BB News No. 178 dtd 5 Sep 2008

THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS - No. 178 - * SPECIAL EDITION * DEDICATED TO AUSTRIAN-HUNGARIAN BURGENLAND FAMILY HISTORY September 05, 2008 (c) 2008 - The Burgenland Bunch - all rights reserved Our 13th Year, Editor: Johannes Graf and Copyeditor Maureen Tighe-Brown The Burgenland Bunch Newsletter, founded by Gerry Berghold, retired, is issued monthly as email and available online at http://www.the-burgenland-bunch.org EMAIL RECIPIENTS PLEASE READ: You are receiving this email newsletter because you are a BB member or have asked to be added to our distribution list. To subscribe or unsubscribe, use the change form available from our Homepage at http://www.the-burgenland-bunch.org. You cannot send email to this newsletter. If you have problems receiving the newsletter as email, it may be read, downloaded, printed or copied from the BB Homepage. There is also an archive of previous newsletters. 1. What Kind Of Challenge! 2. Obituary - Gerald J. Berghold 3. Gerald J Berghold Dedication Page (from the BB Website) 4. Who Was This Man, Gerry Berghold? (by Tom Steichen) 5. The Creative Spirit Of A Big Man (by Johannes Graf) 6. Wann mein Schifflein sich will wenden (by Bob Strauch) 7. I Will Miss Him So...Anna's tribute to Gerry (by Anna Tanczos-Kresh) 8. Testimonial to Gerry Berghold (by Frank Paukowits) 9. Mission Completed (by Bob Unger) 10. Gerry (by Margaret Kaiser) 11. Gerry's Passing (by Kitty Sauber) 12. Nachruf auf Gerry Berghold (by Walter Dujmovits) 1. WHAT KIND OF CHALLENGE! When I took the Job as editor of the Burgenland Bunch [BB] Newsletter, after Gerry's retirement on August 9th, I thought that I would have time to ask Gerry some questions about to handle things in the Newsletter. I never thought that the first work I would do would be about his death. But now it is true, and so I will try to do my best. 2. OBITUARY - GERALD J. BERGHOLD Gerald J. "Gerry" Berghold 1930 - 2008 Gerald J. "Gerry" Berghold, age 77, of 327 Walker Street, Winchester, died Friday, August 29, 2008 at his home after a lengthy illness. Mr. Berghold was born Sept. 22, 1930, in Allentown, PA, the son of the late Julius Berghold and Frida Sorger Berghold Carpenter. Mr. Berghold retired from the Du Pont Company (E.I. Du Pont, de Nemours, Inc.), Wilmington, DE in 1985 as a manager in the Finance Dept. with 30 years of service, at which time he relocated to Winchester, VA. He was an honor graduate of Allentown High School class of 1948. He served in the US Air Force from 1948-1952, leaving with the rank of Staff-sergeant. During the Korean War, he was stationed at bases in Texas and England. He graduated from Lehigh University, class of 1957 with a BS in Accounting. While at Lehigh, he was a corresponding secretary of Alpha Lambda Omega fraternity and the Town Council. He was a long time member of the Delaware Blues of the North South Skirmish Association, and active in the Winchester Glass Club (Glasshoppers). As founder of the Burgenland Bunch Internet Group and editor of their newsletter, he received the Austrian Burgenland Gold Medal of Honor(Ehrenzeichen) in 2001 for his work in promoting Burgenland ethnicity and became a Lifetime Honorable Member of the International Burgenlandisches Gemeinschaft. He was a member of Bethel Evangelical Lutheran Church, Winchester, where he had served as treasurer, council member and positions on various committees. His wife, Molly Beck Berghold, preceded him in death on May 27, 2008. The Bergholds were married in Packer Memorial Chapel, Lehigh University, and had recently celebrated their 51st anniversary. They have two daughters, Mrs. Jan Carr of Lester, PA, and Mrs. Kim Labiak of Mountville, PA, and a son, Chris Berghold, Winchester. In addition, he leaves six grandchildren and three great- grandchildren. Also surviving are a brother, Robert L. Berghold, Boston, MA, a half-sister, Donna Berghold Kotz of Allentown, PA, as well as other half brothers and sisters. A memorial service will be held at Bethel Lutheran Church on Saturday at 11:00 A.M., with Pastors Rev. D. Rhodes Woolly and Rev. Dr. Conrad Christianson officiating. Inurnment at Shenandoah Memorial Park will be private. Friends may call at any time. Memorial contributions in lieu of flowers may be made to Bethel Lutheran Church Mission Expansion Fund, 2077 North Frederick Pike, Winchester, VA 22603. http://www.legacy.com/Obituaries.