At the age of 17 he sailed by himself to the United States on the boat "Hudson", arriving at Ellis Island on November 30th 1907. The boat left from the Havre France on November 13, 1907. He settled on the Lower East Side of New York City and met Rose Candiotti and was married on May 31, 1912. He became a citizen of the United States on July 31, 1917. He was living on 134 Orchard Street with 3 small boys.

Let me share with you an article about David Sasportas written in the book "The Jews of Hartford 1659 - 1970". It is written "Cabinet maker - Born in Smyrna Turkey in 1890. He lived in Hartford over 50 years. Before his retirement in 1954, he was a cabinet maker and furniture finisher associated with G. Fox & Co. Although not an ordained rabbi, he was acting spiritual leader of the Oriental Sephardic Synagogue (of Greater Hartford) for many years. David had 3 sons Abraham, Max and Ben, and 2 daughters Welcome Dicicco and Regina Lazerow.”

I remember grandpa in his devotion to prayer. Grandpa did not like to see people praying with their hands in their pockets. I remember him grabbing someones hand right out of his pocket to remind him that he is praying to G-d and not talking to a friend!! I remember grandpa lifting his prayer shawl (Tallit) over his head when called to the Torah for increased devotion. When grandpa was called to the Torah all his children stood up in respect. This Sephardic custom was adopted by the Beth Hillel synagogue and is still a tradtion there today.

In grandpa's Bible, he would write down each child's name after they were born. (name and date of birth). In that same Bible were written the names of deceased relatives and friends (name and date of death). Grandpa's library included many old religious books in Hebrew and Ladino published over 100 years ago in Turkey and New York.

David Sasportas died on November 29, 1969 at the age of 79. May he rest in peace.

If you have your own personal memories of grandpa David please share them with me.
Thank you. Your cousin Robert Sasportas from Karmiel Israel. Click here to send me an e-mail.

This is a picture of David and Rose from 1955.

Click here to view David and Rose’s engagement picture from 1911.