Hilda Boas

(additional images below)

Birth: April 12, 1895 in Posen, Germany

Death: July 6, 1943 in Sidney, B.C.

Plot: Row B – Plot 6

Inscription:

In
Loving Memory
of
HILDA BOAS
Born
1895
Died
1943
Her devotion to,
and sacrifice for
her mother will
always be an
inspiration to her
loving son and brothers
whom she left behind.

Biography:
Mother of a Seattle Jazz Legend

Henry and Martha Boas and their three children; Alfred, Max and Hilda immigrated from Germany to the United States in 1897. They settled in Dyea, Alaska. It was there that their fourth child, Martin, was born. Dyea played a part in the Klondike Gold Rush, but by 1898 when the railroad was built and terminated in Skagway, Alaska. In 1899, the family moved the 26 miles to Skagway. Martin’s father purchased property and opened the Boas Tailor and Furrier Shop.

By the 1910 U.S. Census, the family was living in Fairbanks, Alaska. The Boases owned several businesses. After a May, 1911 fire near their clothing business, the family moved from Alaska and settled in Seattle. By 1920, Hilda’s brother, Alfred, had moved out of the house. Hilda’s father owned the Emporium Department Store in Seattle. Her brothers, Max and Martin worked at the store.

Hilda met Lazare Azarhi shortly after he moved to Seattle. Lazare was born in southern Ukraine and immigrated from China to San Francisco by March 1922. He moved to Seattle on September 8, 1923. To celebrate the couple’s announced engagement, in May, 1924, Hilda’s father hosted a musical performance at the family’s home.

The couple lived in Central Seattle which at that time was a predominately Jewish neighborhood with a growing African America population. Their son Kenny was born on April 22, 1925. However, prior to Kenny’s birth, his parents separated. Lazare Azarhi changed his name to Larry Lawrence and remarried in 1927. He married at least three more times and fathered two daughters. Kenny never met his estranged father or his half-sisters.

According to the 1930 U.S. Census, Hilda and Kenny were living with her parents, brothers Max and Martin; all of whom helped raise Kenny. He grew up in a Jewish household. By age 7 Kenny showed an interest in playing piano. His mother hired a woman in the nieghborhood to teach him. He continued his musical training from the musical director at Temple de Hirsch synagogue; where he was Bar Mitzvah.
The 1940 U.S. Census shows Hilda as the head of the household. She and 14 year old Kenny were living with Hilda’s widowed mother. Neither woman showed any income source.

When Kenny was about 18 and graduating from high school, his grandmother passed away. About a month later, on July 6, 1943 his mother died in Sydney, B.C. It’s unclear why Hilda was in Sydney or why she was buried in the Jewish Cemetery in Victoria. It is possible that her brother Martin took care of the funeral arrangements.

Kenny went on to become a Jazz pianist of note and a fixture in Seattle’s Jackson Street jazz scene during the 1940’s-1950’s. His musical style included the blues, bebop and Jazz. Kenny broke racial barriers by and resigning from the white musician’s union and becoming the first non-minority member of the Negro Musicians’ Union, Local 493. Kenny played at “Black” clubs and was friends with Ray Charles. For two years, Kenny wrote letters for Ray. Kenny played piano with other legends of the jazz scene including Floyd Standifer, Buddy Catlett, Ernestine Anderson and Quincy Jones.

For more information about Kenny life and his career:
Seattle crossing guard was a barrier-breaking jazz rebel
Kenneth Martin Boas (1925-2018)

• This Boas family does not seem to be related to Franz Uri Boas, considered a pioneer of modern anthropology.

Parents:
Henry Boas (1860-1936)
Martha Levy Boas (1865-1943)

Siblings:
Alfred Boas (1891-1975)
Max Boas (1893-1974)
Martin Boas (1898-1953)

Spouse:
Lazare Azarhi (1904-1977)

Child:
Kenneth “Kenny” Boas (1925-2018)

Additional Images: