Berlin Brats Alumni Association Newsletter 1 Berlin Brats Alumni Association Newsletter October 2016 Volume 12, Issue 4 2017 Reunion Logo Unveiled

Great job! to our resident graphic artist, Susan (Sams) O’Neill ‘85 and her team, Tammy (Iverson) Peoples ‘73 and Chuck Hewins ‘66. Hotel: Astor Crowne Plaza As always, the room rate of $119 739 Canal Street has been secured for 3 days +/- the @ Bourbon (ie: French Quarter) Reunion dates for those who want New Orleans, LA 70130 to come in early and/or stay post http://www.astorneworleans. reunion for personal days. com/ We encourage everyone to make Telephone: (504)962-0500 their Reservations early as we have been known to sell out our hotel. OUR PERSONAL BOOKING A credit card is needed to reserve On August 18th we went LIVE PAGE IS: the room....but will not be charged with our Private Hotel Booking https://aws.passkey.com/ at this time. Adjustments can also Page. Over 600 room nights have event/15774135/owner/10756/ be made over the ensuing months. already been booked. home The Reunion itinerary and regis- Official dates: Thurs, June 8th to Please use this LINK tration package will be available late check-out on Sun, June 11th, 2017. for reservations! November/early December.

Inside this issue: 2 Colorado Springs regional and OSB Homecoming 2016 16 Throwback photos: Susan (Black) Sill ‘72; AFN Berlin’s Heniger, the 4 Tysons Corner, VA, regional: late ‘80s get together mouse 8 Brat get-togethers: Atlanta Bierfest, Coach Pepoy, Charlotte Stop- 17 In Memorium: Mrs. Lavery of the AYA in the early ‘60s over, San Diego, Berlin 18 Visit to Berlin for vets promotes communication and creates new 10 Kip Taylor ‘81 honored at Tempe’s Healing Field memories; Rick Martin ‘77 takes BUSVMA vets to Berlin and runs 12 1960 Berlin Little League European champions subject of new docu- the Berlin Marathon mentary 20 Human bones found near former research site in Berlin; Max Planck 14 Byron Smith (FAC ‘69-’77) ... A year of weekends; Berlin mentor Institute investigates qualifies as expert on Duty Train 22 The German Brötchen becomes the boring American bun 15 Loftin and Lowe sign books, debut documentary trailor at Homecom- 24 The 2017 Reunion will mark another exciting award of BBAA schol- ing in Colorado Springs arships; Contacts Page 2 Berlin Brats Alumni Association Newsletter Berlin Brats Alumni Association Newsletter 3 Colorado Springs regional August 4, 2016 About 30 Berlin Brats and spouses gathered at the Edelweiss restaurant in Colorado Springs to reconnect with each other, reminisce, and partake of delicious German food. Some of these Brats also attended the Overseas Brats (OSB)-sponsored “Homecoming 2016” the same weekend (which is why you see some blended pictures below). The Berlin Brats were joined by a special guest and honorary Berlin Brat, Chris Kyrios ‘75. Chris’ father was the first principal of Berlin American High School and picked our school colors after the colors of his alma mater - Harvard - which are crimson and white. Note his father’s Berlin letterjacket below.

Top left: Yoshika (Loftin) Lowe ‘83 and family. Top right: Alexa Goltz, spouse of Glenn Goltz ‘72, and Jeri (Polansky) Glass ‘72. Center: Dining on Ger- man food at the Edelweiss. Top left photos: Chris Kyrios, honorary Ber- Left, top: Berlin Brats at lin Brat, showcases his father’s letterjacket. the Homecoming banquet. Although Chris’ mother is a Berliner, Chris Left, bottom: Trisha Lind- did all of his school years in Karlsruhe, as his sey ‘82 and Frank Davis father went on to be a DoDDS superintendent. ‘87. Above: Mary Ann Bottom left: Kathleen O’Brien ‘74 and Frank (Cunha) Glover ‘76’s Berlin Davis ‘87. Above: Jeri (Polansky) Glass ‘72 bear. and Sandy McCuskey ‘73 at OSB Homecom- ing 2016 banquet night. 4 Berlin Brats Alumni Association Newsletter Berlin Brats Alumni Association Newsletter 5 Tysons Corner, VA, regional Tyson’s Biergarten, No. - Sunday, September 4 Over 45 Berliners (from classes ’83-’89) from Alaska to the DC metro area, met up Labor Day weekend to share memories - and make news ones - at the newly opened Tysons Corner Biergarten. Thank you Steve Kinzie ’87 and Jo-Anne (Proko- powicz) Sears ’87 for organizing the event and to Rob Aherns ‘87 for nagging everyone to attend!

