Robert Stein
Deaf Watch Repairman
1222 SW Paradise Cv Pt
St. Lucie, Florida 34986
Email: [email protected]
561/340-2407 TTY
561/879-1426 FAX
Keeping with the Times
Robert Stein
Q: Where were you born and raised?
I was born in Brooklyn and moved to Flushing when I was thirteen years old. When I married, I rented an apartment there as well with my new wife. I lived in the same apartment complex for twenty years. Living in New York was a challenge. I attended school there, had friends and socialized.
Q: What was it like living in New York?
The big city has a lot to offer and it is always easy to travel. There is a lot of transportation available at walking distance so getting to a place didn’t always require having a car.
Q: How many members are in your family?
Are any of them deaf or hard of hearing?
I am married now with two sons. My wife is deaf and my sons are hard of hearing. I also have two brothers both deaf, as well as myself. My parents are both hearing.
Q: Describe your education background.
When my parents found out that my older brother, Ken was deaf, they enrolled him at Public School 47 in New York City, a school for the deaf. My parents put me in that school also when I was 3 years old. My younger brother, Eric, was the only one to go to a regular school too, even though he too was deaf. I transferred to New York School for the Deaf when I was 13 years old and graduated from that school at 19.
Q: How did you meet your wife? Tell us about your family.
I met my wife, Robbie (Kovack) at Marie H. Katzenback School for the Deaf when they had their reunion picnic. We have been married for 32 years now and have our two sons, Scott and Russ Stein. My son Scott, is 31 years old, married and has two children. He works as a financial accountant for a loan firm in Florida. My younger son, Russ, resides in South Dakota. He is married and has a daughter. So my wife and I are proud grandparents of three grandchildren. Russ works as a video relay interpreter for Communication for the Deaf in South Dakota.
Q: Did you have a Jewish upbringing? If so, what was it like?
What was your fondest memory as a child growing up in a Jewish home?
I had a Bar Mitzvah and my parents celebrated the Jewish holidays. My fondest memories of being brought up in a Jewish home were the holidays we would celebrate together. It brought us together as a family while some of us were living apart. I can almost still smell the sweetness of my mother’s Jewish cooking. My mother would also do the special cooking on Friday nights, which I looked forward to coming home from school. I slept away at school during the week so this was a treat for me.
Q: How, when and why did you start up your trade?
After I graduated from Fanwood, my Vocational Counselor recommended that I be a watchmaker according to the tests I was given. Being a watchmaker it is strange to recall as a boy growing up, I never had my own watch. Somehow, I never felt the need to own one. I finally got my first watch when I was older and finished attending school to learn the trade of repairing watches.
Q: What companies did you work for before starting your own?
In 1966, I attended Bouleva watch making school in Woodside, NY and was offered a job right after completion of the course. I stayed for two months and felt that I could do better. I ventured out to get a job for Radio Watch Company in New York City and remained there for two years. I then applied to Sheffield Watch Company in New York City and worked with them for two years. From there, I applied at Fortunoff’s in Westbury, NY and that was the longest I stayed with a firm, six years. In 1978, I decided to make the move to Florida with my wife and children due to my wife’s severe allergies. I got a job with Squire International Jewelry and worked there for two years. It was during that time, that I knew I was ready to start my own business with my many years of experience.
Q: What ways did you fund your own business?
I started out renting a space from a jewelry store and the customers would frequent often. I worked in that space for ten years and acquired many customers. At the time, I was living in South Florida. We then bought a new home further North and it was at this time that relay services and faxes were available to the deaf community. I had the full opportunity to have my own business at home since 1990. This is a great opportunity for me as I make my own time and can continue to do other things as well.
Q: What was the hardest challenge to face?
The hardest thing at first was finding customers and stores to keep my business running. Now that the stores are familiar with my good workmanship, they depend on me and that keeps the business going well. I am grateful for this.
Q: How do you communicate with your customers?
How many people do you service?
Where do you publicize your services?
I work for 18 store owners. Upon first meeting them, we communicate by writing and gestures. After they get to know me, conversation becomes very natural without any difficulties. My business is never advertised in any news papers. I have many customers that have worked with me for many years. I do not work for individuals, so I can’t say that I have any deaf customers. I only do business with store accounts.
Q: How have watches changed throughout the years?
There has been a tremendous change in the makes of watches. In the beginning, watches were mechanical and required winding. Now the newest technology has made all watches quartz run by batteries. I do repairs on antique watches and old watches, too. I have kept up with the latest as times are changing the way watches are made and repaired.
Q: What are your future goals?
I now live in Port St. Lucie in Florida, where I have resided for 11 years. My future goal is similar to everyone’s dream …TO RETIRE!!!