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonId=116748269 3. GERALD J BERGHOLD DEDICATION PAGE (from the BB Website) This Website is Dedicated in Honor of Gerald J (Gerry) Berghold, 1930-2008, Founder of the Burgenland Bunch Gerry was born in 1930 in Allentown, PA, grandson of four emigrant Burgenlanders. He attended college at nearby Lehigh University, acquiring a degree in Accounting. He spent his working career as a financial manager with Dupont in Wilmington, DE, retiring with his wife, Molly, to Winchester, VA. In early 1997, at age 66, Gerry published the first issue of an email newsletter sent to a select group of correspondents interested in the history and genealogy of the Burgenland. This first step evolved rapidly into the Burgenland Bunch, an organization formed to foster preservation of Burgenland ethnic heritage and memory of the Burgenland Auswanderung. From an initial mailing to 12 correspondents, the monthly newsletter now goes to over 1500 recipients residing in every US state and many countries of the world. The website, established in mid-year 1997, now documents over 5000 Burgenland emigrant family names and holds extensive historical and genealogical resources. A joint US/Austrian staff of 15 volunteers supports this ever-growing website, provides input to the newsletter, and provides answers and advice under Gerry's gentle guidance. Gerry published numerous articles in newsletters and magazines, both here and abroad, and was honored for his efforts on behalf of Burgenland history. He was awarded the Ehrenzeichen des Landes Burgenland (Honor Award of the State of Burgenland) by the Burgenland Parliament, presented in person by Governor Niessl, in appreciation of Gerry's efforts in fostering the advancement of Burgenland family history and culture; the Burgenländische Gemeinschaft recognized him as an honored member. Perhaps, though, Gerry was most proud that members of his BB staff, Bob Strauch, Tom Glatz, Anna Kresh, and Frank Teklits, all had been awarded medals by the Burgenland government in recognition of work performed through the Burgenland Bunch. On August 29, 2008, after five years of battling cancer, Gerry passed away in his home in Winchester, VA, having officially retired from the Burgenland Bunch less than a month before. It is our distinct privilege to continue to honor his life and commitment to Burgenland history with this dedication. 4. WHO WAS THIS MAN, GERRY BERGHOLD? (by Tom Steichen) I met him in person... but only twice... and those two meetings took place years after I had already come to know him well through his electronic voices: his emails, his newsletters and his BB website. Our first in-person meeting was just a year and a half ago, when many of the BB staff met with Gerry in the Lehigh Valley to reconfigure the BB, with Gerry stepping down as BB President and his mantle thrust on me, as caretaker for his organization. Our second and last meeting was just a month ago, bittersweet in that he told me he was giving up the medical fight against cancer and that he was now largely dependent on his son, Chris, to help him get through his days. Left unsaid was that this was likely our last meeting -- a probability now turned into fact. Over the years, I exchanged hundreds of emails with him. I started as a simple volunteer handling Surnames, largely as a "thank you" for the help the BB supplied to me in solving the riddle of my Austro-Hungarian great-grandparents. At some point, I gained his trust and began influencing the direction of his baby, the Burgenland Bunch. In his emails, I heard both his aspirations for the organization and his frustrations. His number one goal was that the BB lived on past his time; I am happy to say we seem to be on track to accomplish that. His frustrations... well, I tried to temper them a little. In person, Gerry was a small, dapper man with a quirky sense of humor. His home library was nearly overflowing with his huge Burgenland collection wedged among many other books. His Burgenland ethnicity (and pride in it) was so very evident in person... maybe more noticeable because his American education muted it in his writing. None of that was a surprise, however, the near contradiction of finding two huge but disparate collections in his home -- one of collectable guns, the other of fine glass -- was a surprise. How did he find time for all his Burgenland work and all this collecting, and why these collections? Simply said, both collections made sense. The guns arose out of his interest