Samuel Safir considered himself to be a fortunate man. As a first generation American,
he had advanced far beyond from the working class condition of his parents. His father,
Jacob, was a tailor who had come to America under the sponsorship of his second cousin
Leo Sephardi. However, Jacob had not had such as fortuitous encounter with the officials
on Ellis Island as had Leo’s father. In his case, the officer found Sephardi too inconvenient
a name to say. Henceforth, Jacob would be called Safir.