Monroe and Evelyn Diefendorf
The years have gone by quickly. Much has been accomplished in my life with Evelyn and hopefully much more has yet to be accomplished. But what would our lives have meant if they were so quickly forgotten without passing on the lessons we have learned? Your forefathers sacrificed greatly to make this land a better place for you and me. I hope that we have contributed in a similar fashion for our family, friends and colleagues.
So, as my time on earth draws to a close, I am glad that we had the opportunity to purposefully put together the tapestry of our lives in this book for those who follow.
We pray that our beliefs and thoughts will help you lead more productive lives and will bring you a rich and rewarding life filled with unlimited happiness. Success and happiness in this life will only come to you as you give yourself away to others. Remember, it is not how much you are loved, but how much you have loved others.
— Monroe “Dief” Diefendorf
“The Foundation” was established by Roey Diefendorf in an effort to capture, preserve, protect, and perpetuate ones “Personal Wealth “. Each family’s “story” is told by their family in their own way in the form of a “Personal Legacy Manuscript.” To insure that this valuable document is created, The Foundation provides a “Manuscript Advocate” who will guide a family through the process from start to finish. We help you determine your goals for preserving your personal wealth. We help determine your books’ format and concept. Our “Legacy Questionnaire” is the first step in the process. Follow up personal interviews help to fill in the details. The manuscript writing, editing and layout are all part of the process. The end result is a professionally produced book designed to pass on your values for the generations that follow.
Monroe Mechling Diefendorf was born on July 18, 1924 to Warren Edwin and Martha Catharine Diefendorf in Mount Vernon, New York. Named after his maternal grandmother, Jennie Monroe, and his maternal grandfather, Orange Judd Mechling, Monroe was the middle son of three boys. Throughout his life, he was always close to his brothers, Warren Edwin Jr. who was two and a half years older and Russell Judd who was seven years younger.
Reflecting on his early childhood, Monroe remembers belonging to a close knit family. The Diefendorf family lived in Mount Vernon, a beautiful city with lovely homes just north of the Bronx. At first, they lived on the first floor of a two-family house shared with the Zucker family—his father’s sister, her husband and two sons. Of this time in his life Monroe states, “I had many close friends but if I had to choose a best friend, I’d say it was my cousin, Bob Zucker. Our families were close; Bob was more like a brother.” In 1931 the Diefendorf’s moved to 251 Summit Avenue located across the street from Monroe’s grandparent’s house, a grand house with columns, a five-car garage and stalls for horses.
Christian traditions prevailed in the Diefendorf household and church was an integral part of their lives. Bishop Herbert Welch (of the grape juice family), a friend of Monroe’s grandfather, had baptized his father and his two aunts. He subsequently baptized Monroe and his two brothers. Years later, Bishop Welch would also baptize Monroe’s own children, Martha and Monroe Jr., and numerous nieces and nephews. The Diefendorf family attended the Chester Hill Methodist Church where his father was a member of the Board, and some time later, his mother served as the first female trustee. As Methodists, there were certain things they did not do on Sunday: no card playing, no movies, and no dancing. Monroe recalls, “I never heard one curse word in all my life in our house, not from my brothers, nor my mother or father.”
During his grade school days, Monroe served as a class officer and class secretary. Later on, he was secretary of the YMCA High School Group. However, Monroe’s life mostly revolved around the life of the church: Sunday School at 9:30 A.M. at the Methodist Church, worship at 11:00 A.M. at the Episcopal Church where he sang in the choir and was a soloist, Vespers at 4:00 P.M., and then back to the Methodist Church for the young people’s group at 6:00 P.M. of which he was the President. Monroe and his cousin, Bob Zucker, “were the biggest movers and shakers in the church’s youth group. We lined up speakers, shows, outings and fundraisers and also had a basketball team.”
