| |
Johnson Hindin Genealogy
Suggestions for using this site: Click “Johnson-Hindin Genealogy,” above, to go to the Home Page. Click the “Ancestors” tab below to see a pedigree chart. (If no ancestors appear in the chart, see if the person has a spouse by clicking the blue down arrow, and then click the “Ancestors” tab.) In the pedigree chart, click the blue down arrow to see a person’s family and click the gold right arrow to see more ancestors. Click the “Descendants” tab, below, then the “Register Format” option for a good descendancy report.
|
) NE (Small)NEW.jpg) |
|
 1926 - 2007
-
| Born |
30 Sep 1926 |
Braddock, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania  |
| Gender |
Male |
| Died |
20 Dec 2007 |
Pasadena, Los Angeles Co., California |
| Person ID |
I194 |
Johnson Hindin Tree |
| Last Modified |
14 Aug 2010 |
| Father |
Benjamin HINDIN, b. 26 Jun 1898, New York, New York , d. 21 Jun 1981, Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania |
| Mother |
Sarah Jane CHARAPP, b. 6 Nov 1906, Rankin, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania , d. 3 Apr 1992, Woodbridge, Prince William Co., Virginia |
| Married |
2 Jun 1925 |
Pittsburgh, Allegheny Co., Pennsylvania, at the Rittenhouse Hotel |
| Family ID |
F7 |
Group Sheet |
| Family 2 |
Frances Mary ORNEA, b. 12 Oct 1930, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania , d. 30 Nov 1990, Harbor City, CA |
| Married |
10 Jun 1952 |
Rhodef Shalom Temple in Pittsburgh, PA |
| Children |
|
| Family ID |
F69 |
Group Sheet |
-
| Notes |
- Mel graduated form Rankin High School in Rankin, PA in 1943. He attended Penn State University through the US Army ASTP program for a few months until September 1944. He had enlisted in the reserves and as soon as he turned 18, he entered the infantry in August 1944 (Serial No. 13189214). He did basic training for 13 weeks at Camp Blanding, Florida and then went to France. There, he became a member of the 42nd Rainbow Infrantry Division, 232nd Regiment, L Company and, later, M Company. He went to Germany in 1944 where he was with the first troops into Dachau. He was in Munich when the war ended. He earned an ETO Ribbon with two battle stars and a Combat Infrantry Badge. He was discharged from the Army in August 1946. He graduated from the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA (B.A. 1949, M.A. Psychiatric Case Work (Graduate School of Social Work) June 11, 1952). He worked for the State of California, Department of Mental Hygiene, from 1952-55; then the Veterans Administration in 1955-56; then the California Youth Authority as a Supervising Social Worker; then he went into private practice with the Hillcrest Psychiatric Clinic in Alhambra as a psychiatric case worker. He attended Claremont Graduate School working toward his PhD. He was diector of the West Covina Family Service Agency. He eventually became director at the Hathaway Home for Children in Los Angelos from 1967 to 1987. Beginning in 1984 he became a docent with the Los Angelos County Museum of Natural History and eventually became a director of the Gem and Mineral Council, a Fellow and a Member of the Alliance Board of Directors.
The following story appeared in the magazine of the Fall 2008 edition of the Newsletter of the Hildegarde Howard Society, which honors and recognizes benefactors who have included the Los Angelos Natural History Museum in their estate plans:
Donor Stories
Mel Hindin: A Museum Treasure
Visitors to the Museum’s Hall of Gems and Minerals have undoubtedly noticed the scores of impressive specimens on display bearing the proud label “Gift of Melvin Hindin.” In fact, some of the most important additions to the Museum’s mineralogy collections in recent years were gifts from Mel. Sadly, Mel passed away last December, but his cherished friendship and legacy of generosity endures.
Mel first developed a love for museums as a child growing up in the Pittsburgh area. Though his chosen profession as a social worker was far afield from museums, he never forgot that love. Toward the end of his distinguished career, which culminated in the directorship of the Hathaway Home for Children in Highland Park, Mel decided to “prepare for retirement” by becoming a docent at the Natural History Museum.
From 1984 until his death in 2007—a span of nearly a quarter century—the Museum became a major focus of Mel’s life. Mel not only served as a touring docent but also as a volunteer in the Mineral Sciences Department. He was an active member of the Board of Directors of the Museum’s Gem & Mineral Council and played a leadership role as a member of the Museum Alliance. Together with wife Lois Petzold Hindin, Mel was also active in the Fellows Program.
As a docent, Mel especially relished giving tours of the Hall of Gems and Minerals, which led him to become acquainted with Dr. Anthony Kampf, the Museum’s Curator of Gems and Minerals. Mel immersed himself in the world of gem and mineral enthusiasts and assembled a fine collection of his own. But Mel always put the Museum first, and during his last 15 years the Museum’s Mineral Sciences Department was the particular beneficiary of Mel’s enthusiastic support.
Guests can now view a portion of Mel’s spectacular collection in a new display in the Hall of Gems and Minerals. Many other pieces that Mel donated can be found throughout the Hall. His friendship and remarkable spirit of generosity will be missed, but he will forever remain a part of the Museum through the many rare and wonderful specimens that he so thoughtfully gave.
|
|
|
|