SEATED L to R: Sharon (Sams) Sopp ‘82, Mark Lewis ‘82, XXX, XXX, Mina (Buenviaje) Tice ‘83. SEATED around table, L to R: Cindy Braun (Anthony Sims’ girlfriend), Joy (Compolo) Turner ‘88, Kristy O’Hearne ‘86, Karrie (Kotch- er) Wymer ‘86, Cillia (Batchelor) Lang ‘89, Lee Wymer (Karrie’s husband), Wendy (Jaynes) Vance ‘89, Anthony Sims Above: Wendy ‘87. STANDING left side L to R: Jill (DeBerry) Bonds ‘87, Julia (Bartholomew) Boulder ‘88, Mark Millen ‘83, Lori (Jaynes) Vance ‘89, (Barnett) Martin ‘89, Steve Kinzie ‘87, Rene (LaJoie) Newell ‘88, Joanne “JoJo” (Propkopowicz) Sears ‘87, Michael Jeanie (Jaynes) An- “Smurf” James ‘87, Shellie (Lamb) Iossa ‘89, Rob Ahrens ‘87, Steve Barnett ‘90. STANDING behind table & to right, L derson ‘87, and Jill to R: XXX, Chris Erickson ‘87 and wife Pam, David Clifford ‘90, Christopher Moore ‘90, XXX, XXX, Cindy (Thomas) (DeBerry) Bonds Brunett ‘89, Wendy Stiver ‘90, Jeanie (Jaynes) Anderson ‘87, Larry Speer ‘83, XXX (behind Larry), Angie (Brown) ‘87. Above right: Farquhar ‘88, XXX. Angela (Brown) Farquhar ‘88, Steve Kinzie ‘87, Julia (Bartholomew) Boulder ‘88, and Rob Ahrens ‘87. Right: The magnif- icent Marks: Mark Lewis ‘82 and Mark Millen ‘83. Far right: Prost! 6 Berlin Brats Alumni Association Newsletter Berlin Brats Alumni Association Newsletter 7

Tysons Corner regional

Top left: The group takes in the sights -- Jef- ferson Memorial. Above right: Rob Ahrens ‘87 and Jo-Anne “JoJo” (Prokopowicz) Sears ‘87, organizers of the regional, enjoy some gender- Top left photo: JoJo (Prokopowicz) Sears ‘87 and Steve Kinzie ‘89 ham it up. Top right photo: Karrie (Kotcher) Wymer ‘86 wins bending Bier. Center left: XXX, Mina (Buen- Election 2016 and says “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this Wall!” at the National History Museum. Bottom right photo: Steve viaje) Tice ‘83, Sharon (Sams) Sopp ‘82, XXX. Kinzie ‘87, Cillia (Batchelor) Lang ‘89, Rob Ahrens ‘87. Group photo: The group takes in the sights -- Reflecting Pond and Above: Rob Ahrens ‘87, Steve Kinzie ‘87, Tom Washington Monument: Women on left side: XXX, Karrie (Kotcher) Wymer ‘86, Cindy (Thomas) Brunett ‘89, Joy (Compolo) Carey ‘87. Left: The guys catching up over their Turner ‘88, Cillia (Batchelor) Lang ‘89. Women in center, L to R: Jeanie (Jaynes) Anderson ‘87, XXX, Wendy (Jaynes) Vance Biers! ‘89, Jill (DeBerry) Bonds ‘87, XXX, Cindy Braun (Anthony Sims’ girlfriend). Men in back: XXX, Michael “Smurf” James ‘87, Chris Erickson ‘87, Steve Kinzie ‘87, Rob Ahrens ‘87, Tom Carey ‘87. 8 Berlin Brats Alumni Association Newsletter Berlin Brats Alumni Association Newsletter 9

CHARLOTTE Atlanta stopover Bierfest Berlin HS had nine at the Jerry Rettie ‘84 and Kim- Atlanta Bierfest in August! Good berly Keravuori ‘85 (JFK) job Bears! traveled to Charlotte, NC, to In the photo: Diane (Westrom) meet up with Bear-a-Cudas Mock ‘79, Julie Langley ‘77, Mark teammate Bryan Duckett ‘84 Woods ‘76 (drink in air), Dale for dinner at the friendly local Westrom ‘78, Tina (Rash) Liptak ’77, Jim Liptak ‘77 (hand in air), German restaurant, the Wald- Lynn Westrom (Dale’s wife), and horn. Michael Mock (hubby of Kimberly also stopped in Diane). for an afternoon visit with ‘80s Berlin Youth Group leader Scott Kusel and his wife Susan, who are doing great! Brat Get-TogetherS Brat Get-TogetherS San Diego Jeri (Polansky) Glass ‘72 met up with Sam McCuskey ‘71 after attending a military re- B union in San Diego. e r l i n

Peggy (Vine) Barring ‘80 returned to Mark Britton ‘84 dropped in at the Pepoy fam- Berlin this past August and snuggled ily home in Bedford, PA. Coach Pepoy was up with a Bear! FAC from ‘68 to the school closing in ‘94. 10 Berlin Brats Alumni Association Newsletter Berlin Brats Alumni Association Newsletter 11

