Woonsocket Grandma Who Braved Blizzard Of '78 Immortalized In Grandson's Ballad
Family tale of a feisty Lilian Finkelstein told in Tully Cumming's "Blizzard of 78".
Lots of folks tell personal tales of the historic two-day nor'easter that began Feb. 5, 1978 — singer songwriter Tully Cummings spins the story of his grandmother Lilian Finkelstein's journey that day in the ballad, "Blizzard of '78". Lilian, a 62-year-old who lived in Woonsocket on Woodland Road at the time (Now she's a Cumberland resident), was babysitting the then 5-year-old Cummings as the storm approached the area. With Cummings' parents home, and her husband, Elliot (one of four brothers who ran J. Finkelstein's & Sons outer wear and sportswear) waiting for her in Woonsocket, Lilian set off in her Oldsmobile Delta 88, determined to make the trip. "Against everybody telling her not to leave, she left Middleboro, MA and headed for …
