Sunday, January 28, 2007 11:34 PMeshirt.jpg" width="125" height="140" border="0" />

 

 

 

 

Monday, October 23, 2006 8:55 AM

Grampa AL Lewis’s
Memorial Service at Riverside Church
Feb 18th 2006

Avraham Meister AKA, Grampa Al Lewis passed away on Friday Feb 3rd 2006, at age 95 he was known throughout the World for his role as an Actor in The Classic Munsters Series.

A little about Grampa Al Lewis.
Al Lewis is remembered most for his lovable character on the TV series THE MUNSTERS. Known around the globe as "Grampa," he also starred in other radio, TV and theatrical performances: "Leo Schnauzer" in CAR 54 WHERE ARE YOU?, the dance hall judge in THEY SHOOT HORSES, DON'T THEY? with Jane Fonda, USED CARS, MARRIED TO THE MOB, etc. Grampa Al studied acting at the Actors' Studio and with Paul Mann. He played the lead in Eugene O'Neill's THE ICEMAN COMMETH directed by Jose Quintero at the original production at the Circle in the Square. Al has been an activist from his earliest recollections, attending marches and rallies with his mother who worked in NYCs garment district. His proudest achievement is three sons who now have families of their own. He met his wife, Karen in 1979 when they were cast in a dinner theater production of Neil Simon's CALIFORNIA SUITE. In 1998, Al ran for Governor of the State of NY for the Green Party, garnering enough votes to get ballot status for the following four years. For over seven years, Al has been a producer at WBAI 99.5 FM on his public affairs program, AL LEWIS LIVE, co-produced with his wife. Together, they have provided assistance to hundreds of incarcerated individuals through their friendship/penpal project.

Over 2000 in attendance at the Riverside Church and millions more heard the memorial service on the WBAI Radio Station,Berhard White the Program Director for WBAI ,spoke about the great times he had with Grampa,who also had his show on WBAI known as AL LEWIS LIVE, The other Speakers who were in attendance and spoke at the Memorial service were Jimmy Breslin, famous Journalist who went on to say how he and Grampa was good friends, and went on also to say he was no coward,and not afraid of any one, and that Grampa spoke his mind.Father Lawerence Lucas went on to say we should honor Grampa with a Sainthood,for the great work he has done as an Humanitarian.Terrence Stevens,a Victim of Rockefeller Drug Laws sitting in a wheel chair delivered the most emotional speech at the Memorial service ,if it was not for Grampa fighing for us we would be sitting and rotting in jail,he went on also to say he will be debted to Grampa for the rest of his life,for what he has done for him and many others with these Rockerfeller Drug Laws.Other Guest Speakers at the funeral were: Butch Patrick,Child Actor for Munsters,Amy Goodman,Host of Democracy now,Alice Green,Civil and Human Rights Activist,Randy Credico, Comedian and Activist,Magaret Kunstler,Attorney Activist,David Klien, Vietnam Veteran,and many many more to name.

Grampa’s three sons Spoke,Ted Lewis the eldest of the 3 went onto say,Grampa was married for twenty years to his mother and 20 years to Karen Lewis,who he said had a very close relationship and a great women she is.The other 2 sons Paul and David lewis also went onto to praise their father that he was a great dad and the work he had done for humanity.

I met Grampa and his wife Karen a little over 4 years ago,and he liked me instantly,because of the Humanitarian work I was doing for the community,he invited me to speak on his Radio Show,and share the work I was doing for the community, I spoke for ½ an hour Grampa did not interrupt me at all,before the show he told me to speak and when u finish and let me know.I Spoke and Spoke,until I had nothing alse to say.
After the Interview he said,I like you son,and for what u stand for,let me know how I can help u in your cause.
From that day Grampa and his Wife Karen,became very friendly with me our organization.Grampa Attended our Fundraisers where he took pictures with our Youths,spoke in our Forum and even Modeled with them.In the 20 years since our HAD Org Of NYC,Inc has been in existence,nobody created the excitement as Grampa did at our Show.Grampa also agreed alongside his wife to write a column in our Liberty News Online Magazine, about general life.

We will continue to run Grampa’s Column for the Next Year,after that we will archive his article for good,so generations of of readers have the pleasure to read about this great Humanitarian which we all can learn from, Grampa I thank you for being a dear friend to me and my organization,you will be deeply missed,and May God Have a place in heaven for you,you will be missed. But never forgotten.

Al "Grandpa" Lewis, famous for his role in the classic early sixties series "The Munsters", also a well known actor, comedian, entertainer, book author and acrobat, and his wife, Ms. Karen Lewis, run an inmate pen-pal program as humantiarians. Grandpa and Karen Lewis are honorary lifetime members of the H.A.D. Organization since October, 2002. Grandpa, with his vast knowledge of life, will be regularly contributing articles on a variety of topics, along with his wife. Grandpa has his own radio show, known as "Al Grandpa Lewis Live", which airs every Saturday from 12:00 noon until 1:30 pm on Radio Station WBAI, 99.5FM. If you are interested in writing to an incarcerated individual, through Grandpa and Karen Lewis's penpal program, please feel free to email us at grandpa@hadofnyc.org with your information.