Organization: RETIRED
Ancestral Country of Origin: Germany
Share a brief story about how or why your ancestors came to the U.S.:
People tend to think of recent immigration. However, my story begins in Germany, where my grandfather became a merchant marine in 1926 aboard a U.S.-bound ship. Once the ship arrived in New York, he got off and never reboarded, choosing to stay here forever. Later, he brought my grandmother and their first child to America to join him. My father was subsequently born here in 1933 as a natural citizen. My grandfather, grandmother and aunt were undocumented, and many years later all proudly became U.S. citizens. My mother was Canadian, born in Montreal, Quebec, and she moved with her parents and siblings to the U.S. My mother, who is now 87 years old, holds joint U.S. and Canadian citizenship. My parents met in 1954 and married in 1955. This is their photo when they were in their 20s.