Jacob (Titlebaum) Dennis (1918 - 2012)

Born 1918 in Massachusetts, United States of America

Ancestors

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Ron Moore [send private message]

Biography

Born Jacob Titlebaum, he adopted the name, Gene Dennis, as a teenager and used it for the remainder of his life.

U.S. Army Veteran, World War II.

Band Leader. Writer (for performance). Travel Agent.

c. 1918: Jacob Titlebaum born in Massachusetts, United States of America. He is the son of Julius Titlebaum and Ida Waldman.

1920 Census: Jerome Titlebaum, son, 1 year 6 months. living with parents, siblings, and uncle at 19 Wolcott Street. Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States of America. ^[1]

1930 Census: Jack Titlebaum, son, 11. living with parents, uncle, and siblings at 38 Claybourne Street, Boston. ^[2]

Adopts the name Gene Dennis and performs throught New England with his big band, The Gene Dennis Orchestra.

World War II: serves as an entertainer and band leader.

1949: cofounded Dennis and Donovan Travel (Agency) in Newton, Middlesex, Massachusetts.

c. 1955: married Rosalie Hyman.

22 Jun 2012: death. burial: plot, Section Mt. Lebanon, 22B, Lot 13, 1. Sharon Memorial Park. Sharon, Norfolk County, Massachusetts. ^[3]

" Gene Dennis, in his 94th year, of Chestnut Hill, formerly of West Newton on Friday, June 22, 2012.

Born Jacob Titlebaum, Gene Dennis grew up in Dorchester, MA the youngest of four children. As a 7 year old he performed on the violin at Symphony Hall setting the stage for a career in music that in later years would lead to his formation of the Gene Dennis Orchestra. Upon graduation from Roxbury Memorial High School, his big band traveled throughout New England and became a local favorite entertaining at area night clubs including the Coconut Grove, proms and college events.

During WWII, Mr. Dennis served in the army as a band leader and conductor of shows. In 1946, he resumed his career as the entertainment and musical director at the Berkshire Country Club in Wingdale, NY. where for the next 21 summers he wrote comedy skits and monologues for future stars Norm Crosby and Frank Fontaine.

In 1949, Mr. Dennis partnered with Carl Donovan and opened Newbury Street based Dennis and Donovan Travel. At the time, his office was among a handful of travel agencies in the entire country. In 1967 he escorted his first of 75 trips to Israel and in the ensuing years shared the love of travel with some 3000 area Bostonians. Over the course of his 50 year career in Travel, Mr. Dennis escorted groups to the Far East, Africa and throughout Europe.

Throughout this period, Mr. Dennis was active in the Newton community where he resided for over 50 years writing shows for area schools and synagogues. ... Mr. Dennis was the brother of the late Manuel Taylor of Newton, the late Selda Dine of Great Neck NY and the late Annette Leeds of Forest Hills, NY." ^[4]

Research Notes

Jack of the 1930 Census and Jerome of the 1920 Census appear to be the same person.

Sources

1. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MF9M-LTY : accessed 2 August 2020), Jerome Titlebaum in household of Julius Titlebaum, Boston Ward 19, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States; citing ED 475, sheet 14B, line 99, family 273, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 738; FHL microfilm 1,820,738.
2. ↑ "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XQRX-FQQ : accessed 2 August 2020), Jack Tittebaum in household of Julis Tittebaum, Boston (Districts 580-690), Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 670, sheet 4A, line 35, family 76, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 954; FHL microfilm 2,340,689.
3. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #127507306
4. ↑ obituary, Dignity Memorial. (link) https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/brookline-ma/gene-dennis-5147765