'I have lived a rich life. The choice has always been mine. Right or wrong I have no one to blame for anything I have done, except myself. Of this I am immensely proud'
Epilogue - Final Thoughts
Navigation
You are in the Title Page - To open up the individual chapters click on the Index Chapter Links below or the titles in the above header. Some of the chapters are self contained. In the larger ones you will be prompted to click on a scroll option link to an embedded document. There may be more than one link in some chapters.
Any time you see this color it indicates a link you can click on.
Any time you see this color it indicates a link you can click on.
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Chapter II The Post-War Child
The horrible years after the collapse, the Russian Blockade and a gradual return to normalcy |
Chapter III
The Family Documentary evidence of the prominent family dates back to 1820. Rolf is the last surviving member of German birth |
Chapter IV
Adolescence The Family's move to an exclusive suburb of Berlin, Rolf's difficult puberty and the gradual formation of his vision for his future. |
Chapter VII
The United States Years Rolf's early years in the US, first marriage and battle to succeed |
Chapter VI
Adulthood - Karin Rolf's first big love. The intense relationship almost derailed Rolf's plans to migrate. The breakup prior to his leaving for the United States had a major impact o his life for many years 
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Chapter IX
The Philippines - Marlene Rolf's assistant and long-term companion in the Islands. He came very close to permanently moving there 
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Chapter X
Brazil - The Final Step After twenty years Rolf finally accomplishes his goals on the banks of the Amazon River |
Chapter XII
A Personal Crisis
All through Rolfs Business Career and heavy Travels he was exposed to extensive Entertaining, which generally included heavy drinking of alcoholic Beverages. That finally caught up with him in 2007 when he went into Liver/Kidney Failure and his left Lung collapsed during a visit to Jamaica. After his return he spent a week in the Hospital and when released was taken on as a Patient by one of the best Neurologists at Dartmouth, who helped stabilize the condition to the point that he now has a normal Life Expectancy.
A Personal Crisis
All through Rolfs Business Career and heavy Travels he was exposed to extensive Entertaining, which generally included heavy drinking of alcoholic Beverages. That finally caught up with him in 2007 when he went into Liver/Kidney Failure and his left Lung collapsed during a visit to Jamaica. After his return he spent a week in the Hospital and when released was taken on as a Patient by one of the best Neurologists at Dartmouth, who helped stabilize the condition to the point that he now has a normal Life Expectancy.
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Chapter XIV
Berlin - November 2011 A close call - Rolf went into a coma in Berlin for two days and was in the hospital for five days |
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Chapter XVI
The Later Years Retirement and a new career. Travels with Patricia to the places that played a large role in Rolf's life |
Chapter XVII
The Latin American Years Rolf's extensive travels in South America after his return from Singapore |
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Chapter XXIII
The Scrap Books
After his first return to Berlin with Patricia in 2006, Rolf was on an emotional roller coaster. Long supressed memories came flooding back and the city was back on his mind.
The Scrap Books
After his first return to Berlin with Patricia in 2006, Rolf was on an emotional roller coaster. Long supressed memories came flooding back and the city was back on his mind.
Prologue - Author's Introduction
This is the story of my life. It has taken a lot of work and soul searching to put together. Most of the main chapters are now posted. They are not yet fully edited. I will continue to add information and sections as I do research and sift through pictures accumulated over the past 100 years.
The story is told as it unfolded and my memory brought back information. The historical links were carefully researched and are real. Some of the names of the people who touched my life have been changed.
The journey will take you from the terror of the war-torn city of Berlin through the hardships of the immediate postwar years into the period of my formative years, where I was mostly on my own with virtually no family life. I gradually developed a fierce independence that would allow no interference from anyone. Being part of a 'lost generation' one matured rapidly under the prevailing circumstances.
The heartwrenching decisions made just before leaving Germany and the terrible early years in the United States left a mark that has never really gone away. Neither have those memories of the period leading up to the fall of Berlin and the hardships of the years following the collapse. It is probably save to say that I never have come to terms with that part of my life; and it is not likely that I ever will.
The journey, when finally following the desired path, will take you to well over 100 countries, through millions of miles of international travel, to some of the remotest places on this earth and to some of great danger.
It is also a love story, a search for what was lost in Germany and the need to escape the haunting memories. It is a story of many relationships, some of them passionate, some fleeting, until peace of mind was found in the arms of a woman who now has been my wife for over 30 years.
Some of the chapters include information as seen from the perspective of the people involved. This is as accurate as I can recall.
It has been an exciting journey, sometimes sad, sometimes happy, sometimes dangerous and most of the time filled with a passion for life and all it has to offer.
To those I have hurt in my relentless search for an identity and quest for success I say that I am sorry, I never meant to.
I dedicate this to my wife, Patricia, who now has been by my side for over thirty years and who has over the past few years gone with me and visited the places that are forever burned on my mind. The emotional impact of these visits on both of us is part of this story. We will continue to do so and hopefully gain a better understanding of what has been a very complex life.
It is also meant to leave my children a picture of their father and for them to gain a better understanding of him.
Rolf Schmidt - 2018
This is the story of my life. It has taken a lot of work and soul searching to put together. Most of the main chapters are now posted. They are not yet fully edited. I will continue to add information and sections as I do research and sift through pictures accumulated over the past 100 years.
The story is told as it unfolded and my memory brought back information. The historical links were carefully researched and are real. Some of the names of the people who touched my life have been changed.
The journey will take you from the terror of the war-torn city of Berlin through the hardships of the immediate postwar years into the period of my formative years, where I was mostly on my own with virtually no family life. I gradually developed a fierce independence that would allow no interference from anyone. Being part of a 'lost generation' one matured rapidly under the prevailing circumstances.
The heartwrenching decisions made just before leaving Germany and the terrible early years in the United States left a mark that has never really gone away. Neither have those memories of the period leading up to the fall of Berlin and the hardships of the years following the collapse. It is probably save to say that I never have come to terms with that part of my life; and it is not likely that I ever will.
The journey, when finally following the desired path, will take you to well over 100 countries, through millions of miles of international travel, to some of the remotest places on this earth and to some of great danger.
It is also a love story, a search for what was lost in Germany and the need to escape the haunting memories. It is a story of many relationships, some of them passionate, some fleeting, until peace of mind was found in the arms of a woman who now has been my wife for over 30 years.
Some of the chapters include information as seen from the perspective of the people involved. This is as accurate as I can recall.
It has been an exciting journey, sometimes sad, sometimes happy, sometimes dangerous and most of the time filled with a passion for life and all it has to offer.
To those I have hurt in my relentless search for an identity and quest for success I say that I am sorry, I never meant to.
I dedicate this to my wife, Patricia, who now has been by my side for over thirty years and who has over the past few years gone with me and visited the places that are forever burned on my mind. The emotional impact of these visits on both of us is part of this story. We will continue to do so and hopefully gain a better understanding of what has been a very complex life.
It is also meant to leave my children a picture of their father and for them to gain a better understanding of him.
Rolf Schmidt - 2018
The Author - Relaxing at home
The various chapters are richly documented with photographs that have survived the war, many moves to locations in this country and foreign countries. Each chapter is laced with narratives outlining the pertinent phases of my life. Some of the historical pictures of the war have been pulled from available resources.
Copyright 2018 - All Rights reserved
No part of this site may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanized, without the written permission of the Author.
No part of this site may be reproduced or transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanized, without the written permission of the Author.