Thus Ends A Generation
My Aunt Emma died today. Her name was Emma Kligmann Nocito. She was the youngest of her group. The oldest was my Uncle Albert Reisdorf, next was my Uncle Michael Reisdorf who went to war (WWII) and never returned and was never found, then my Dad, Gottfried Kligmann who died in 1996, his sister my Aunt Bertha Kligmann Vick, then his brother Uncle Samuel Kligmann. All are no longer with us.
My Uncle Samuel came to the US from East Germany with special permission in 1976 (before the wall came down). It was the first time my father had seen him in 31 years. 2 years later he came back with my Aunt Bertha. That was the only time I ever saw either.
My Aunt Emma I knew well and have many fond memories of her. She was generous, very strong willed, intelligent, and a good business woman. She was also a fantastic cook. She could cook Italian better than most Italians. She loved to party too! She traveled a lot with her husband, my Uncle Dominic, whom was know to us as Uncle Mimmi. She and my uncle were in Cuba years before the Bay of Pigs, Castro, and the Cuban Missile Crisis. She loved it there. She went to the Summer Olympics in Mexico City in 1968.
I feel so strange that there are no older Kligmanns left. I do have an older brother but he is part of my generation. I feel sort of alone. I feel as though I am the next generation, but I am 50 and my oldest is 30! Where do I fit in?
I wish I could have spent more time with my Dad, my aunts and uncles, and even maybe got to know my cousins. Aunt Emma if I could have stopped your leaving, I would have told you to, "Make the cannoli, and stay for fun."
My Uncle Samuel came to the US from East Germany with special permission in 1976 (before the wall came down). It was the first time my father had seen him in 31 years. 2 years later he came back with my Aunt Bertha. That was the only time I ever saw either.
My Aunt Emma I knew well and have many fond memories of her. She was generous, very strong willed, intelligent, and a good business woman. She was also a fantastic cook. She could cook Italian better than most Italians. She loved to party too! She traveled a lot with her husband, my Uncle Dominic, whom was know to us as Uncle Mimmi. She and my uncle were in Cuba years before the Bay of Pigs, Castro, and the Cuban Missile Crisis. She loved it there. She went to the Summer Olympics in Mexico City in 1968.
I feel so strange that there are no older Kligmanns left. I do have an older brother but he is part of my generation. I feel sort of alone. I feel as though I am the next generation, but I am 50 and my oldest is 30! Where do I fit in?
I wish I could have spent more time with my Dad, my aunts and uncles, and even maybe got to know my cousins. Aunt Emma if I could have stopped your leaving, I would have told you to, "Make the cannoli, and stay for fun."
Lots of hugs!
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