think of no better tribute than to polish another veteran’s boots,” Kip honored at Tempe’s Healing Field Whitaker said. “It reminds me of Jesus washing the feet of his disci- The Tempe Healing Field is the and initially erected them simply several hun- ples, an act of humility and tribute.” nation’s longest running Sept. 11, to provide a visual image of just dred volun- Teddy bears adorn the flags of 2001 tribute event, where one Amer- how many people were killed. It teers arrived at the eight children killed in the at- ican flag is flown for every person wasn’t until people started visiting Tempe Beach tacks. Whitaker said that small flags who died as a result of the terrorist the flags and sharing their stories Park about 6 are given to children who visit the attacks on our nation. The public is that Swenson realized the healing a.m. to help set memorial each year, and the two invited to join neighbors, community impact the field could have. up the thou- tend to go hand-in-hand. leaders, and public safety officers in Whitaker brought the idea to the sands of flags “The kids are drawn to the bears, a walk of remembrance through the Phoenix area, and Tempe’s Healing and decorate and when we are taking down the flags. Field was born in 2004. the field. flags, we usually find tons of the by Alexis Egeland Whitaker said the field is meant An identifi- little flags around the bears,” Whita- The Republic (AZ) to serve as a memorial for Arizona cation card is attached to each flag, ker said. “The kids find each other.” Nearly 3,000 American flags showing the name, age, and home- Red ribbons are given to people cover the field at Tempe Beach Park town of the victim being honored, who donate blood at the Red Cross to honor the 15th anniversary of as well as the location at which he donation truck on site, and they the infamous terrorist attacks of or she was killed and a brief biogra- can be placed on any flag in the Tom Ott '79 (pictured kneeling above) Sept. 11, 2001. phy paragraph, Whitaker said. field. visits Kip's flag at the Tempe, AZ, "Heal- Tempe’s “Healing Field,” one of Next, the field is decorated with ing Field" each Sept 11th. Kip Taylor ‘81 13 in the nation, was first built on various ribbons and accessories to the flight crew members of the was the aide to LtGen Timothy Maude, the third anniversary of the at- represent different groups of people planes that crashed into the World Volunteers work ‘to honor also killed and honored at the site. what happened’ Thanks, Tom, for honoring and remem- tack. Prompted by the act of a flag killed. Trade Center, , and a bering the two. company owner in Utah on the first Yellow ribbons represent the Pennsylvania field. These flags are anniversary, Michael Whitaker, first responders killed in the attack, located in the middle of the field, Jacob Goodman, 9, was not alive at the time of the 9/11 attack, so it president of the Southwest Dis- including the New York Police and representing that they are at is merely a moment in his- trict Exchange Clubs, worked with residents and as a touchstone for Fire Departments and Port Author- the heart of the tragedy. tory to him. multiple clubs and organizations in East Coast residents. ity. Of the 13 healing fields But Jacob has volunteered the Valley to create a Healing Field The flags representing the first in the nation, Whitaker said at the Healing Field with his of their own. Ribbons, boots, bears have responders line the perimeter of the Tempe’s is the only one to family for six years. Paul Swenson, owner of the special meaning field, allowing them to “watch over recognize the flight crews. On Friday, Jacob was there Colonial Flag Company, started and protect, even in death,” Whita- Combat boots sit at the with a group called Ambas- the original field of flags in 2002. The setup process runs like ker said. foot of the flags representing sadors for Change from his He got the flags through his work clockwork 13 years later. On Friday, Sky-blue ribbons represent military soldiers and veter- school, Center for Education- ans. The boots are donated by al Excellence in Tempe. veterans or their families. Ambassadors for Change is In 2015, a man arrived at designed to get kids out in the memorial with a shoe- the community to help and shine kit, sat down in front of to make sure they are aware one of the veterans’ flags of what’s going on in the and began polishing the world, he said. combat boots, Whitaker “I think it’s important said. It was later discov- to volunteer to put flags ered that the man was a to honor what happened,” soldier. Jacob said. Two other men, a Ma- rine and a U.S. Air Force airman, joined the soldier and spent hours polishing all of the boots. “As a veteran, I can 12 Berlin Brats Alumni Association Newsletter Berlin Brats Alumni Association Newsletter 13 Eleanor, to Boston. The evening of jerseys, we received the 11th we were hosted at a din- a blue hat with a ‘B’ ner. Boy, were we a little surprised! on it. The cool thing A film crew who included Joey, about the grey replica Stephan Weaver (director) and Paul jersey and the blue Ward (cameraman) were there as hat was that they were well. made out of wool like We started bright and early on our original jersey Friday, August 12th. We toured and hat. These were Fenway Park all morning. We were introduced in June surprised, to say the least. We were in Berlin and will go filmed going up stairs, down stairs, on sale in Boston and standing, talking, and just gawk- Berlin in