Playing Level: Very Good
Irene Levy Haspiel was a violinist and artist. She worked in the Pentagon for many years. She got this violin from an American POW (prisoner of war) who returned to the U.S. and got it just before leaving Europe, where it was probably confiscated from a Jewish musician. This violin was donated in loving memory of Irene Levy Haspiel by her daughter, Robin Haspiel. It was carried to Israel by her cousin, Leah Urso.
Here is its story as written by Leah:
Irene Levy Haspiel was my mother’s first cousin. My mother used to tell me stories about her beautiful cousin Irene, who would practice the violin in the dining room of Tante Goldy’s modest apartment in Washington, D.C. She told me that I reminded her of Irene, as I also played the violin. When my mother passed away in 2017, I began to research my family and was thrilled to discover Irene’s only daughter living in Florida, my cousin, Robin Haspiel. I was living in Israel, so I traveled to America and we had a family reunion. Robin explained that for many years, her mother worked as an Executive Secretary for a general at the Pentagon in Washington, D.C. Irene was also a violinist in the Government Girls Orchestra. Upon retiring, she moved to Florida and became a fine artist of oil paintings.
At our reunion, Robin took out an old violin from the closet and told me this story:
During World War II, a U.S. Army Captain who had been a POW in Germany appeared in her mother’s Pentagon office carrying a violin. He had rescued the violin in Germany, bringing it to the U.S. The Captain told Irene that he had seen her performing with her violin for the servicemen at the “Stage Door Canteen” in Washington. He thought that Irene would be the perfect person to care for it, and he wanted her to have it. The violin was in pieces and appeared to be charred, but one could still detect its reddish hue. Irene cherished the violin and kept it safe until her death. Now it belonged to her daughter.
Robin opened the case, and I saw a very scarred, dark colored violin. Robin told me that an appraiser had said it was at one time a very fine violin, but it appeared to have been in a fire. We wondered, who could have owned it? Perhaps a famous Jewish violinist lost in the Shoah? Robin asked me if I thought it could be repaired, and that’s when I remembered Amnon Weinstein and his “Violins of Hope.” I asked Robin for permission to bring the violin to Tel Aviv where Amnon spent three years restoring it. He told me it was one of his most challenging restorations.
The first time the violin was played, everyone was stunned. After all the damage that this violin had suffered, it sounded incredibly powerful and beautiful! Robin and I are gratified that the violin has new life! We are pleased to have brought it to the “Violins of Hope” in Irene Levy Haspiel’s memory.
Leah Urso, 2022
Hello Mrs. Weinstein,
My name is Robin Haspiel and I am Leah Urso’s cousin. Your husband is “reconstructing”/ refurbishing a violin that my mother was given during WWII when she worked at the Pentagon. Leah suggested that I send the photo of my mother playing in the “Government Girl Orchestra.” She is the 3rd violinist from the right. The second photo is the one scanned of her sitting posed with a violin. Please let me know if there is any other information you require. Leah has copies as well.
Sincerely,
Robin Haspiel
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