"I gave up my work to dedicate my life to my son and his talent, " my father continued.

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Jackson believed in her son's talent, she said, and he ultimately helped the family move to the U.S., where he played a role in launching Robson's dance career.

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His parents were assimilated Jews (his father worked in the German Foreign Office) who encouraged their son's drawing talent by sending him to art schools in Weimar and Paris.

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Your son is a rare musical talent.

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But the talent that emerged in his son, the seventh child in a family of eight, allowed him to relish what could have been, had he been more fortunate.

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This attitude is reflected in her personal philanthropy, which focuses heavily on nurturing scientific and engineering talent at her alma mater and helping military families (her son-in-law is a Marine who has deployed three times in recent years).

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