late October ing like 12-year-old boys. We sat or early November. behind the green monster, saw the That evening we were wearing baseball shirts red chair, visited the press box, we came back to to Fenway for a with Berlin on them and where was and climbed everywhere you could game between the Red Sox and the Berlin. Of course, we had to tell think of for several hours. Just as Yankees. We didn’t have seats so we them that it was Berlin, Germany. we were getting tired, they took us stood in the general admission area. (We need more geography in our to one of the suites behind third We walked all around the stadium. schools.) base. We were then interviewed for Really cool! They did let us sleep in Sun- about three hours. Every question Saturday was also a real surprise! day morning. Yeah, but only the you could think of about Berlin in We were asked to wear our uniform morning. In the afternoon, we 1960, our lives then, and how being tops and bring our gloves because were taken to another field. Ed, a Berlin Brat shaped our lives. Ryan we were headed to a ballpark. It John, Jacob, and I were to hit, pitch, took Jacob to meet David Ortiz had been 56 years since I had and field, but all except Jacob were dead-dog tired and very sore. We Above: L to R: 1960 team members Ed Cole ‘66, John Reale ‘65, and Pat Williams ‘65, team members, as they met in while they interviewed the three of caught pitches from John and Ed. Boston for a Red Sox game. Top right: The 1960 European Little League Champions baseball team from Berlin. us. John still had his curve ball and Ed kept that to ourselves and only told Around 3:00 pm on Friday, we had his fastball. (All relative, you our wives. You know pride!!!! We all went to the headquarters of `47. understand.) Both are in their late wore the cool white jerseys Sunday. There we were given two Berlin ‘60s. I could still get down to catch I think all of us got a few hits out 1960 Berlin Little League European baseball jerseys. One was a replica them, but the trouble was getting of the infield. After we hit, each of the 1960 team jersey and the up. This went on for hours as they of us still had to do about another champions team subject of new documentary other was a gorgeous white, red, filmed John, Ed, Jacob, and me. hour of voice-over. The last thing and blue jersey. Along with the They were very interested in the on Sunday was dinner. `47 and the by Pat Williams ‘65 Brand company is a privately held and softball (www.berlinbraves. connection with film crew again were unbelievable. What are the odds of three Ber- American clothing brand founded com). The man who established Jacob, baseball, Their hospitality the four days, lin Brats getting on the field at Fen- in 1947 by twin Italian immi- the Berlin Braves, Joey Elgersma, is and me. That eve- and their sincere interest in Berlin way Park during pre-game, while grant brothers, Henry and Arthur also a creative director of indepen- ning we met at the during the Cold War, was some- wearing replica jerseys of their D’Angelo. ‘47 maintains licenses to dent films. `47 store at about thing the seven of us will never 1960 Berlin Little League team? create headwear, apparel, and acces- After several months and many 5:30 pm and were forget! All I can say is, thank you, Well, it happened August 13, 2016. sories for Major League Baseball, hours on the phone, Jared and his given press and Jared Wheeler, Ryan Johnson, This event really began in Feb- National Basketball Association, boss, Ryan Johnson, wanted some field passes. Boy, Amelia, and Antonia Scannapieco ruary, 2016, when Jared Wheeler, National Hockey League, National of the 1960 team to come to Boston what a shock. We from ‘47, Joey Elgersma, Stephan historian of the ‘47 Brand company, Football League, Major League La- for a weekend to be interviewed then began an Weaver, and Paul Ward from the contacted the Berlin Brats and crosse, and over 900 college institu- and filmed. I had been in contact evening of film- film crew. Your respect and dignity asked about the 1960 Berlin Little tions in the . with Ed Cole ‘66 and John Reale ‘65 ing and watching to the three of us and our families League team that won the Euro- `47 wanted to establish a rela- throughout the process, but we had the game. We and your interest in Berlin made us pean championship and played in tionship between the 1960 Berlin no idea what we were getting into. filmed from 5:30 all feel very special. `47, the Berlin the Little League World Series. My team and the present-day sport club So off we went on August 11: until 7:00 pm and Braves Sport Club, and the 1960 Top right: Six of the team members as they reunited in Berlin Little League team have a name was given to him and Jared in Berlin called the Berlin Braves (a Pat Williams ‘65, his wife, Bev- Williamsport in 2014 to celebrate their time there. Above: L from 10:00 pm called. Listening to him was a little private sports & social club estab- erly, and his grandson, Jacob Self; to R: Paul Ward (film crew), Stephan Wever (Creative Direc- until midnight. special bond, and this bond is going overwhelming and surreal at the lished in 2012, which includes run- Ed Cole ‘66 and his wife, Linda; tor), Joey Elgersma (Producer), Ed Cole ‘66, Pat Williams Many, many to create many special opportuni- same time. Jared explained the ‘47 ning, soccer, baseball, basketball, and John Reale ‘65, and his, wife, ‘65, Jacob Self (grandson), and John Reale ‘65. people asked why ties for many people.

