Spring13AtLourdes

The Family Tree
United States of America
The Wahls
Married to Jeff Wahl, a child psychiatrist
They live with their daughter Meili and family dog Bosco in Sylvania
Lisa’s parents met in America
China
Meili – “beautiful” in Mandarin
• Lisa and Jeff adopted their daughter Meili from China when she
was an infant.
• The couple was pleasantly surprised to have the opportunity to
adopt a baby. “When we submitted the adoption application,
we would have gladly adopted a seven or eight year old child, as
is often customary.” Because she and Jeff were educators at the
time, they believe they were given the benefit of adopting an
infant.
• The Wahls chose their daughter’s name while in China, believing
it completely captures the Chinese culture and Meili’s spirit.
Cuba
The Barroso family
• Lisa’s father Jose Barroso was born and raised in Cuba and
worked several years for Owens-Illinois.
• Jose met Lisa’s mother Lore (Mamlok) Barroso while both were
attending college in New England.
• In the early 1960s after Fidel Castro took over Cuba, the Barrosos
left Havana with three year old Lisa and her one year old brother.
They moved to her mother’s hometown of Toledo. Her father
began working for Owens-Illinois. In his sales position with O-I,
the family lived in many locales throughout the Midwest.
• Ironically, Castro was well liked and revered by Cubans in his role
as a rebel. It was only after he took power and began running the
country similarly to his predecessor, Battista, that the family and
many Cubans sought asylum elsewhere. “Actually, my parents
almost named my brother Fidel.”
Spain
Lisa’s paternal grandparents – Jose and Anya Barroso – emigrated
from Spain and readily adopted the Cuban culture.
Germany
• Lisa’s maternal grandparents – Ernst and Beatrice Mamlok – were
born in Germany.
• Ernst worked the family business, an Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT)
hospital.
• Beatrice was an attorney and was considered by many to be “very
persuasive.”
• Of Jewish ancestry, in the 1930s as Adolph Hitler began to gain
power, Ernst, Beatrice, their family and other Jewish citizens
were forced to wear yellow armbands with stars denoting their
heritage.
• Beatrice persuaded the German government to issue visas and
the couple soon fled to the USA. Neither of their immediate
families escaped from Germany, and ultimately perished in
concentration camps.
• Upon arrival on Ellis Island, Ernst and Beatrice learned where
their new home would be - Toledo, OH - a town that was in need
of an ENT physician. U