A Message from Mary Louise Parker
On the occasion of Abe & Lisa Altman being honored
at The Carlebach Shul Annual Dinner

On May 20th I set no less than ten alarms on my phone to go off all hours of the day for fifteen days, alerting me that I needed to write an article honoring Abraham Altman. There was a constant stream of little cricket chirps and the occasional samba beat ringtone. I really didn’t want to miss out on paying tribute to one of my favorite people.

I've known Abe since I was very young and very broke. The day we met I sat in his office while he explained very patiently how my monthly statements from my former accountant were almost indecipherable and that was why I had no idea that it was bad advice that it was okay to buy a pool table for my boyfriend. When he spelled out plainly that I had less than enough for my rent if I planned on eating, I was so depressed that I lied down on his couch and fell asleep He sort of shrugged and waited until I woke up, when he explained how we could fix it all. If you know Abe, you know that he is more thorough than thorough. He will explain the same point no less than six times, in seven different ways, to ensure that you understand. Then he will call you back two days later and explain it all again. This method of his was so overwhelming that I almost had to lie down again, but ultimately it worked. Abe would explain things to me until I completely got it, once even drawing a diagram of a corset to help relate it to my income, since lingerie was what I was spending most of my money on. I wish I still had that drawing, but thankfully I still have his counsel and friendship. If I hadn’t been lucky enough to know him all these years, I might not understand how his sense of humor belies a deep compassion, and I might not know how loyal he is and how sensitive. I also might not have sobbed openly to him when I discovered that I lost my passport, after having just spent the whole day with him at ITS EASY PASSPORT SERVICE replacing my son’s passport so we could get on a flight and enjoy what was left of our vacation. When I called him crying from Rockefeller Center, he tried to calm me and then spent the whole next day with me getting my passport replaced. When I had both passports in hand he hit me on the head with his newspaper and said “What am I gonna do with you?” All I could think was “how could I ever thank him?” I don’t have a way to thank him for all the phone calls he made to the middle eastern man with the unpronounceable name on my behalf, for standing in line with me, for going into the office on a Sunday morning, any more than I can express my gratitude to him for being so kind to my parents, for going to my father’s funeral, for coming to the openings of my plays and making me laugh all these years.

When my dad was dying, he was anxious that after his passing, my mother wouldn’t be able to manage her finances. I told my father I would take care of everything, but I could tell he was still not at peace. Abe came up with a solution that would help him understand that she will be looked after, and then he called my dad. My mom said she wasn’t sure what Abe said but that once he hung up the phone dad was so relieved that he wept. He then brightened, having been somehow reassured by Abe. I will never be able to thank Abe for that. I can only tell him, and all of you, that I adore him to the skies above, and that I am so grateful for all he has done for me. There is really no one like him. I’m so happy he is being honored, because he is as honorable as it gets, and I, in turn, am honored to be a part of it. I love you, Abe.
Mary Louise Parker

Mary Louise Parker is an award-winning actress of stage and screen and was proud to honor her accountant Abe Altman.