Woman’s Facebook Marketplace Find Leads to Family Photo Reunion

A serendipitous discovery on Facebook Marketplace has led a Marin resident, Debbie Aviron, on a remarkable journey to reunite a family with precious memories. Aviron stumbled upon a free art deco cedar chest in San Rafael just a few months ago. Intrigued by its charm, she decided to take the chest home, unaware of the treasure it held inside.

After acquiring the chest, Aviron gifted it to her brother, who restores furniture as a hobby in Sacramento. As he worked on the piece, he noticed a hidden drawer at the bottom that had been concealed and jammed shut. “You couldn’t tell that there was a drawer in the bottom,” Aviron explained. Upon prying it open, they discovered a collection of black-and-white family photographs dating back to the 1940s, along with mementos such as matchboxes and an unopened holiday tissue paper.

“That drawer was like a time capsule,” Aviron remarked. Recognizing the significance of the photographs, she felt compelled to return them to their rightful owners. The first clue to their identity emerged from one of the photos, which captured four individuals in formal attire raising glasses on May 22, 1944. A name was inscribed above the image, providing the initial lead in her quest.

Aviron, a retired senior administrative secretary with a background in community service, began her search by contacting the woman who had given her the chest. This local organizer connected her with the homeowner, who recalled acquiring the chest in San Francisco approximately ten years prior.

Determined to uncover the family’s story, Aviron started researching the last name written on the photo. She posted her findings on the community platform Nextdoor, where she received an overwhelming response. “I got a ton of responses and very helpful people sending me obituaries and all sorts of information,” she said. The insights from these obituaries became crucial in piecing together the family’s history.

As Aviron delved deeper, she learned that the individuals in the photographs had passed away, and their children were now in their 80s with little online presence. Nevertheless, her persistence paid off when she located a grandchild living in the San Francisco area via social media.

“I met him in person in Sausalito to give him the images,” Aviron recounted. The grandson expressed enthusiasm upon receiving the photos, which had been lost to his family until now. The chest had been given away during a move into the grandparents’ former residence, and the hidden memories remained a mystery to the younger generation.

This project not only allowed Aviron to connect with the family but also provided her with a positive focus during a challenging time in her life. “We had a death in the family,” she shared, reflecting on the loss of her ex-husband, who passed away unexpectedly. The journey of returning the photographs became a source of comfort and purpose for her during this period of grief.

Through her efforts, the grandson was able to see images of his family’s grocery store in San Francisco and other cherished moments that had previously been unknown to him. “It’s just a whole fascinating story of that time in San Francisco,” Aviron noted.

Encouraged by the community and driven by her sense of responsibility, Aviron felt immense gratitude for being able to complete this heartfelt mission. Her journey underscores the unexpected connections that can arise from seemingly ordinary circumstances, reminding us of the value of family heritage and the importance of preserving memories.