IN BARRY'S HONOR
Barry A. Weinstock (January, 7 1947 - May, 10 2022)
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IN LIEU OF CARDS OR YOUR MORNING CUP OF JOE($5), FLOWERS ($10), FOOD ($25) OR GIFTS, PLEASE CONSIDER MAKING A DONATION TO HELP US HONOR OUR FATHER BY CONTINUING TO SUPPORT OUR "MEXICAN FAMILY" (more information below) AS THIS WOULD MEAN THE MOST TO HIM.
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For many, a vacation to a tropical destination is a way to escape our reality and live in luxury. We visit nice resorts and try not to imagine what life is like beyond them; we go to resorts that shield us from the realities of the area. Mexico is a place where we see the despair in the eyes of the children and adults alike who peddle the latest toys or chiclets or handmade goods. Taxi drivers, tequila salesmen, all ages, a never ending sea of outreached hands.
Some of my earliest memories are from family trips to Mexico. We’d buy chiclets from every single child. We’d give out change to as many outreached hands as we could. We’d come home with many small items we didn’t need, just to help. It was our first experience with poverty and with charity. We weren’t rich but we always found a way to help those less fortunate than us. The fact is, our dad gave away more money than he saved.
Some of my earliest memories are from family trips to Mexico. We’d buy chiclets from every single child. We’d give out change to as many outreached hands as we could. We’d come home with many small items we didn’t need, just to help. It was our first experience with poverty and with charity. We weren’t rich but we always found a way to help those less fortunate than us. The fact is, our dad gave away more money than he saved.
About 6 years ago, on a trip to Mexico, our parents, Miriam & Barry, met Esther. A peddler on the street, selling her handmade jewelry, trying to make a few pesos to bring home to her family. Another vendor, who didn’t speak English, was trying to sell something to them and Esther came over to help translate. A woman, who herself has very little, was helping someone else to make a desperately needed sale. Impressed by Esther’s excellent English, attitude and zest for life, they began to get to know her.
They learned of her struggles, of her own 2 young children and her hard working husband, Jose. Despite having near to nothing, she had hope of a better life for her family and was working hard to make it happen. Like many poor families, Esther and Jose and their children slept on a small slab of concrete surrounded by hand built walls of corrugated metal with no windows or door. No electricity or running water. They had never owned a pillow or a blanket. Never eaten in a restaurant. All of their possessions fit into one plastic trash bag.
They learned of her struggles, of her own 2 young children and her hard working husband, Jose. Despite having near to nothing, she had hope of a better life for her family and was working hard to make it happen. Like many poor families, Esther and Jose and their children slept on a small slab of concrete surrounded by hand built walls of corrugated metal with no windows or door. No electricity or running water. They had never owned a pillow or a blanket. Never eaten in a restaurant. All of their possessions fit into one plastic trash bag.
Little by little our parents started to help their family by providing money, and have supplemented their earnings monthly now for 6 years. From the start, they were able to move into a rental apartment, in a slightly better area, where they had running water and were able to purchase a refrigerator to store their food, for the first time.
When my parents would visit, once or twice a year, they would treat the kids and Esther to new adventures. Together they ate in restaurants they had only walked by. They swam in pools they were never allowed to visit before. They shopped at stores where my parents bought them new clothes.
A couple years later, they purchased their own land and hand built their own home. Wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow of dirt is moved and hand tamped. Bags of concrete hand mixed and bricks stacked by hand. With no access to power tools, Jose worked on their home for more than 2 years. They built a bedroom, a bathroom and a patio style kitchen and they are proud of their home. For the first time in Esther’s life, she has a small home with sturdy walls and a roof that won’t leak when it rains. Her first real home. A home with walls strong enough that she can hang kitchen cabinets, that she has dreamed of having. She has a locking door to protect her things and her family. Over time, they'll own the land outright and have a home they can pass on to their children.
When my parents would visit, once or twice a year, they would treat the kids and Esther to new adventures. Together they ate in restaurants they had only walked by. They swam in pools they were never allowed to visit before. They shopped at stores where my parents bought them new clothes.
A couple years later, they purchased their own land and hand built their own home. Wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow of dirt is moved and hand tamped. Bags of concrete hand mixed and bricks stacked by hand. With no access to power tools, Jose worked on their home for more than 2 years. They built a bedroom, a bathroom and a patio style kitchen and they are proud of their home. For the first time in Esther’s life, she has a small home with sturdy walls and a roof that won’t leak when it rains. Her first real home. A home with walls strong enough that she can hang kitchen cabinets, that she has dreamed of having. She has a locking door to protect her things and her family. Over time, they'll own the land outright and have a home they can pass on to their children.
While they themselves struggle, they’re always helping others around them, as they know every little bit helps and there are so many near them who need assistance. While building their home, Jose simultaneously helped build a very small home nearby for a family of 6.
There is never any idle time and we’ve never witnessed such hard work. Esther is always working, and has so since she was 7 years old. Teaching herself whatever skill she could to make money to support herself and her family. In the sweltering heat of Puerto Vallarta, she is out working, day after day. Selling handmade jewelry or now beautifully braiding hair. The little money they make is enough to provide food, clothing and pay their low overhead. They are beyond grateful for what they earn and have. They feel so blessed to be able to work and they learn from every job, every opportunity, every encounter.
We had the honor of joining our parents on a trip to Puerto Vallarta before Covid changed so much. Esther met us with open arms. She shared gifts with us and braided our hair. She cooked us a meal in her home. We loved being with them. The kids, without speaking the same language, learned how to communicate and play together. It was such a beautiful and eye opening experience.
There is never any idle time and we’ve never witnessed such hard work. Esther is always working, and has so since she was 7 years old. Teaching herself whatever skill she could to make money to support herself and her family. In the sweltering heat of Puerto Vallarta, she is out working, day after day. Selling handmade jewelry or now beautifully braiding hair. The little money they make is enough to provide food, clothing and pay their low overhead. They are beyond grateful for what they earn and have. They feel so blessed to be able to work and they learn from every job, every opportunity, every encounter.
We had the honor of joining our parents on a trip to Puerto Vallarta before Covid changed so much. Esther met us with open arms. She shared gifts with us and braided our hair. She cooked us a meal in her home. We loved being with them. The kids, without speaking the same language, learned how to communicate and play together. It was such a beautiful and eye opening experience.
Covid made life in Mexico even harder than before. Tourism halted and is still not what it was. Despite my parents' own business stopping overnight (no events, no trade shows), my parents continued to help Esther and her family, with about $500/month. Without my parents' ongoing support, her family would have been lost.
Jose has since walked out on his family but Esther, incredible Esther, is raising her children and is incredible. I’ve never met someone with such determination to make her life better and she leads by example. Like all parents, they do it for the children. Having never attended school so with no formal education, Esther has taught herself to read and write in Spanish and to speak English. Her children are enrolled in school and have goals of becoming a doctor and a plane mechanic. We hope the kids will be able to go to college and have opportunities their parents didn't have.
We are the lucky ones. Born into a stable family and into a land of opportunity. Sure we can’t all afford every frill but I can probably venture to say, your family, like ours, has never gone hungry or not had a roof over their head. In honor of our father, help us make Esther's family know the same stability.
Jose has since walked out on his family but Esther, incredible Esther, is raising her children and is incredible. I’ve never met someone with such determination to make her life better and she leads by example. Like all parents, they do it for the children. Having never attended school so with no formal education, Esther has taught herself to read and write in Spanish and to speak English. Her children are enrolled in school and have goals of becoming a doctor and a plane mechanic. We hope the kids will be able to go to college and have opportunities their parents didn't have.
