Tag #127800 - Interview #97497 (Sami Schilton)

My father’s father, Avram Schilton, was born in Bursa. I do not remember the dates at all.  He lived in Bursa, but later on he came to Istanbul.  They lived in Bursa for long years, but during World War I [1], the Greeks came to Bursa, so probably because they wanted to be safe they came to Istanbul.  My paternal grandfather dealt in trade, he was a very good businessman.  He was a very serious person.  He dressed very fashionably, he was always very smart.  He was tall and very handsome.  He did not have a beard but he did have a mustache.  They did not change their family name.  They were Deschiltons.  Later on I took out the “de” at the beginning.  My grandfather could speak Turkish, Judeo-Spanish and French.  They used to speak in Judeo-Spanish amongst themselves.  He did not have anything to do with politics or any political party.  He did not take part in any social or cultural activities either.

My father’s mother, Bulisu Schilton (nee?), did not wear a wig but she did wear a scarf over her head.  She also dressed fashionably and liked to wear a lot of jewelry, necklaces, bracelets etc... She would mostly wear her kolana [Ladino for gold chain].