Ken Magee ‘88 and Tim Snow ‘85 On June 23rd 14 Berlin Brats Alumni Association Newsletter Berlin Brats Alumni Association Newsletter 15 Byron Smith (FAC ‘69-’77) …a year of weekends Berlin mentor qualifies as expert on Duty Train by Ben Abrams, Staff Writer “I don’t really think, except for we barely get to the site of the game Stars and Stripes (April 25, 1972) the number of trips we have to in time to rest up before we play,” BERLIN (S&S) - If there’s an make, that it is as diffcult for us to Smith added. expert on riding the Berlin Duty get out of Berlin as it is for teams Smith has found out that the Train, it has to be Byron Smith, coming in here to play us,” Smith teams generally make out all right basketball and track coach at Berlin said. We have some sort of a priori- on Friday, but they generally are High School. When he brought ty and the transportation and RTO dead when Saturday’s games roll his track team down to people really do a fine job for us. around. Thursday night, it marked the 53rd We can generally get flag orders “The effect of the trip doesn’t re- time Byron has made the trip in within a day or two and it takes the ally hit the kids until Saturday. They his three-year tenure in the Walled other schools several weeks. And, generally play a pretty decent game City. the people at RTO always have a Friday night, but Saturday we’ve bus waiting for us found has taken its toll quite often - Lowe and Lindsey sign books, debut documentary when we get to the boys just can’t seem to get going Frankfurt. and some teams that we figure we trailer at Homecoming in Colorado Springs What is a typical should beat easily have given us trip like? “It begins fits,” Smith added. This past August, 2016, Yoshika ing Loftin and Lowe their stories and with the cutting “We play our Saturday game, (Loftin) Lowe ‘83 and Trisha A. Lind- pictures so that they can memorialize of orders,” Smith usually early in the morning, and sey ‘82 attended the 2016 Overseas the lives of brats through the ages. You says. “Then in head back for Frankfurt and reverse Brats-Homecoming 2016 in Colorado can view the new documentary trailer basketball season, the procedure. We arrive home Springs, Colorado. on their website, http://bratsoverseas1. we check in on a early Sunday morning and I head At their “breakout session” at wix.com/bratsoverseas. Thursday night right for home and go to bed for Homecoming, they debuted the new Please submit your short story to for our trip to most of the day. Monday is practi- trailer for their upcoming documen- [email protected], for the next the zone. I have cally a lost day as far as practice is tary, “Cold War Memories,” which was book, especially if you didn’t get yours to collect all the concerned.” produced and directed by Anastasia in for the first book! passports and have Smith said that the Berlin Boost- Lowe, Yoshika’s daughter, whom many In addition to attending Homecom- “A couple of weeks ago, the coach of all papers in order when we check ers Club has played a key role in of you have met over the years at our ing, the two attended the Berlin Brat re- one of the visiting teams said that in and I have to sign the re- quired making the arduous trips better Reunions. They answered questions gional held at the Edelweiss Restaurant coming to Berlin wouldn’t be bad if forms. We board at 8 and the train for the athletes, citing the fact that about the Brats Overseas Book Project’s there in Colorado Springs the night it weren’t for the long bus ride and leaves at 8:30. After we board, I many parents make all the trips to call for new stories from all worldwide before Homecoming’s kick-off. They the overnight train trip and I asked have to assign tbe boys compart- support the teams and also that the brats, autographed their “Cold War spent a few hours reminiscing about him how he’d like to do it four or ments. We arrive in Frankfurt boosters pick up the tab for two Memories: A Retrospective of Living in good times in Berlin with brats present five times a sports season instead early Friday morning.” meals a day for every boy repre- Berlin” book, and held a book giveaway. from ‘50 to ‘88. The authentic German of once a year or so - and he voiced But getting to Frankfurt is only senting Berlin High School on the With the new book in full swing, dinner was the perfect beginning for the opinion that once in a while the beginning for Berlin’s athletes. fields of endeavor. more Berlin Brats can consider send- the weekend’s festivities. IS more than enough,” Smith said They still have to get to the site of recently. the competition and more often 52 Trips Out than not that involves a long bus “I’ve made 52 trips to the zone trip. since I’ve been in Berlin,” Smith “As I said, the RTO people have continued. “That’s a year of week- been very great to us. When we ends riding the duty train. It’s a lot get to Frankfurt, our bus generally of bother, but we wouldn’t have is waiting - only once in the three any sports program at Berlin High years have we had to wait as long School if we didn’t ride the rails.” as an hour - and we take off for Smith has become accustomed to Rhein-Main Air Base and breakfast. the red tape involved in getting the Then, it’s on to our destination. teams out of Berlin. Sometimes, in basketball season, 16 Berlin Brats Alumni Association Newsletter Berlin Brats Alumni Association Newsletter 17 In Memorium: Mrs. Lavery from the T AYA in the early ‘60s from Jim Branson ‘64 h We recently learned of the passing of Mrs. Lavery. For those that don’t remember Mrs. Lavery, she r and her husband were the caretakers of the AYA in 1961 and 1962 and she chaperoned every day while o Susan (Black) Sill ’72 in ‘69….on we played pool and ping pong, ate in the snack bar, the Wannsee! and went about our days having fun. Daughters Gail ‘66 and Linda ‘67 were always part of the fun. w Mrs. Lavery was always at the AYA whenever it was open, but always in the background making sure back that things didn’t get out of hand or that schedules were posted, dues were paid, activities were planned, p and that the snack bar was always clean and open for Heniger, the business. She was just always there. Everyone from this period will remember her! h From her obituary: Marion Elizabeth Lavery, 87, byAFN Jim Branson ‘64mouse passed away at her home on February 6, 2014. She The young PFC in the photos, Mitch o married M/Sgt. Sargent US Army Albert H. Lavery Farrell, became a very good friend of mine in 1945. She is survived by her two daughters, Linda while doing a teen radio show for AFN Ber- t Lapiejko (Kenneth Lapiejko) of Advance, NC, and lin in 1961 and 1962. During that time, he Gail Corbett (Dennis Corbett) of Landing, NJ. befriended a white mouse that he dubbed “Heniger Aliger.” Heniger became the sta- o tion mascot and a fan favorite to all the listeners of AFN Berlin, both American and s a very large following of local Berliners, as the staff began making comments about his exploits around the studio. He was being blamed for everything from records skip- ping to tape machines stopping or distrac- tions by the deejays. He became a celebrity and received more fan mail than the 5:00 pm “Frolic at Five” program that played the current popular Top 40 music. Top: The AYA, 1962. Middle: Mrs. Lavery on the dance floor shortly after the remodel in 1961. The jukebox was purchased with funds made from selling tickets at the Volksfest. Mrs. Lavery is sitting where we later put in a riser for a stage. The Bats, the band that played with the Beatles in Hamburg when they were all unknowns, used to play for us every weekend during the spring of ‘62. Bottom: Snack bar area: Robert Riddick’65, Katie Rice, Bob Saba ‘66, and Pete Munoz ‘66. Top left: Lee Angel ’64 dancing with Gail Lavery ’66 (center). Bottom left: AYA game room in 1962: Bob Harris ‘62, Sam Pacheco ‘64, Patricia (Pat) Quinn ‘64, Joe McCabe ‘65, and Terry Vineyard ‘66. 18 Berlin Brats Alumni Association Newsletter Berlin Brats Alumni Association Newsletter 19 Visit ‘home’ for Berlin vets promotes connections and creates new memories by Rick Martin ‘77 in a “divided Major General, USAF Berlin” and to I was honored and privileged to reinforce their join the Berlin US Military Veter- appreciation ans Association (BUSMVA) for a for the his- veterans return “home” to Berlin tory of Berlin. during 24 September–1 October Rounding out 2016. We were magnificently our itinerary hosted by the Checkpoint Charlie were Ber- Foundation. lin cultural The purpose of this veteran’s visit events and was to promote US-German rela- visits to his- tions and share memories of serv- toric sites. ing in Berlin as a divided city. We Perhaps Berlin continues to grow as a vi- had a distinguished group of eleven most significant was witnessing brant European capital and key city Army and Air Force veterans who the reactions of the veterans, many on the world stage. I salute each were stationed in Berlin during the whom had not returned to Berlin of the veterans and their service 1960s-1980s. The itinerary includ- in years -- some returning for the in this historic city. As brats, we ed engagements with key principals first time since the fall of the Wall can take great pride in represent- in the Bundeswehr, Bundestag, in 1989. As military brats can cer- ing American values abroad … and and US Embassy, including the tainly attest, the “brick and mor- the importance of relationships at President of the German House of tar” of the schools, communities, all levels that ultimately strengthen Representatives and the US Am- homes, et al, change with time, but our partnerships with allies and bassador. We were also fortunate the rich memories of life experi- friends. to have extended time speaking ences and relationships certainly Proud to serve! with German students at various remain deeply ingrained in all of schools to share memories of living us.