We are the lucky ones. Born into a stable family and into a land of opportunity. Sure we can’t all afford every frill but I can probably venture to say, your family, like ours, has never gone hungry or not had a roof over their head. In honor of our father, help us make Esther's family know the same stability.
MAKE A DONATION...
100% of all funds received will go to Esther and her kids.
To send checks, made payable to Miriam Weinstock: 2390 E. Cargondera Canyon Dr. Oro Valley, AZ 85755
-OR-
Venmo: @ Makara-Conn https://account.venmo.com/u/Makara-Conn
To send checks, made payable to Miriam Weinstock: 2390 E. Cargondera Canyon Dr. Oro Valley, AZ 85755
-OR-
Venmo: @ Makara-Conn https://account.venmo.com/u/Makara-Conn
TRIBUTES TO OUR DAD...
GATHERING US TRIBUTE PAGE (to share photos & stories):
https://www.gatheringus.com/memorial/barry-weinstock/9116
Barry Weinstock, 75, passed in his sleep in the early hours of Tuesday, May 10th in his home in Tucson, Arizona with his wife of 41 years, Miriam Weinstock (Wurzel). Barry is survived by his sisters, Honey Goldberg & Robyn Harmon, his children, Makara Conn (Joshua), Samuel Weinstock (Rachel) and his 4 Grandchildren, Ethan (12), Harper (10), Evelyn (7), and Jack (5).
He was surrounded by love, near and far, in his last days, and for that, we will all always be grateful.
Our father was giving, honest, kind, and compassionate, and from the messages left, he was that way his whole life.
He would give the shirt off his back and literally stopped to help anyone (we have stories) mostly when others wouldn't. He didn't let fear hold him back in his relationships or his life.
He had an art for conversation, becoming friends with ANYONE at ANYTIME. He had a skill for making people feel welcome and once you knew Barry, you were his friend.
He was brutally honest, for better or for worse. Honesty can be helpful and it can be hurtful and sometimes he didn't know the difference but in the end, we are thankful for his honesty and his openness.
Our father learned from the "school of life" and shared his wisdom with anyone who would listen.
He led an adventurous life and shared that with our mother and with us. They may not have had a lot of money but they traveled as inexpensively as they could and saw the world together (again, many stories).
While our dad was sunshine to many, he also deeply suffered from ongoing depression. We wouldn't be carrying on his legacy of honesty if we didn't share that truth. In many ways, this makes him even more admirable. His dark days were dark but he never gave up and continued to be a rock for all of us.
Please, in lieu of anything, visit my website to learn how you can help his legacy live on: http://www.makaradesign.com/barry.html
In love and light,
Makara, Sam & Miriam
He was surrounded by love, near and far, in his last days, and for that, we will all always be grateful.
Our father was giving, honest, kind, and compassionate, and from the messages left, he was that way his whole life.
He would give the shirt off his back and literally stopped to help anyone (we have stories) mostly when others wouldn't. He didn't let fear hold him back in his relationships or his life.
He had an art for conversation, becoming friends with ANYONE at ANYTIME. He had a skill for making people feel welcome and once you knew Barry, you were his friend.
He was brutally honest, for better or for worse. Honesty can be helpful and it can be hurtful and sometimes he didn't know the difference but in the end, we are thankful for his honesty and his openness.
Our father learned from the "school of life" and shared his wisdom with anyone who would listen.
He led an adventurous life and shared that with our mother and with us. They may not have had a lot of money but they traveled as inexpensively as they could and saw the world together (again, many stories).
While our dad was sunshine to many, he also deeply suffered from ongoing depression. We wouldn't be carrying on his legacy of honesty if we didn't share that truth. In many ways, this makes him even more admirable. His dark days were dark but he never gave up and continued to be a rock for all of us.
Please, in lieu of anything, visit my website to learn how you can help his legacy live on: http://www.makaradesign.com/barry.html
In love and light,
Makara, Sam & Miriam
