Louisville, Kentucky 40207
October 10, 1996
NEWSLETTER #9

Dear Cousins:

The very first thing I want to say is "THANK YOU" to Rudy and Ruth Tafel for hosting the 1996 Tafel Family Reunion in Philadelphia. They did a superb job of organizing and executing a great Reunion. Also, our thanks go to the other Reunion Committee members who planned and took care of the many arrangements. They were Carol Cotter, Gail Guertin, Monica Randolph, David, Cyndi, Jesse and Heather Rohland, Beth Shuster, David E., Jim, Jonathan, Rick, Robert W. and Susan Tafel.

We had approximately 100 registrants. Our international cousins were: Hermann and Ruth Tafel from Stutgart, Germany; three Schaechtele's from Pegnitz, Germany; Piero and Barbara Tafel, Roberto Tafel and Marika from Milan, Italy. It was nice to see again Maurice and Dorothy Raraty from Canterbury, England and Alec and Winifred Smart from Croborough, England. It was also great to chat with Richard and Elsa Tafel from Corbeil, Canada and Ted and Ginger Tafel of Toronto. With this international group was a large contingent of cousins, from the Leonard Tafel Branch, residing in the Greater Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and some other cities throughout the United States. Ty and Kathy, representatives of the Heinrich Tafels drove in from Pittsburgh.

The following is a brief synopsis of the Reunion Program:
Thursday, August 15, 1996: Registration, Hospitality Room, Reception and Dinner.
Friday, August 16, 1996: We took a bus to the Philadelphia Museum of Art to view the famous art works of the Frenchman, Cezanne and a tour of the historic sites of downtown Philadelphia. Later that evening, we had our formal Reception and Dinner. David E. Tafel was Master of Ceremonies and gave very entertaining introductions of the many Tafels. Jonathan Tafel gave a nice talk and slide and picture presentation on the history of the American descendants and families of Leonhard Tafel. Dancing followed the festivities.
Saturday, August 17, 1996: We had a large attendance at the Tafel Family Association Business Meeting. Your Chairman gave a brief recap and accounting of his four year tenure since the Louisville Reunion. With the cooperative and encouraging help from our six Tafel Family Branch Representatives of North America, we now have a computerized mailing list and have edited and mailed out eight (8) NEWSLETTERS. Our gracious Treasurer, Babe Tafel, gave a nice accounting of our income and expenses and has an accounting of names of individuals who have paid their dues for the past 4 years to the Tafel Family Association. Our Association is financially sustained by the faithful dues paying members. It was suggested that anyone who has not paid dues are not interested in the association and should not receive the Newsletter.

Some of our goals and objectives were discussed:

(a) to know our many cousins better
(b) to preserve and learn more about our heritage and support our Tafel Family Association
(c) preserve and pass along this precious heritage and history of our ancestors to our children and grandchildren.

Also, we had discussions on the NEWSLETTER, computer information, list and suggestions for genealogy and family literature.

The location for our next European Reunion in 1998 was addressed. Dr. Maurice and Dorothy Raraty from Canterbury England, graciously volunteered to explore the possibility of hosting it. Everyone thought Canterbury would be a delightful site and we all were very thankful to them for their consideration. I will keep in touch with them and Ruth.

Four (4) years from now we are looking forward to having another North American Family Reunion and I would appreciate your ideas, suggestions and your help on the host family(s) and location.

Ruth Tafel made an excellent talk about Tobias Frederich Tafel, and his descendants, gave a nice dissertation on Leonard Tafel and his family which was particularly interesting and appropriate at the Reunion for our cousins from Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. She also presented a newly published book by Wilhelm Tafel and herself and translated by Dr. Maurice Raraty, entitled "Ministers of Religion of the Protestant Church of Wuerttemberg", being Descendants of Tobias Friderich Tafel (1612-1665, tailor at Tuebingen. They spent countless hours of research, writing and translations which went into the editing of this manuscript. It is filled with pages of interesting history of the descendants of Tobias Tafel and pictures of priceless manuscripts documenting their status with the church and other endeavors. Ruth Tafel has left a number of copies with Rudy Tafel and me and as a fractional cost to her she is asking $20 for this booklet and a copy of her informative speech about Leonard Tafel. Please contact either of us for them. Our hour or so meeting was very constructive.

Saturday Afternoon. We were driven to the Erzgebirge German Club on the outskirts of Philadelphia. Many games of softball, volleyball and cards were played along with socializing with our cousins. Lunch, dinner and refreshments were served. The afternoon and evening could not have been more beautiful and everyone had a very enjoyable time.

Sunday, August 18, 1996. Services were held at the Swedenborgian Church in Philadelphia and conducted by Vicar Gregory Tafel and Rev. Richard and Robert Tafel. Lunch was served at the hotel where we bid farewell - AUF WIEDERSEHEN!

It was indeed enjoyable to meet, visit with and see again our many cousins from the United States, Canada, Germany, Great Britain and Italy. Again, it was a delightful Reunion and another thanks to Rudy and Ruth and everyone who participated in the Reunion.

Most of our cousins from Germany, Italy, and England were returning home after visits around the United States but Ruth and Herman were flying to Toronto to visit their daughter, Benita Senneke and her husband Alexander. Later they flew to Vancouver and Banff, Canada. Ruth called and stated she had enjoyed seeing David Tafel in Vancouver and Richard Tafel Jr. in Banff. This summer I received a wonderful note from David in Vancouver stating he is doing very well there and is going to be married in December in Toronto to his fiancee, Christy Armstrong. We also received a lovely note from young Elsa Tafel living in Whistler, BC Canada telling about her skiing adventures and her other activities.

Right after returning home from the Reunion, we attended the lovely wedding of my nephew George Barnum, Jr. to Laura Melillo of Louisville. Jack and June Tafel were in town from Naples, Florida, along with their sons Dr. John A. Tafel from Amarillo, Texas, Dr. Alan Tafel and Michael Tafel living in Atlanta joining their sister, Sarah Tafel living here in Louisville. It was also nice to see my first cousin, Jean Tafel Scrim and Zander who flew in from Santa Monica, California. Art Tafel, Jr. told me that he and Martha had just returned from Birmingham, Alabama, attending the wedding of Kelly Ann Lscalla and Michael Kassouf. She is the grandaughter of Brooks and Ann T. Hodges.

I have just received in the mail from Ruth Tafel a copy of her talk at the Reunion on the early German history of Leonhard Tafel. I am sending several copies of it to Rudy Tafel. I also have them available and would be happy to mail them to you upon request as it is too late to include this with the Newsletter. Ty Tafel is sending me a group picture of the attendees at the Reunion. If any of you have other photographs, please let me know.

Sorry for the delay in the "Reunion Edition" but the last month or so has just flown by. I want to get this to press before Babe and I leave for a couple of weeks visit to France with Bill, Jr. and his wife, Rebecca.

Thanks to everyone for their notes, letters and interest in the Tafel Family Association and wish the best of health and happiness to each and everyone of you.

Very truly yours,

William D. Tafel

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