Father and Son Reunite after 54 Years by Marvin Shimel - City News Group, Inc.
View Upcoming Events View Your Local Sales

Community Calendar

◄ NOVEMBER ►
S M T W T F S
01 02 03 04 05 06 07
08 09 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 01 02 03 04 05
View Events
Submit Events
directory

Father and Son Reunite after 54 Years

By Marvin Shimel , Community Writer
August 7, 2013 at 09:17pm. Views: 89

More than half a century after a hostile divorce, a boy who had been told his father had been killed in military service has been reunited after 54 years with his father, Marvin Shimel, 84, a resident of Grand Terrace since 1974. Gary was the couple’s only child together. Born in a Chicago, Illinois hospital in 1952 to parents Marvin and Barbara Shimel, Gary was the victim of his parents’ youthful divorce in 1955. Gary’s mother received custody and falsely told her son that his father had been killed in service in Vietnam, so he never even thought to seek a reunion with his birth father. She remarried a number of times and Gary settled on the name Henderson, after one of his mother’s husbands. Gary married his wife Vicki and raised a family in Berwick, Iowa just north of Des Moines. They have four children and several grandchildren. Meanwhile, in 1960, while stationed at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Calif., Marvin met and married Virginia, a young mother of four who had been widowed when her husband was killed in a car accident. The young mother of four children and Marvin made a life in the military with Marvin accepting and loving her children as his own. They celebrated 52 years together. Virginia passed away October 28, 2012 and in mourning her passing, Marvin also continued to grieve the loss of his natural son. Marvin’s nephew, living in Iowa, had heard local rumors that Marvin’s son was living in that state. Marvin contacted Chief of Police Francis Donchez Jr. in Davenport, Iowa, who delegated the inquiry to Lt. Brett Morgan. Lt. Morgan was able to assist the two in making contact. Following that conversation, Vicki wrote Marvin a heartfelt letter saying that after the tough life Gary had lived, it was wonderful after all these years to find that his father was alive and cared—and she was glad that Gary had turned out so well. Father and son have had a number of phone conversations since, and Gary and Vicki visited Marvin in Grand Terrace this last weekend and had a wonderful reunion. Marvin is author of the forthcoming book, “Memoirs of a Military Media Man,” self-published and available soon on Amazon.com.

Related Articles

Photo Courtesy of: BBOP Center

By Justus Baker-Postell, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:19am. Views: 490

BBOP Information Session The Black and Brown Opportunities for Profit (BBOP) Center, an Inland Empire economic and workforce development hub and a project of Time for Change Foundation, has launched Pathways to Prosperity, its Employment Training Pathway Program (ETPP), a comprehensive workforce initiative designed to connect residents facing barriers to employment with the skills, credentials, hands-on experience and employer relationships needed to enter and advance in high-demand careers.

Photo Courtesy of: San Bernardino's California Theatre from 1930

By Amanda Spencer, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:19am. Views: 364

Nearly a century after opening its doors, the downtown landmark remains an important connection between the city's entertainment history and its cultural future. In downtown San Bernardino, the California Theatre of the Performing Arts stands as a reminder of a time when attending a movie or live performance was one of the most anticipated social occasions in a growing Southern California city.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:19am. Views: 355

With winter approaching, emergency officials are coordinating flood prevention, roadway maintenance and public alerts to help residents prepare for dangerous weather. A heavy rainstorm can change the landscape of San Bernardino in a matter of hours. Streets that ordinarily carry commuters and school buses can become difficult to navigate, drainage channels can fill rapidly, and neighborhoods near foothills may face increased risks from flooding and debris.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:19am. Views: 311

A sweeping decision involving California's most serious criminal sentences has drawn strong opposition from San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson, placing the county's chief prosecutor at the center of a statewide debate over justice, victims' rights and executive authority.

Photo Courtesy of: West Valley Water District

By Socorro Pantaleon, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:14am. Views: 219

Group photos of WVWD Board Members and winning students of the 2026 Poster Contest

Photo Courtesy of: CalKIDS

By Justus Baker-Postell, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:13am. Views: 368

During National Scholarship Month, families are encouraged to check their eligibility for scholarships supporting college and career training.

Photo Courtesy of: Khouri Evans-Dangerfield

By Mike Hoover. President, Inland Empire Civil War Round Table, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:18am. Views: 224

University of Redlands student Khouri Evans-Dangerfield will examine slavery, constitutional law and the decisions that divided a nation during a free November 15 presentation at A.K. Smiley Public Library.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By William Cortez, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:18am. Views: 234

November 11 screening of acclaimed film “All We Imagine as Light” invites students and community members to experience international cinema and discussion. Films can transport audiences to places they have never visited, introduce them to unfamiliar experiences and encourage them to consider how people in different parts of the world navigate relationships, work and personal challenges.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Willam Cortez, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:18am. Views: 243

A decision announced in Sacramento could change the sentences of hundreds of California prisoners, bringing renewed attention to the death penalty and the future of criminal punishment across the state. Governor Gavin Newsom announced November 5 that he intends to commute the death sentences of all 548 people currently sentenced to death in California.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Stella Pierce, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:18am. Views: 281

November 21 event at Olive Avenue Market will introduce residents to drought-tolerant landscaping, city rebates and the benefits of native plants. A beautiful garden does not have to depend on a large lawn or plants that require frequent watering.

Photo Courtesy of: City News Group

By Ruby Stephenson, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:17am. Views: 173

A school announcement can contain information that changes a family's entire afternoon. A reminder about an upcoming meeting, a schedule adjustment or a message from a teacher may determine when a parent leaves work, arranges transportation or helps a child prepare for the next school day.

Photo Courtesy of: TME Photography by Titan Mom Elvira

By Titan Mom Elvira, Community Writer

November 11, 2026 at 08:18am. Views: 238

Cosme Córdova and Eduvina pose in front of the Division 9 Gallery booth, where visitors had the opportunity to purchase commemorative souvenirs and keepsakes celebrating Riverside's Día de los Muertos Festival.

--> -->