in shooting. it was his gun club that first drew him to the Shenandoah Valley and caused him to settle there in retirement. And glass? Well, glass was the hobby he shared with his beloved Molly, his reason for fighting his cancer. She was a gentle soul, one who I met but once as she too fought the cancer demon; she was gone by the time I paid my second visit to Gerry's home. Gerry Berghold, the man, was a multifaceted, complex person. We members of the BB saw only one small part of his being: Burgenland guru and chief cheerleader. Yet I saw glimpses of a man who loved his wife, who was so very pleased and thankful for his son and for his son's help in his final days, of a man's man of guns and shooting and a lady's man of crystalline glass. He served in the US Air Force, was educated at Lehigh University and had a successful career at Du Pont in finance; he lived the American dream yet he became a symbol for Burgenland ethnicity and pride in that homeland. Gerry lived a full life, one he could leave knowing he had accomplished much. May that be said of all of us! BB President, Tom Steichen 5. THE CREATIVE SPIRIT OF A BIG MAN (by Johannes Graf) In December 2000, like every new BB member, I searched the Newsletter pages of the Burgenland Bunch. After reading all of the Newsletters in the archives, I wanted to become a member. I had no experience in genealogy and Web managing, so I made an offer to search for books, if some BB member needed them. So my first e-mail contact was as all my others, in a very poor English: "Dear Mr. Berghold: My name is Johannes Graf and I live in Vienna (Austria).......... .....I do apologize for my not very perfect English knowledge, I can read and understand very good, but to write or speak is another pair of shoes." Gerry's reply: "Hello Herr Graf-and thank you for contacting us. Thank you for the kind words. I am sorry for the delay in replying but we publish our newsletter at the end of every month and this is a busy time. Your English is quite good, I'm sure much better than my German....... ........take advantage of your kind offer to send us some material. If (perhaps through your wife) you learn of any special things (like new books or CDs pertaining to the Burgenland), we would appreciate your sending us the info for our newsletter....." So I soon got my first job with BB, to find a book that Gerry was searching for it. I found it in two days, made the connection with the dealer, and some days later, I received this e-mail: "Hello Hannes; Just to let you know that I received the book from Antiquariat Burgverlag and I'm very pleased with it. Sehr danke. Gerry Berghold " >From this moment, Gerry and I had a special connection, sending each other regular e-mails. In the beginning, it was a very special conversation. I or Elfie wrote in a language (maybe similar to English) and he answered in a language (maybe similar to German): "Hello Elfie-wie sind Hannes? Ich hoffe das alles sind ok? Sie kann mir antwort in Deutsch geben. Servus-Gerry" As you can see, our e-mails were sometimes very funny, since we were beginners in each other's language. After some month, I heard about the Award-ceremony to honor Gerry, at the Moschendorf-Picnic of 2001. I decided to go there and meet Gerry and Molly in person. I knew that Gerry liked books, so Elfie and I took some with us; one had the title, "Bergholde, Sauffhäuser und Bauernschinder", it was only the coincidence of the title and his lastname the reason to gave it to him. I am sorry to say that this day was the first and the last time we met in person. Also, on that day, he had so much to do, dancing with some politicians, handshaking with everybody, small-talking with someone, that we did not have very much time to speak. After Gerry and Molly went back to Virginia, I began doing Web design, and I made the very first BB web page about that day in 2001 when Gerry was honored. I have always been sad that there is no photo of me and Elfie with Gerry and Molly from that day. Maybe someone does have a photo; I don't know. Some days later, I become the BB members' page editor, and thus I started a staff-career with the Burgenland Bunch. Every time, after Gerry and I had an e-mail conversation, I had some ideas to create some new pages. On one day, he told me about singing in his young days, so I started posting the first songs in the Songbook, together with Tom Steichen, who posted the melodies and the translations. On another day, Gerry mentioned