and supplies to soda fountain businesses.
Julius and Celia had three sons, all ruddy redheads. There were the twins, Morty and Jerry, and Lenny, born 13 months later. In 1926, the family moved to 2910 Ulman Avenue in Lower Park Heights and became members of the Shaarei Zion shul, where Rabbi Israel Tabak was the rabbi and Cantor Samuel Greenberg the chazan.
Morty attended the Louisa May Alcott Elementary School #59 on Park Heights and Keyworth Avenues, then School #42, Garrison Junior High School. In the 1930s, he attended Baltimore City College High School. Esterson attended the Isaac Davidson Hebrew School on Reisterstown Road and Shirley Avenues for his Jewish education. He then attended the Baltimore Hebrew College on Eutaw Street.
As a teenager, Morty would often walk on Shabbos from Ulman Avenue all the way downtown to 1411 West Fayette to daven at the Poppleton Street shul with his maternal grandfather Chaim Etelson, who was a tutor and rebbe. For Shabbos Mincha they would daven at the Stricker Street shul a few blocks from his zaidy’s home.
Education and Brilliant Career
In 1946, after graduating high school, Morty went to New York, where he attended Yeshiva University for limudei kodesh and the City College of New York for his secular college studies. He graduated from CCNY with a BS degree in social science. He continued his formal education by taking special education courses at City College of New York, New York University, Loyola College, University of Maryland, and Johns Hopkins University. He also attended the Bernard Revel Graduate School of Yeshiva University.
All this would lead to a teaching position in the Baltimore City Public Schools. The school in which he did his student teaching was so impressed with his teaching skills they offered him a position as a shop center teacher at the Alicia Crossland School #9 on Fayette and Greene Streets, teaching behaviorally and emotionally disturbed boys ages 13 to 17. He earned $2,400 a year, and upon receiving his master’s degree from Loyola University, he was given a $200 raise.
Morty taught in the City school system by day, and in the afternoon he taught Hebrew school, working from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. During the summer months, he returned to New York to take additional coursework in special education at New York University. He also taught Hebrew school while in New York.
He became a teacher and then principal of the Hebrew Institute and High School of Baltimore, which was organized by the Orthodox rabbis of Baltimore. From 1951 to 1953, he was the head counselor at Bais Yaakov summer camp, and in 1954 he became the camp director.
Wherever he worked, Morty was recognized as a master teacher, a superior supervisor, and a brilliant administrator. His many talents led to his being continuously promoted. His career in special education spanned over 30 years with Baltimore City schools, where his vision led to many innovations in its special education programs. He became very involved with the Special Olympics program for the handicapped of Baltimore City.
Morty would later found MAJIC, The Maryland Association for Jewish Children, together with Rebbertzin Naomi Baumgarten, a”h. He also helped in the establishment of PTACH, the first Jewish special ed program here in Baltimore.
Morty was a professor of special education and taught at Loyola College and University for over 50 years. He was recognized by governors and mayors, and upon his retirement, and the media centers at two City schools were named in his honor
Morty retired from Baltimore City Public School system in 1981. His dynamic leadership and educational contributions to the education of handicapped, mentally impaired, and emotionally impaired youth along with the innovative programs he designed for Baltimore and the State of Maryland are truly remarkable. Dr. John Crew Sr., the Superintendent of Public Instruction, said “It is my pleasure to extend to you sincere congratulations as you complete a distinguished career in the Baltimore City public schools. I know that your continuous contributions to learning and the pursuit of excellence have had and will continue to have a deep and lasting influence on the lives of learners of all ages.”
Memories and Hobbies
Morty has fond memories of old-time Baltimore. Before going to Hebrew class, he loved stopping at a small grocery store, where he purchased a pickled onion and a pretzel. He remembers Liebes Deli and all the bakeries where kosher delicacies were available. He has wonderful memories of his grandparents and of spending quality time learning from the elders in his life.
Morty has many wonderful hobbies, such as stamp and coin collecting as well as collecting autographs. He loved a variety of sports and participated in them. He was a certified Water Safety Instructor and taught swimming for the American Red Cross.
While at YU, he mailed a request to many famous individuals requesting their autographs. He sent each of them a 4x6 index card with an uncancelled stamp on the card, requesting that they sign on top of the stamp. He got responses from General Dwight D. Eisenhower, General Douglas McArthur, Admiral D. Leahy, Admiral William Halsley, Admiral Ernest J. King, and Professor Albert Einstein. All except Einstein signed over the stamp, but perhaps Einstein thought it was not proper, so he just signed the card. Other autographs he received were from First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt, J. Edgar Hoover, Thomas Dewey, Governor of Maryland Theodore R. Mckeldin, and several famous U.S. senators.
Morty authored two books: Related Service for Handicapped Children and 90 Years of Living in Baltimore City, his autobiography and family history. In addition, he developed several media teaching materials.
Love of Eretz Yisrael
Together with his beloved late wife, Hinda, Morty visited Eretz Yisrael six times and is a proud Zionist who promoted youth programs like Bnei Akiva to instill in children a love for Israel.
He has served in various leadership positions in all his shuls, from president to gabbai. I asked him to what he attributes all his successes, and he answered, “Always be sincere and honest and G-d fearing.” His advice to all is to “follow your dreams.”
As a hearing officer for the State of Maryland, he prevented the institutionalization of several Jewish children in the Rosewood State Hospital. Today they are functioning members of our community.
Morty Esterson has served on the board of directors of numerous organizations, including Saint Elizabeth School, Saint Francis School, Chimes Israel, Chimes, Inc., Chevra Ahavas Chesed, Children’s Guild, Hearing and Speech Agency, and Tikvah Homes.
In 1975, he spoke at several synagogues as well as public and private schools explaining the implications of the landmark legislation, Public Law 94-142, the Education of all Handicapped Children’s Act. This act led to the integration of children with disabilities into regular education programs.
He served as a consultant to the Maryland State Department of Education, the Baltimore Board of Jewish Education, and the Maryland Association for Retarded Citizens.
In his 50 years of exemplary service, Morty has taught more than 1,500 students, including priests, nuns and sisters of various religious orders; Ner Israel students; and the former Maryland State Superintendent Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick.
With all his career and community accomplishments, Morty has always been a wonderful family man, with family as his highest priority. Always a loving and devoted husband and a wonderful father, he has also been very close to his two brothers, his parents, and his grandparents. His beloved wife of 60 years, the former Hinda Feldman, died on December 12, 2009. In 2012, he retired from Loyola to spend quality time with his children, Rachel B. Rosenblatt and Sam Esterson, and their extended families. He has tremendous nachas from his two children and their beautiful mishpachos. He has six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
After spending a few delightful hours learning about Morty Esterson’s life, I left inspired and with a sense of appreciation for him and all his contributions to Baltimore.