Top: Photo looking down on the German Parliament in the Reichstag. The British architect, Norman Foster, designed the new Reichstag to symbolize a transparency in government where visitors can look down on the working of the legislative chamber. Above: A familiar site for Berliners in the former American sector – Oskar Helene-Heim U-Bahn station and the nearby “Imbiss” specializing in curry wurst and beer Above right: General Martin recovers from the marathon Berlin-style. Marathon route through Berlin – 42.19km/26.2 Top of page: BUSMVA had the good fortune to meet with the Honorable John miles. The many tree-lined streets and buildings provide B. Emerson, US Ambassador to Germany. Wonderful to spend an hour with the shade and wind-protection, and the flat geography make this Ambassador around his stately circular table in the circular conference room the fastest marathon in the world at 2:02:57. It’s also a great and the exclusive location overlooking the Brandenburg Gate and the Reichstag. way to see the city with 40K other runners and drink free vic- Above: Tempelhof flightline … temporary home to many refugees hosted by Ber- tory beer at the end! Right: Remnants of the Berlin Wall – a lin. Right: General Martin on the stairs at BAHS. Speaking with German students reminder to all of the divided city and the toils of “walls.” at the former Berlin American High School – now the Wilma Rudolph Ober- schule. The faculty and students were keen on hearing stories of living in a “divided” Berlin and history of their city. 20 Berlin Brats Alumni Association Newsletter Berlin Brats Alumni Association Newsletter 21 Human bones found near former Nazi research site in Berlin from Russell Ottley ‘91 get home. Walked right past the Max-Plank Institute. I found this on a local news site today. After looking So crazy what lies beneath. I’m sure a lot of you walked at the map in the article, I realized that was a route I over these same streets. Also, if you scroll over on the walked a thousand times. Having lived on Riechshofer map, is that a lake where the commissary and PX used Straße, and later on Thanner Pfad, this was a route to to be? Crazy how times have changed. by David Rising, Associated Press end of the year. (Sept 1, 2016) A working group of the univer- BERLIN (AP) — Archaeolo- sity, the city, and the Max Planck gists in Berlin have unearthed a Society, which the Kaiser Wilhelm large number of human bones Society was renamed after the war, from a site close to where Nazi has been keeping in close contact scientists carried out research with Germany’s Central Council on body parts of death camp of Jews and Central Council of victims sent to them by sadistic Sinti and Roma on the archaeo- SS doctor Josef Mengele, offi- logical work. If the remains are cials said Thursday. proven to be those of Jews or Experts have been examin- other Holocost victims, they will ing the site in Berlin’s upscale be buried in “a dignified manner.” Dahlem neighborhood since “They are currently not sure Headstone for previously found remains from 1990. a small number of bones were whether these bones are from by Seth Augenstein the history of the predecessor institution. The findings found there in 2014 during road persons from concentration The legacy of World War II and the Holocaust con- were published in multiple works, including one on work on a property belonging to camps or if they are only part of tinues to be unearthed, 70 years after the final bombs blood samples sent to the institution by Mengele. Berlin’s Free University. the anthropological collection of were dropped, the gates to the extermination camps “The Max Planck Society has accepted a difficult In the dig they uncovered the institute from the beginning of Heredity and Eugenics during the opened. legacy of its predecessor organization, the Kaiser “numerous fractured skulls, teeth, the 20th century. Archaeologists are Nazi era. Body parts and brains of the victims of Nazi doc- Wilhelm Society,” said society president Martin Strat- vertebrae” and other bones, includ- currently trying to determine this,” The world-famous Kaiser Wil- tors were found at the Max Planck Psychiatric Institute mann of his organization’s participation in the ongoing ing those of children, Susan Pollock, said Christina Beck, a spokesperson helm Society predated the Nazi era during renovations last year, according to The Daily archaeological investigation. “We are well aware of the a professor of archaeology at the for Max Planck. “I do not think it and once counted famous scientists Mail. special responsibility that it entails.” university who was one of the lead- will be so easy to get useful infor- like Albert Einstein among its direc- The remains are believed to have come from the Mengele, the most infamous SS doctor at the death ers of the team, said in a statement. mation from these bones. … I have tors. work of Josef Mengele, the “Angel of Death” of Aus- camp in Poland from 1943 until the end of World War The bones found in 2014 were also no idea how long the investiga- During the Nazi dictatorship, chwitz infamous for his sadistic experiments on twins II, escaped Allied investigators and justice for decades, never identified, and the new dis- tion will take and therefore when we however, the Dahlem institute was and children. until his remains were disinterred in Brazil and identi- covery provides researchers “a new can start to think about a burial.” closely associated with pseudosci- The gruesome discovery was found during renova- fied in 1985. possibility to illuminate the unusual http://www.ksl. entific race research, and notorious tion work at the Munich facility. Mengele remained in Germany and under the radar find and the circumstances under com/?sid=41302696&nid=235 Auschwitz physician Mengele as In a separate ongoing dig, skulls and bones with of war crimes prosecutors until 1949, when he crossed which they were buried,” said Jörg well as others are known to have glue on them have been found in Berlin, the border to Austria and then fled to Argentina. He Haspel, the leader of Berlin’s office sent many body parts there for The Munich and Berlin discoveries also follow a lived under his real name in Buenos Aires for about a that oversees memorial sites. Re- study. It was also known to have a revelation in France: the identification of the remains decade, until the Israeli capture of fellow Nazi Adolf searchers hope to determine if the collection of bones from Germany’s of 86 victims of the Holocaust on the shelves of the Eichmann prompted his escape to Paraguay and then remains are those of Holocaust vic- colonial era, among others. University of Strasbourg last year. Some of those vic- Brazil. German sympathizers hosted him and kept his tims or part of a collection predat- Experts now plan to use osteo- tims were identified, based on tattoos and biometrics identity a secret. ing the Nazi era. logical identification methods to on file in the World War II records. Mengele had a stroke and drowned while swimming Several of the vertebrae found try to learn more about the newly Earlier this year, the Mack Planck Society ordered a in 1979. He was buried under the pseudonym Wolf- had traces of glue on them, indicat- discovered bones, and should at complete review of its specimens, since the discovery gang Gerhard. His remains