It’s Christmas Day 1969 in Buffalo, New York, with me and my sister Shari at Grandma and Grandpa Kurchoff’s.
Baby Caroline and Hanns Engelhardt
Caroline’s father, Hanns Engelhardt, and her in 1968.
Stephanie and Grandfather Christian Engelhardt
This is Christian Engelhardt holding his granddaughter Stephanie Engelhardt at some time around 1967 or maybe even 1966, but we’re not sure. Christian is Hanns’s father (father of Caroline and Stephanie) and lived in Höchst just outside of Frankfurt for the majority of his life. Christian’s professional life was that of a teacher and was the encouragement behind Hanns becoming a lawyer.
The church in the background is from the year 830 A.D. and is the oldest building in the Frankfurt area.
Easter Sunday
My mom, Karen Marie Kurchoff, is in the pink hat on the left while my father, John Michael Wise, sits next to her at the head of the table. My sister Shari Lea Wise sits in front of the Easter Bunny with my grandmother Hazel Kurchoff and grandfather Herbert Kurchoff to the right. I’m in my mother’s lap. We are having brunch at the Jafco Marina & Restaurant on the Niagara River in Buffalo, New York. Today is Easter Sunday; I just turned three years old last Monday, and my sister will turn two years old on June 4th.
Brother and Sister
My sister Shari and I in early 1966, about a month before Easter. We were living in Buffalo, New York, where we were both born. If I said this might have been the last time we were happy until we were well into our 20s, it wouldn’t be too much of an exaggeration.
Hello World
Born April 4, 1963, as John Michael Wise Junior to Karen Marie Kurchoff and John Michael Wise of Buffalo, New York. The photo is from October 11, 1963.