Here is Sara's Story about her grandfather,
Bernard Axelrod.

Going to Grandma and Grandpa's house was always fun.

There was a pond, practically in the backyard

where we skated in the winter

and fed ducks in the summer.

Grandma would always have some great cookies

baked up for my little sister and I.

One of the biggest treats, however,

was seeing whatever new project Grandpa Axel was working on.

His studio was his garage.

In his "studio" hung the portrait bust's of family members.

It was like Thanksgiving everytime I walked in;

family and friends from near and far were staring at me,

but in stone, clay, plaster, and wax.

In addition to the busts,

there were caste hands hanging all over the walls.

Then there were the abstract and original sculptures he did.

When asked what they were,

Grandpa would always come back with

a detailed explanation of what it was.

Sometimes we understood,

other times we just nodded and smiled.


As long as I can remember,

"the eye" always fascinated me.

Click to read about the "EYE"

In fact,

as long as I can remember,

Grandpa always fascinated me.

He had hundreds of books all over his house on everything imaginable

and when I was little he would always read me Pinocchio stories.

He gave me my first microscope and camera.

Just a few weeks ago he gave me books

to help me further explore my interest in

veterinary medicine and on the constellations.


Whatever the case may be,

Grandpa always had either a book or a burst of knowledge

on whatever it was that you were interested in.

Especially in sciences and art.


When I was little,

he took me with him sometimes to Rutgers

where he would work on whatever his latest project was

while I played with the sculpting clay.

He didn't start sculpting until after he retired

but he's done so much since then.

Grandpa gave me my first look into art and still now I love it.

Whenever I pick up my sculpting Fimo

I can't help but remember sitting in his basement

as he taught me how to use a wire skeleton to make animals out of clay.

To me, my grandfather is a very interesting man.

He knows a little bit about

a lot of things and his love of art is an inspiration.

I'm very happy he gave me my first look into art

because now it has become an enjoyment for me.

My grandparents have since moved from Metuchen to an adult community in

Cranbury, NJ.

Although there no longer is a pond to skate on or ducks to

feed, Grandma is still baking her delicious cookies

and Grandpa's new garage

is again filled with busts, hands, and other new creations.