Make the World a Better Place Neva Gould Graceful Aging Worry Is ...

Gould recounts that thefamily’s stay in Como was farfrom ‘freedom.’ “ We were infree confinement there,” shesays. “We could only movein a radius of ten kilometersand were subjected to dailyroll call by the police.”Remaining in Como until1943, during the timethe Allies were deployed toSouthern Italy, the Gould’swere on the run again whenthey were informed that theGermans were advancinginto Northern Italy. So, inAugust of that year, Neva’sfamily gradually workedtheir way South, walkingpart of the way where therail tracks were destroyedand taking the train wheneverpossible. But for thefamily, getting to SouthernItaly was a sojourn of circumlocution,says Gould.“The Germans rerouted thetrains from Rome,” Gouldsays. “So we walked towardsthe mountains to a towncalled Benata, near Beneventoand remained there untilthe front lines of the Alliedtroops liberated us.”For a while, Gould’s freedommeant further confinement.Following their liberation,they were sent to livefor one month in a nearbytown and were given applicationsto apply as refugees toenter the United States. Dueto a special Act of Congressin 1944, a certain numberof refugees could apply forentrance into America. Whenthe Gould’s application wasaccepted, they boarded a U.S. convoy ship and shortlyafter their arrival theywere resettled to Fort Ontarioin Oswego, New Yorkwhere they remained until1946. “Although were werefree to go to school and toshop, there was barbed wirearound the camp—becausewere were refugees, and notyet citizens” Gould says.For the Goulds, citizenshipwas two years and one borderaway. So in 1946, the familyentered Canada where theyapplied to become UnitedStates citizens and the applicationwas accepted.As a progeny of doctors,Gould had an innate interestin saving lives. Consequently,she attended Hunter Collegein New York, graduating in1952 and later from SUNYNew York Medical Schoolwhere she studied pathology,graduating in 1956. Gould’smedical degree allowed herto practice medicine in NewYork, five years in Washingtonand 35 years at MichaelReef Hospital in Chicagowhere she continued herwork in Pathology with aspecial interest in infantmortality.Reflecting upon her life,Gould’s reddish hair andradiant transluscent skin beliesher age of 78. “My entiretown where we lived in Croatiawas completely liquidated.Because of my parents’ connections,we escaped the fateof other Jewish families,”she says in a tone of humbleremembrance.Just shy of retiring oneyear ago, Gould has anotherpursuit—promoting thehistorical novel, Run for MeToo, offered online throughBarnes and Noble. “With theexception of some characters,the novel is the story of mylife,” Gould says. “I wantedto include people and events Iknew about, not write it likea memoir.”Neva Gould resides inChicago, IL.Joslyn Wolfe is the publisher of Focuson Women Magazine.Focus on Women Magazine’sFinest AwardsFocus on Women Magazine congratulates the following businesseswho have won our first annual 2009 Focus on Women Magazine’sFinest Awards. And the winners are:• Doctor Paul Ambush, Pediatrician,Ellicott City, MD for Finest Patient Care• Abigail Dion of Glazed to Perfection,Eldersburg, MD for the Finest Familyand Community Based Business.• Triangle Printing, Jessup, MD for FinestPrinting Award.• Woodberry Kitchen, Baltimore, MD forthe Finest Customer Service, Food, andAmbiance Award.• The Iron Bridge Wine Company, EllicottCity, MD for the Finest Food, and WineCombinations.• Lynn’s Day Spa, Columbia, MD for theFinest Customer Service, Ambiance andService to the Community.• Fogo De Chao Gaucho Steak House, Baltimore,MD for the Finest Steak, Chicken,Salad Bar and Food-a-Thon.• Girl Scouts of Central Maryland, FinestNon-Profit dedicated to helping girls.• Maryland Women’s Heritage Center,Baltimore, MD for the Finest non-profitdedicated to highlighting contributionsfor women.Focus on Women Magazine thanks you for your contributions andfor being recipients of our 2009 Focus on Women Magazine FinestAward.For Women, To Women, About Women