Robert Wolf: A Lifetime of Love and Fighting for Love

Name: Robert Wolf

Age: 92

Graduation Year: 1949

Occupation: Retired, formerly a Materials Manager in the Battery Division at Polaroid

In 1936, at the age of four and a half, Robert Wolf (‘49) arrived in New York City with his mother and two older siblings. They joined his father who had arrived the year before, leaving everything, including their furniture, back in Europe. “My father worked for a newspaper in Germany, and so [after Adolf Hitler’s rise to power], he saw what was going on firsthand. He started preparing not only our family but other Jewish families in Germany to leave,” Wolf recounted. “When he was told that he could no longer write the byline in the paper, he said it was time to go, and [his news]paper gave him an assignment in the United States.” Because of their rapid escape, the Wolfs were left with little. “The furniture came later and [my father] was not able to take out a lot of money so we lived a frugal life,” Wolf said. 

The Wolfs settled in Washington Heights, a few blocks south of the George Washington Bridge. “Seeing the sun in summer south of the bridge and in winter north of the bridge [...] was beautiful,” Wolf said. Despite having limited money and an entirely new life to adjust to, Wolf’s family created nostalgic memories to spare Wolf from his new reality. “[My parents] did not make it hard for us,” Wolf described. “I could play outside on the street […] I really can't say that I suffered.”

He soon began school, skipping half a year between seventh and eighth grade, and eventually entered Stuyvesant in January of 1945. There, he joined The Spectator, becoming a writer for the News department and later a Sports department editor. Though he has few memories of Stuyvesant, Wolf still remembers some minute details—the tiny basement office of The Spectator that someone had painted red. “It had two desks in it and maybe a file cabinet,” Wolf described.  “It was a very crappy location. I hope you have better facilities in the new building.”

  After graduating from Stuyvesant in January of 1949, Wolf moved to Cambridge to attend Harvard University. There, he met his wife, Alice, on a triple date. “She was a junior at Girls Latin, an exam school here in Boston,” Wolf said. “We got married when she graduated college in June of 1955.”

After graduating from Harvard, the two began to build a life in Cambridge. Robert Wolf started working for Polaroid, where he stayed for 36 years. “I started buying parts required for the production of cameras. I later was materials manager for the Battery Division where I oversaw not only the purchasing of battery materials but also the planning of inventories for raw materials and finished product,” Wolf said. “Later on I was a product manager for a hardware product in its early stages of development.”

During Wolf’s time at Polaroid, his wife Alice pursued a career in politics. Alice was also a European Jewish refugee. “She came from Austria two years later than we came. Her family came in 1939 [...] It was after Hitler had taken over in Austria,” Wolf said. When the family was still trapped in Austria, Alice’s father occasionally slept in warehouses instead of coming home from work so he wouldn’t be picked up by Nazis. “[Alice] was sent to live […] with her nanny in the country. She had it worse than I did, in terms of getting out, but [her family] did manage to get out with pretty much nothing except some nice furniture,” Wolf explained. 

Wolf reflected that this experience inspired Alice’s support “for the downtrodden” in her own political career. Starting out on school boards, Alice eventually ran for mayor of Cambridge and served two terms. Afterward, she was elected to the Massachusetts state legislature. “She was a leader in the movement for gay marriage. She refused to support the concept of partners. She wanted gay marriage and she fought for it and she got it,” Wolf said. 

Robert and Alice worked together on some of her campaigns. Wolf did digital work for her winning state senate campaigns and even stepped up within their home when necessary. While Alice remained in the Massachusetts State Legislature for 16 years, she never abandoned her efforts for progressive policy. “I actually did a little housekeeping so that she would have time to go and legislate for the people,” Wolf said.

Alice passed away in January of 2023, after 67 years of marriage. “The best story of my life is [my] marriage: the earliness of it, how long it lasted, and things we did together; my wife’s success.” Together, they raised two boys who grew up to have children and grandchildren of their own. Robert will be a great-grandfather of five in the spring. “[My sons] were very helpful in getting me through this last year,” Wolf said.

These days, Wolf is still in Cambridge and spends his days going on long walks and learning to cook. While Wolf has reached over 90 years old, he still keeps himself active and in shape. “Believe it or not, I am close to averaging close to four miles of walking every day,” Wolf said. 

From his immigration story to meeting Alice in Cambridge, Robert Wolf’s life thus far has been one of remarkable change and success that he reflects on with gratitude. “I'm glad I went to Stuyvesant, and I’m glad I went to Harvard,” Wolf said. “I’m glad I was able to do this project.”