– Si Spiegel, War Hero Who Modernized Christmas Trees
– Si Spiegel, Christmas Tree Innovator and War Hero.
Si Spiegel: The Father of Artificial Christmas Trees
Si Spiegel, the renowned father of artificial Christmas trees, passed away at the age of 99 on January 21, 2024, in his Manhattan home. Si Spiegel was not only a pioneer in the mass production of artificial Christmas trees, but also a valiant Army aviator during World War II.
A Daring Escape and Heroic Feats
During the closing days of World War II, Si Spiegel piloted his B-17 Flying Fortress as part of an armada of 1,500 Allied bombers that bombed Berlin. While returning to England after being struck by antiaircraft flak, two of the plane’s engines lost power. Rather than risking capture as a prisoner of war, Si Spiegel crash-landed in Soviet-occupied Poland. After being stuck there for weeks, he ingeniously used parts from his own plane to repair another B-17 that had crashed nearby. He then flew to an American base in Italy, escaping the clutches of war.
The Legacy of Si Spiegel
Si Spiegel’s granddaughter, Maya Ono, shared that he was one of the last surviving American B-17 pilots of World War II. However, his legacy extends beyond his wartime bravery. Si Spiegel’s true passion lay in the machinery he built to manufacture artificial Christmas trees. Born to Jewish immigrants in Brooklyn, he grew up in a religious neighborhood where Christmas trees were not part of his childhood. His granddaughter, Maya Ono, said, “I don’t necessarily think my grandpa associated himself with the trees and Christmas as much as he did with the machinery that he built to make the trees.”
After the war, Si Spiegel faced discrimination when he applied to be a commercial pilot. He was told, “We don’t hire Jews.” Undeterred, he briefly pursued engineering at City College of New York but found the academic routine stifling. He then worked as a radio announcer in New Mexico before returning to New York.
The Rise of Artificial Christmas Trees
Capitalizing on his Army training, Si Spiegel worked as a machinist until he landed a permanent position with the American Brush Machinery Company in 1954. While the company initially ventured into the Christmas tree business without success, Si Spiegel saw an opportunity and began studying natural conifers. He modified the brush-making machines to emulate real trees and patented new production techniques.
In 1981, Si Spiegel became the president of the American Tree and Wreath Company, which mass-produced 800,000 artificial trees annually. By the late 1980s, his company generated annual sales of $54 million and employed 800 workers. Si Spiegel sold the renamed Hudson Valley Tree Company in 1993, retired as a multimillionaire, and dedicated his time to cultural, educational, and social justice philanthropy.
A Life of Overcoming Obstacles
Si Herbert Spiegel was born on May 28, 1924, in Manhattan to Jewish immigrant parents. He joined the Army after graduating from high school and, despite his initial desire to fly planes, became an aviation cadet. During his training, he married Frankie Marie Smith. After surviving the war and crash-landing in Poland, he and his crew repaired another B-17 and escaped to Italy.
Si Spiegel met his wife, Motoko Ikeda, at Pete Seeger’s Good Neighbor Chorus in 1949. They married in 1950, and Motoko became an artist. Si Spiegel’s wife passed away in 2000, and since then, he lived alone on the Upper West Side, not far from his birthplace.
Remembering Si Spiegel
Si Spiegel is survived by his daughter, Sura Kazuko Ono; two sons, Ray Spiegel and Tamio Spiegel; his brother, Lee; and five granddaughters. While Si Spiegel celebrated Jewish holidays with his children, he also embraced the tradition of having a Christmas tree during the winter holidays. He believed that his children enjoyed the pagan symbol, and his wife, Motoko, became skilled at cooking Jewish food.
Si Spiegel’s life journey was one of resilience, innovation, and determination. His contributions to the artificial Christmas tree industry and his heroic feats during World War II will be remembered for generations to come.
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– Si Spiegel, War Hero Who Modernized Christmas Trees
– Si Spiegel, War Hero Who Modernized Christmas Trees Dies.
