Harriett Kathryn (Hausman) Ambrose, a descendent of three pioneering Pueblo Jewish families and a dynamic presence in Pueblo throughout her life, passed away Nov. 30, 2013, two months shy of her 101st birthday.
Rabbi Kenneth Roseman officiated at the Dec. 5 service in Corpus Christi, Texas.
A memorial service is scheduled Sunday, Dec. 15, at Temple Emanuel in Pueblo.
Harriett was born Feb. 1, 1913, in a Canadian lumber camp in Squamish, British Columbia, where her father ran a general store.
Her mother, Hannah Roth Hausman, was the daughter of Jewish Hungarian Pueblo pioneer settlers Rose Schon Roth and Henry Roth.
Her father, Adolph Hausman, was born in Hungary and married Hannah in Pueblo.
When asked where she was raised, Harriett would say Harlingen, Eagle Pass, Laredo, Mercedes, Brownsville and several other towns along the Rio Grande, where her father and his brothers owned packinghouses.
Read the IJN editorial eulogizing Harriett Ambrose
One of her earliest memories was witnessing a raid into Texas led by the infamous Pancho Villa.
An honor student, she entered the University of Texas at age 15 and was one of the first female editors of The Daily Texan student newspaper.
When her father died during her freshman year, Harriett supported her family by running the packinghouse.
She graduated in 1933 with degrees in journalism and education and accepted a teaching job in Brownsville, her hometown.
Shortly after she started her career, she paid a visit to her uncle Dr. Sidney Roth in Pueblo. Thats when she met Pueblo native Aubrey (Aub) Ambrose, son of merchant Emanuel (Altar) Epstein Ambrose.
They were married on June 7, 1936, in Brownsville and honeymooned in Mexico City. Harriett recorded the event in a short, unpublished comic novel.
The couple returned to Pueblo, where Aub owned Newalk Shoes, a small shoe store at Second and Main Streets. During WW II, Harriett served as a Grey Lady, drove a van for the Red Cross and helped host a canteen for soldiers and airmen stationed at Pueblo Army Air Base.
During her younger years, Harriett was a long-time member and president of Hadassah. She also co-founded the Broadway Theater League and was the last living co-founder of the Pueblo Assistance League.
Active in the American Assn. of University Women, she read three to four weekly national magazines, several area newspapers and at least one novel every week.
Harriett and her husband collected art, counted many artists among their friends, and traveled extensively.
Aub Ambrose passed away on Feb. 3, 1996.
During her lifetime, Harriett witnessed seismic changes in society including women gaining the right to vote, the beginning of the automobile, desegregation, the civil rights and womens movement, and two world wars.
The remaining members of her European family died in the Holocaust.
She also experienced many firsts. She was the recipient of the first hip replacement, the first passenger on Braniff Airlines and the first customer at Neiman Marcus.
Many will remember Harriett for her competitive edge and ageless grace as a duplicate bridge player.
She enjoyed the game until the final weeks of her life.
Harriett Ambrose is survived by her sons Larry (Jane Parker-Ambrose) and Arlen (Ruth Lurie Ambrose), both of Denver; grandchildren Jody Ambrose of San Diego and David (Roxane) Ambrose of San Francisco; and numerous step-grandchildren.
Contributions may be made to the charity of choice.
Copyright © 2013 by the Intermountain Jewish News
