On a day when I needed a change of scenery, I searched for a cemetery to visit. I found Greenwood Memorial Cemetery off Imperial Avenue in San Diego. With no traffic, it was only a 35 minute drive. I chose this cemetery for one reason, it has a private cenotaph. Cenotaph is a new term for me. It comes from the Greek for empty tomb. The full definition is: a monument to a person or people buried elsewhere. Many cenotaphs are built in memory of soldiers killed in war.
Before I get to the cenotaphs, a little history on Greenwood Memorial. This cemetery opened in 1907 in an unincorporated area and is spread over 125 acres. It houses some fabulous mausoleums, but because of Covid, I stayed outside.
The first thing you see when you drive into the cemetery is Mirror Lake. I stopped my car, opened my window, and was greeted by this welcoming party. (I haven’t mastered inserting phone videos into my posts, so you may have to clink on the link.)
Duck Greeters
Some notable citizens are buried here. One, with a fabulous statue, is Ulysses S. Grant, Jr. (1852-1929). He is the son of President Ulysses S. Grant, and he came to the San Diego area in 1893 for his wife’s health. Grant, Jr. built the U.S. Grant Hotel as a memorial to his father. The bronze Angel of Death (pictured below) is the work of Henry Lukeman, a prominent eastern sculptor. The intense angel holds a wilting lily.
Now for the purpose of my visit, to find the Tanzer Cenotaphs. Frederick Tanzer (1861-1938) and his wife purchased sixteen graves here to be used for memorials to their many relatives buried in Germany and elsewhere. After his wife was buried, Mr. Tanzer placed fifteen pieces of Carrara marble statuary on the site that he and his wife had planned as a memorial to their parents and many relatives. The statuary is a ‘Sermon of Love’ by Mr. Tanzer for his wife. Poor guy, he dedicated his life to this statuary and died a pauper.
These two photos show the entire collection.
Here are some close ups. (Click on any photo you’d like to enlarge).
In addition to this fascinating grouping of statues, I saw some other beauties and a cool elk along the way. To say the least, this was a rewarding visit.
