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In the year 2000, the City of Coral Gables Cable TV Division (CGTV) produced a series of oral history interviews with long-time city residents and city officials to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the city's incorporation in 1925.
William "Bill" Kerdyk, Sr. (1927-2007) was born in New York and moved to Florida as a child, attending primary and secondary schools in Coral Gables. He received a degree in political science from the University of Miami in 1951 and served with the Naval Reserve. William won election to the Coral Gables City Commission in 1967 and served for 28 years, during which time he was a major proponent of historic preservation.
James Charles Girtman (b. 1942) is a lifelong resident of Coral Gables, descending from James D. and Kate (Horne) Girtman, early settlers to the area. J.D. Girtman (1874-1960) operated his father's mercantile and trading post until 1915, also serving as Acting Marshall of the Miami Police Department from June to October, 1899. He is credited with developing much of early Coral Gables and was involved in citrus growing after the closure of his general store.
Audrey Rothenberg Finkelstein was born in Chicago on January 4, 1916. Finkelstein graduated from the University of Miami in 1938 and hosted a radio talk show called "Straight Talk with Audrey Finkelstein" for WLRN. She interviewed community activists and other notable individuals on her show and recorded a seven-part series on South Florida's desegregation struggle.
The Withers family own and operate Withers Worldwide Transportation Systems, a moving and storage business passed down from father to son since its inception as John E. Withers' Transfer and Storage in 1909. Chip Withers, son of Anita, purchased the company from his parents in 1980 and expanded the scope of their enterprise from local and nationwide moving to international logistics. Chip also held a seat on the Coral Gables City Commission for 20 years, advocating for the creation of the Coral Gables Museum and many other community projects.
Raul Valdes-Fauli, a descendent of Pedro Menendez de Aviles, immigrated to Florida from Cuba at the age of 17. He received his education at Harvard University Law School and worked in private practice in Coral Gables beginning in 1971. Valdes-Fauli also served as a city commissioner, mayor, and vice mayor of Coral Gables.
Leona Cooper Baker (b. 1932) is a Bahamian immigrant and microbiologist. She is a community activist, focusing primarily on education and homelessness resources for Black Catholics, particularly women and children. Her brother, Reverend Austin Cooper (d. 2001), was born in Miami and became ordained as a deacon (1960) and priest (1961), serving churches in several South Florida cities, New York, Texas, and Ohio. Rev. Cooper was also a member of the NAACP and co-founder of the Union of Black Episcopalians.
Robert "Bob" Knight (d. 2006) served two terms as mayor of Coral Gables, 1973-1978, during which time he reportedly removed his office door to be more accessible to his constituents. Prior to his career in politics, Knight served with the Eleventh Armored Division of the U.S. Army during WWII as a tank commander, receiving three Purple Hearts and a Silver Star.
Summary:
This collection consists of videotaped oral history interviews with long-time Coral Gables residents and city officials. Topics addressed include life in early Coral Gables, development of city government, relations between the city and the University of Miami, building of roads and subdivisions and development of neighborhoods, economic development, segregation, and the civil rights and women's rights movements.
Those interviewed include:
1) William Kerdyk, Sr., City Commissioner Emeritus.
2) Charles Girtman, grandson of James Girtman, an orange grower and early Coral Gables resident.
3) Audrey Finkelstein, radio show host and community activist.
4) Anita Withers, member of a prominent Coral Gables business family and mother of City Commissioner Chip Withers.
5) Raul Jacinto Valdes-Fauli, attorney and Cuban refugee who came to Florida with his family in 1960.
6) Leona Cooper Baker, community activist, and her brother Rev. Austin Cooper, an Episcopal priest.
7) Graduates of Ponce de Leon High School during a reunion weekend for the school.
8) Robert Knight, businessman and Coral Gables mayor from 1973-1977.
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Cooper, Austin, Rev. Cooper, Leona H., 1932- Finkelstein, Audrey. Girtman, Charles Girtman, James Kerdyk, William Knight, Robert Valdes Fauli, Raul E. Withers, Anita
Ponce de Leon High School (Coral Gables, Fla.) University of Miami.
City government. Civil rights Florida Economic development. Race relations. Segregation Florida Women's rights Florida
Video recordings. aat Videocassettes. aat Oral histories. aat
Coral Gables (Fla.)
for detailed listing.