the need to know where the BB members lived, so I started the "where we are page". And later, he suggested having all the BB web pages at one site, so I took out the BB web domain and the Webspace, and began to combine my pieces with those of the other BB editors. In the past few years, Gerry's e-mail correspondence with me became less frequent, because he was busy handling his cancer and Molly's cancer, too. I missed our e-mail conversations, because I had my best ideas after them. Gerry, as you say it every time: "Machs Gute!" I will miss you. Johannes Graf 6. WANN MEIN SCHIFFLEIN SICH WILL WENDEN (by Bob Strauch) Altes Marienlied, das noch bei Begräbnissen von Burgenländern in Coplay gesungen wird. Old Marian hymn that is still sung at the funerals of Burgenländers in Coplay: Wann mein Schifflein sich will wenden Wann mein Schifflein sich will wenden in den Port der Ewigkeit, Wann sich wird mein Leben enden in dem letzten Seelenstreit, Steh' Maria, mir zur Seiten, lass' mich Dir befohlen sein; Hilf' den letzten Kampf ausstreiten, /: Hilf', o teure Mutter mein! :/ Wann mein Los sich wird entscheiden, lege Deine Fürbitt' ein, Lass' nicht ew'gen Schiffbruch leiden, ach, die arme Seele mein; O Du Mutter aller Gnaden, reich' mir Deine Friedenshand, dass kein Feind mir möge schaden, /: Rette mich ins Vaterland! :/ Freie Übersetzung/free translation: When my ship enters the port of eternity, when my life ends during the final battle for souls, Mary, stand by me, let me be committed to you, help me to endure the last struggle, Help me, o beloved Mother mine! When my fate is decided, intercede on my behalf, do not let my poor soul suffer an eternal shipwreck, O, Mother of mercy, offer me your hand of peace, that no enemy may harm me, bring me into the homeland. Bob Strauch 7. I WILL MISS HIM SO...ANNA'S TRIBUTE TO GERRY (by Anna Tanczos-Kresh) It was May of 1997 and I was interested in delving a little further into our family history than what was written inside my Mother's worn and tattered German prayer book. I typed my maiden name into an Internet Search engine and found a treasure trove -- Gerry's Burgenland Bunch. It was a glorious find that led to almost ten years of associating with an unbelievable man who cannot and will not ever be forgotten. Just a hint of a question and Gerry poured out a fountain of information, full of facts, dates and background that a researcher in his wildest dreams can only hope for. Gerry made it possible for me to finally compile the story of my parents' lives that has already become a family treasure to their descendants. He has my undying gratitude, for it would have been impossible without him. We all grew to love our Gerry like a brother. No one can ever replace him, but we know that he has gone on peacefully in the knowledge that he has formed a most unusual dedicated group of volunteers, led by a protege and staff who will carry on in his honor the work he so loved. Gerry has left us to join his beloved Molly and we grieve for him, but what a legacy he has left us and so many others who still will know of this great man though the fruits of his generosity and selflessness. Gerry, we will miss you greatly, but we thank God that we were so blessed to have known you. Anna Tanczos Kresh 8. TESTIMONIAL TO GERRY BERGHOLD (by Frank Paukowits) All of us in the Burgenland Bunch (BB) were saddened to hear of the recent death of Gerry Berghold. While we knew that he was seriously ill, I don't think any of us were ready for his passing, so soon after his wife Molly's death only three months ago. Gerry was a very special person. Not only was he an accomplished genealogist, but he was a visionary who was committed to using technology to spread and preserve the heritage and traditions of Burgenland, which he cherished so much. And he did this with a passion and commitment you rarely see. While I had numerous e-mail exchanges with him over the years, I did not have an opportunity to meet him until April 2007, when a delegation of government officials from Burgenland paid a visit to the United States. As I remember, there was a lot of discussion as to whether Gerry could make the trip to Pennsylvania to meet the delegation, because of his illness and problems getting around. Everyone wanted him to come so that he could be recognized by the Austrian officials for the work he had done with the BB. Maureen Tighe-Brown offered to serve as his personal/medical aide for the duration of the trip. I