Newsletter
Dedicated to Austrian-Hungarian Burgenland Family History
THE BURGENLAND BUNCH NEWS - No. 178 - * SPECIAL EDITION *
September 5, 2008, (c) 2008 by The Burgenland Bunch
All rights reserved. Permission to copy excerpts granted if credit is provided.
Our 13th Year
Editor: Johannes Graf, Copy Editor: Maureen Tighe-Brown
The Burgenland Bunch Newsletter, founded by Gerry Berghold, is issued monthly as email and
available online at http://www.the-burgenland-bunch.org
Current Status Of The BB:
* Members: 1652 * Surname Entries: 5392 * Query Board Entries: 3929
* Newsletters Archived: 177 * Number of Staff Members: 15
This Special Edition newsletter concerns:
1. What Kind of Challenge!
2. Obituary - Gerald J. Berghold
3. Gerald J. Berghold Dedication Page (from the BB Homepage)
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)
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 how 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.
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 Burgenländisches 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
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 Burgenländers. 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.
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
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 or Web management, 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 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 the BB, to find a book that Gerry was searching for. 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 months, 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 last name as the reason to
give 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 became 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 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
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
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 protégé 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
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
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
Burgenländers 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
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 deepened 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
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
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 America 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 America 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.
BB NEWSLETTER ARCHIVES (reached via Home Page hyperlinks)
Burgenland Bunch Newsletter (c) 2008 by The Burgenland Bunch
All rights reserved. Permission to copy excerpts granted if credit is provided.