were identified in 1985. ing they may have been parts of least be able to determine the gen- of the brains in its Munich-based collection. The Nazi doctor’s remains have been stored in skeletons on display. eral age of the person, their sex and In 1990 the society buried and constructed a memo- a sack at a Brazilian police moruge for decades. In The site is about 100 meters how many different people’s bones rial for specimens from euthanasia victims found at its a twist, they are going to be used to teach medical (yards) away from what was the were found, Pollock said. Results Munich branch. In 1997, Max Planck’s then-president, students in the South American country, a doctor an- Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Human are expected at the earliest at the Josef Mengele Hubert Markl, established a commission to investigate nounced earlier this year. 22 Berlin Brats Alumni Association Newsletter Berlin Brats Alumni Association Newsletter 23 the fresh Brötchen served with the typical homemade marmalades, cheeses, fast food The German Brötchen becomes the boring American bun and cold cuts at breakfast in every bun. So hotel. You might even add a sliced why didn’t dannwoellertthefoodetymologist. egg, tomato, or cucumber. One we just keep wordpress.com over-the-top hotel breakfast in a great bun Posted on February 25, 2016 by Vienna I experienced had an entire to start with geschenke2015 bar dedicated with fillings for their that doesn’t Why did we replace the wonder- Brötchen. Katharina’s in Newport, need all this ful rolls our Germanic immigrants Kentucky, serves this traditional fuss? brought along on their transatlantic German breakfast with Brötchen. I think voyages in favor of the commercial- It’s just like I remember in Ger- we can ized American white buns? For many. blame way too long, we’ve settled for the Every region of Germany has our sinful flavorless, industrially produced their own name and version of the conver- white bun for our hamburgers and Brötchen. They can vary in spice, sion to the other meat sandwiches. As the type of flour – wheat, spelt, or American In addition to Brötchen, Germany has 600 varieties of bread. ‘better burger craze’ increases mo- rye – and toppings. Munich has bun on a mentum, higher-quality buns are its Semmel, which could house a German im- Brötchen and degraded it into a soft being brought out to the forefront. thick slice of Leberkäse or liver migrant, H. J. Heinz, the condiment white bun that didn’t provoke that The brioche bun, and even the pret- paté. What’s Schrippe to a Berliner king. He sold us a bill of goods that before the turn of the 19th century, of the rowdy sailors who ate them plop. We kept the sesames on top zel bun, are some of these upscale is Weck or Weckerle to a Swabian all our sandwiches require oozing to keep a bit of pizzazz – but that buns. But none of them compare was known for its minced and on the run. in Stuttgart. Schleswig-Holstein heaps of ketchup, relish, and mus- chopped beef, a method borrowed The early history of the Ameri- didn’t totally absolve our sin. to the American bun’s European and Hamburg have their Rund- tard. His empire taught us that our Germans don’t really eat any ancestor. from the Russians by German can hamburger is sordid for sure. stück – literally ‘round piece,’ which sandwiches needed to be messy to butchers. Our term hamburger was There are at least six claimants of messy meat sandwiches. Brötchen If we just go back a little bit in could sandwich a Frikadellen. In be good. We Americans do love are served at breakfast to sandwich time, we find something called the a derivation of this product. This its invention. The bottom line is the Baltic Islands and Mecklen- our messy loose meat sandwiches. minced German product looked the hamburger likely appeared in their wonderful regional cold cut Brötchen. It’s still a daily staple burg, they’re called Bömmel, which Our barbecue, sloppy joes, and meats and sausages, or their beauti- today in Germany. The Brötchen more like the Salisbury steak than the late 19th or early 20th century. means ‘bauble.’ The Doppelweck or plethora of messy burger toppings, today’s hamburger. And, it was designed to meet the ful marmalades and spreads. has been around for centuries, and ‘double bun’ is a Saarland specialty need to be eaten with care. A The most iconic American bun, is the ancestor of our American Today, a burger-like product demand of a rapidly changing, which consists of two rolls joined crispy-on-the-outside bun like the called Frikadellen is popular in Ger- industrialized society who had less the sesame-seed topped one, bears burger bun. The hamburger itself, together side-by-side before baking. German Brötchen just didn’t lend familial resemblance to the Ger- the largest user of our American many. They look like mini, slider- time to cook for themselves. That’s The Black Forest has its Mutschli, itself to our eat-on-the-go, conve- sized burger patties, and wedge per- the genesis of a lot of other Ameri- man Weissenbrötchen, which can bun, is named after a German port and Franconia has its Kipf. Even nience lifestyle, with these messy have sunflower, sesame, or poppy city favorite, the Hamburg steak. It fectly into their Brötchen. I imagine can convenience foods, like the the elevated bun we call a kaiser roll sandwiches. One bite through the as the Hamburg steak moved from coney. seeds on them. This connection was a ground meat patty that was in the U.S. is really a wanna be Kai- crusty outside of a Brötchen and is, to me, DNA evidence that our chopped and cooked. Hamburg, the Bierstube to the street vendor, The Brötchen, meaning liter- sersemmel, a type of Brötchen from plop goes a drop of messy on your it took ally, ‘little bread,’ is an everyday American hamburger bun is a de- Bavaria and Austria. It’s named business suit. So we took the lovely scendant of the German Brötchen. on this bun. In Germany, you can get them after the Kaiser because the smaller, for under 20 cents, fresh-baked Even though the sesame seed top has centrally cascading- brought to America by the Frik- everywhere – in bakeries, super- out folds that resemble an adellen- markets, and even gas stations. It’s West African slaves trafficked imperial crown. to Georgia and South Caro- sized a bit smaller than our American In U.S. foodservice, form, hamburger bun, like most portions lina much earlier in the 1600s, there’s a several million there’s no evidence they used and was in Europe. We should take lesson dollar industry supplying sand- from their smaller portions! A it as a bread or roll topper. bun warmers, toasters, and Germans had been importing wiched Brötchen is deliciously crispy on buttering machines. This be- the outside, and fluffy and chewy their sesame seeds through is to ensure substandard, Syria and the Middle East, not tween a on the inside. The secret to a good commercially baked buns Brötch- Brötchen is the egg white wash, and Western Africa. I think the are somewhat good when first burger chain that comes en, for baking at a high temperature with served with their burger the steam. out with a ‘Brötchen Burger’ patties. You’d be surprised will really set themselves apart conve- Whenever I’ve travelled to Ger- at the high sugar content in nience many or Austria, I’ve always loved in the upscale bun market.