realized then that people would go to any lengths to accommodate their beloved leader and friend. When I got a call from Margaret Kaiser inviting me to Anna Kresh's sister's home in Northampton to have lunch with BB executive staff members at the time of his visit, I was thrilled. Gerry was so warm and welcoming. However, the one thing that struck me was that he was able to talk so openly about his pending death, and how the group needed to plan for the transition. His ability to focus on these matters, and not be self-absorbed in his illness made me realize that he was a very special and gifted person. Gerry's legacy to us is the Burgenland Bunch. If there was one thing he would want from us is that we continue and support the work of the Group under Tom Steichen's leadership. Considering all that Gerry did for us, I think that that is not such a big request. It's the least we can do to honor him and memorialize his name. As you would always say, Gerry, from all of us to you : "Macht's gut." Frank Paukowits 9. MISSION COMPLETED (by Bob Unger) The term "Mission Completed" defines what may have been Gerry's last most satisfying thought. Each human born on this earth has the potential to serve others in a manner pleasing to God. Many search for years for that special way to serve, some find it and others don't. Gerry found his mission was to unite the people of Burgenland, both the living and the dead, in a most unique manner, conceiving the idea of forming an internet organization that he called the Burgenland Bunch. The Burgenland Bunch is an internet media that functions to give ancestors of Burgenlanders a means to communicate with others searching for relatives both living and deceased. It is a link to the past as well as a connection between Burgenland relatives today, all over the world, as well as those still in the Mother country. I first met Gerry in my early genealogical research efforts, through correspondence with the minister of the Lutheran Church in Eltendorf, Burgenland, Austria, in November 1993. The minister told me that a man in Winchester, Virginia, Gerry Berghold, was doing research of the same area in which my ancestors lived. That started a friendship that grew and grew over the years - growing to be like brothers. Ultimately in 1997 Gerry started the Burgenland Bunch newsletter, completing 176 issues in almost 13 years. Each news letter averaged in size from six to twenty-four pages and each issue was on time. Such dedication! Being the Burgenland Bunch editor, as well as helping others with their genealogical research was truly his passion. His rewards were the many letters of appreciation from those whom he helped. He received not a penny of income for this work, but paid much out of his pocket to provide for resource material to help the cause. Now Gerry surely is in heaven celebrating with all his relatives, thanking him for a job well done. We will miss you Gerry. You are a hard act to follow. Western US BB Members-Research, Bob Unger, El Cajon, CA, USA 10. GERRY (by Margaret Kaiser) The officers and membership of the Burgenland Bunch honor and are grateful to Gerry Berghold for conceiving and building the Burgenland Bunch (BB) internet group. The BB grows screen by screen, family name after family name, identifies where records are located, answers queries, and supports various projects for the purpose of sharing Burgenland culture and history. The BB is a unique, special interest group. Members, who currently number 1652, rarely meet each other individually but meet virtually. Occasionally members meet at ethnic events. Most meet by generally communicating using modern technologies. Members freely share individual and group knowledge while pursuing Burgenland ancestral research. I joyfully and accidentally discovered the Burgenland Bunch more than 10 years ago. I couldn't resist calling Gerry who graciously shared his area knowledge. Possibly some of Gerry's ancestors were neighbors of my ancestors. A few years later Gerry visited Burgenland and graciously photographed a Györi family gravestone in St. Emmerich (Rönök) church cemetery, and also returned with area brochures and books of mutual interest. All these were always offered with his extensive Burgenland knowledge and support. Gerry and BB membership have deep ened and enriched my Burgenland knowledge and have delivered many excellent friendships and experiences. I've been able to attend Burgenland events where I heard Hianzen (dialect) singing, seen Burgenland faces, and heard tales from the past, as well as met delegations from the Burgenland. So to our dear friend, spiritual Burgenland cousin and BB founder, Gerry and his dear wife Molly, may God always be with you and yours. I stand up proudly, thank you and salute you. Gerry, as you desired, the BB commits to continue to grow in the light of your founding memory. Auf weidersehen from the BB membership, wherever we are in the world, in Burgenland, in the USA or in other lands. We extend our deep condolences to the Berghold family on their loss. Margaret Kaiser BB Contributing Editor, Szt. Gotthard & Jennersdorf Districts; LDS 11. GERRY'S PASSING (by Kitty Sauber) I'm so sorry about Gerry's passing, and it is hard to think of the Burgenland Bunch and News without Gerry's input. My condolences to his family and to the Burgenland Bunch . Gerry's brilliant concepts & skill in shaping the Burgenland Bunch and News will not be forgotten. I appreciated his helpfulness with his generous information sharing to my e-mail inquiries in the past. Kitty Sauber 12. NACHRUF AUF GERRY BERGHOLD (by Walter Dujmovits) Nur 3 Monate nach seiner Frau Molly hat Gerry Berghold diese Welt verlassen. Betroffen und traurig läßt er seine Angehörigen und seine große Zahl von Freunden in Amerika und im Burgenland zurück. Mit der Gründung von Burgenland Bunch hat Gerry eine Brücke geschlagen von der Generation der burgenländischen Einwanderer zu ihren Nachkommen. Somit hat er die Erinnerung an die alte Heimat in Amerika wachgehalten und die Verbundenheit mit dem Burgenland über mehrere Generationen. Diese Tat hat eine historische Dimension und sichert ihm einen ehrenvollen Platz in der Geschichte des Burgenlandes. Die Burgenländische Gemeinschaft, mit der er von Anfang zusammengearbeitet hat, schuldet ihm großen Dank. Ich persönlich verliere mit Gerry einen verläßlichen Partner, einen treuen Freund und einen besonders liebenswerten Menschen. Gerry hat vielen Menschen viel Gutes getan. Gott möge es ihm in der Ewigkeit vergelten. Übersetzung/translation: Gerry Berghold has left this world only 3 months after his wife, Molly. He leaves behind family members and a great number of friends in America and Burgenland who mourn his passing. In founding the Burgenland Bunch, Gerry built a bridge between the Burgenländer immigrants and their descendants, thus keeping the memory of the homeland alive in America and maintaining ties with Burgenland over several generations. His work had a historical dimension and assures him a place of honor in the history of Burgenland. The Burgenländische Gemeinschaft, with whom he collaborated since the start, is greatly indebted to him. With Gerry I lose a reliable colleague, a loyal friend, and an especially kind human being. Gerry did much good for many people. May God repay him in eternity. Walter Dujmovits END OF NEWSLETTER NOTICE (Terms and Conditions): The Burgenland Bunch (BB) was formed and exists to assist Burgenland descendants in their research into their heritage and, toward that end, reserves the right to use any communication you have with us (email, letter, phone conversation, etc.) as part of our information exchange and educational research efforts. . If you do not want your communication to be used for this purpose, indicate that it is "confidential" and we will abide by that request. . Correspondents who communicate with the BB without requesting confidentiality retain their copyright but give a non-exclusive license to the BB allowing us to forward to BB members, publish in our monthly newsletter or on our website, and/or subsequently and permanently archive all or parts of such communications. The Burgenland Bunch homepage (website) can be found at: http://www.the-burgenland-bunch.org/ We can also be reached from the Burgenländische Gemeinschaft web site. Use our website to access our lists and web pages. WORLDGEN WEB BURGENLAND QUERY BOARD: http://bb-board.at.tt BB NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES INDEX and threaded search facility (enter number of newsletter) available from: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index (also reached via Home Page hyperlinks.) Burgenland Bunch Newsletter (c) 2008 Archived courtesy of RootsWeb.com, Inc. P.O. Box 6798, Frazier Park, CA 93222-6798. Newsletter published monthly by the Burgenland Bunch. Newsletter and List Rights Reserved. Permission to Copy Granted; You Must Provide Credit and Mention Source.