Harry B. Vickman

Vickman, Harry B.
June 8, 1918 - November 22, 2009
The Vickman family lost its patriarch, husband, father, friend, mentor, and hero, Harry Vickman on November 22, 2009. Harry was born in Los Angeles to Elsie and Mordecai Vickman who preceded him in death. He was raised in Hollywood California and went to John Marshall High School; following that he attended UCLA where he met his bride and soul mate, Barbara Fox. They married on October 13, 1940 and recently celebrated 69 years of marriage in the company of their extended family and their friends at ONE Generation of Van Nuys. Harry joined the Army Air Corps and had several assignments around the US as a mess officer.
He joined his father, Mordecai, in the running of the family Restaurant, Vickman's Original Feedbag, later known as Vickman's Restaurant, which was located at 1228 East 8th St. in Los Angeles for the better part of 60 years when it was sold and was eventually closed in 1984. The breakfasts and lunches, pies and cakes from Vickman's were legendary. Particularly memorable were the strawberry pies made from the freshest berries he could find and piled high with whipped cream. In its last years Vickman's was managed by Harry who cooked and mingled with the patrons and by Babs who kept her eye on everything else. It was a true family institution.
Harry was involved in many things and for years raised orchids in his greenhouse in their back yard. His real passion developed when Harry became involved with ONE Generation, an organization in Van Nuys that provides day care and other services for frail seniors and pairs the care of small children with those of senior ages. It is one of the only organizations in the country that is licensed to provide daycare for small children and frail seniors in the same setting.
In order to provide funding for ONE Generation he and another person started the Encino Farmer's Market which is one of the most successful farmer's markets of its sort in California. Every Sunday he was out there at 4:30 am getting organized, firing up the hot dog stand, and hauling out toys he had garnered that were to be sold at bargain prices for the benefit of ONE Generation.
Harry was preceded in death by his parents and by his brother, Robert Lee Vickman. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, Barbara, his brother Theodore Vickman of Novato, California; his children Larry Vickman of Tampa, Florida, Nancy Ellis of Vista, California, and Janet Wagner of Norwalk, Connecticut; nephews Michael Manheim of Malibu, CA, and Tom Manheim of Santa Cruz, CA.; his grandchildren John Vickman of Sydney, AUS, Anne Vickman of Cambridge, MA, Amy Herron of Ventura, CA, and Wendy Lewis of Albuquerque, NM, and great-grandchild Graham Lewis.
He is also survived by many more family and friends than we can list here who have been touched by Harry's warmth, generosity of heart and spirit. Memorial services are planned for Mt. Sinai Memorial Park, 5950 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90068, at 2 pm on Tuesday December 1st. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in the honor of Harry Vickman at ONE Generation, 17400 Victory Boulevard, Van Nuys, CA 91406.