ABOUT JACK
Thirteen years spent learning to find the answers
A personal obsession that became a profession — and a passion for every family’s story.
13+
Years of Research Experience
B.A.
Political Science, American University
NYC
In-Person Archive Access
THE ORIGIN STORY
It started with eighteen names
My grandfather Joe died young, when my mother, the youngest of his four children, was just fifteen months old. Within the family, he remains a beloved, almost mythical figure, for whom I and five other grandchildren were named.
Fifty years later, I would visit my grandmother and walk the halls of the house they bought together. Our family kept his name and his memory alive, but I had very little sense of who he was, and we had absolutely no idea where he — or we — came from.
"When I was eleven, I sat with my grandmother to record what she knew. The result was a tree with 18 names, and many more questions than answers."
This sparked a passion to dive deeper — to search for the stories, not just the names and dates. To learn about my relatives and understand my family's history within the wider cultural and historic context.
BACKGROUND & TRAINING
How I learned the craft
2011
First family tree
Sat with my grandmother to document her memories. 18 names. The beginning of a lifelong research practice.
2011-2024
Self-directed research
Spent thirteen years learning to use digital and analog records, mastering tools and archives across public libraries, government repositories, and online databases.
2024
American University
Graduated with a bachelor's degree in political science — reinforcing a lifelong interest in history, context, and understanding how people's lives are shaped by the world around them.
Now
Jack's Genealogy
Bringing the same persistence and curiosity to every family I work with — wherever the trail leads.
AREAS OF FOCUS
Specializations
JEWISH GENEALOGY
Specialized knowledge of Eastern European Jewish records, immigration patterns, and NYC-area repositories.
IMMIGRATION RECORDS
Ship manifests, naturalization papers, and USCIS requests tracing family arrivals to the US.
NYC ARCHIVES
In-person access to the NYPL, Municipal Archives, and county courts — records that don't exist online.
DNA ANALYSIS
Interpreting commercial DNA results to identify unknown relatives and connect family branches.
Ready to start uncovering your family's story?
The first conversation is free, and there's no commitment.