The Story of Eli “Ted” Hanover
This site is being built as a series — chapter by chapter — following Eli’s life from the crowded rowhouses of East Baltimore, through war and work at sea, to the boxing gyms, nightclubs, and family table that defined his later years.
Each chapter below will collect photos, documents, and memories as they are uncovered. Some are already live; others are in progress and marked as “Coming Soon.”
Swipe sideways or scroll horizontally to see all of the chapters
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Open Chapter One Chapter One
Early Years – Family, Faith & Patterson Park
Status: Live
Eli’s beginnings in a tight Orthodox household near Patterson Park: Romanian and Russian immigrant parents, Yiddish at the table, Shabbat candles in the window, and a childhood shaped by faith, hardship, and the streets of East Baltimore.
View chapter & timeline →
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Open Chapter Two Chapter Two
Featherweight Fights – Carlton Park & the Early Ring Years
Status: Live
From neighborhood gyms to Carlton Park shows, this chapter will follow Eli’s short but spirited run as a featherweight — training, local fight cards, and the nights under bright lights that taught him how to stand his ground.
Visit the boxing career page →
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Open Chapter Three Chapter Three
Merchant Marine Years – Convoys, Harbors & Union Work
Status: Live
Eli’s service in the U.S. Merchant Marine during and after World War II: dangerous convoys, long watches at sea, and his later work as a union organizer on the Baltimore waterfront. This chapter will connect his personal story to the larger history of wartime shipping and dockside labor.
Merchant Marine chapter →
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Open Chapter Four Chapter Four
The Promoter – Gym Above the Jewel Box & “Fighttown” Baltimore
Status: Live
How Eli helped keep boxing alive in Baltimore: the gym above the Jewel Box Night Club, training young fighters, hustling tickets on the streets, and promoting cards that drew together working people from across the city.
Explore the promoter years →
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Chapter Five coming soon Chapter Five
Baltimore, “The Block” & Changing City Streets
Status: Live
A broader look at the Baltimore that framed Eli’s life: The Block, the working harbor, nightlife, politics, civil rights, and the communities that shaped the crowds at his shows.
City & Block history (coming soon) →
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Open Chapter Six Chapter Six
Family, Later Years & Legacy
Status: Planned
Eli at home: Frances, children, grandchildren, favorite restaurants, small rituals, and the way his story is carried forward by those who knew him. This chapter will gather family photos, tributes, and reflections.
Visit the family section →