In case you wondered ... 24 Berlin Brats Alumni Association Newsletter

2017 Scholarships A highlight of the 2009 Reunion banquet in Phoenix/Scottsdale, AZ, was presenting the BERLIN Brats Reunion Scholarship Awards.

These awards were the first of their kind for the BERLIN Brats Alumni Association and were deemed by those in attendance to be a raging success.

The intent of the awards was to further the success of the BERLIN lineage.

We’re pleased that each Reunion cycle we have contin- ued awarding such scholarships! 2017 will see the tradition continue.

The anuaryJ 2017 newsletter will feature the Application Package, along with more information, so please stay tuned. If you haven’t read Cold War Memories: A Retrospective on Living in Berlin, 2017 REGIONALS you can view and purchase it on Amazon.com. Have not been planned yet, but stay tuned. Contact Information Early ‘60s Site Feb 18th is the OSB AZ By invitation only regional in Phoenix. Contact Jim Branson ‘64 Many Berlin Brats annually Berlin Brats Alumni Association attend. [email protected] Jeri (Polansky) Glass ‘72, Director for an invite More will be added after the 41910 N. Crooked Stick Road 1st of the year. Anthem, AZ 85086 American Overseas School telephone: 623•764•1105 Historical Society email: [email protected] Gayle Vaughn Wiles, President website: www.berlinbrats.org email: [email protected] website: www.aoshs.org

Overseas Brats Next Reunion Find us on Facebook@ Joe Condrill, President June 8th-11th, 2017 “Berlin Brats Alumni Association” email: [email protected] (the official fan page site) website: www.overseasbrats.com New Orleans “Berlin American High School (BAHS)” (an open group chat page) Communication Brat: Peter Stein ‘80 “NEW” [email protected] Mark your calendars now! follow us on Twitter WebBrat: Hotel booking page @BerlinBrats Cate Speer ‘85 has gone LIVE!! Carl Fenstermacher ‘73 [email protected] Newsletter Brat: Kimberly Keravuori ‘85