Wie ich zur deutschen Sprache gekommen bin | How I came to the German Language
Travis Fretter: Wie ich zur deutschen Sprache gekommen bin | How I came to the German Language • January 24, 2015
Photo: J B
Born in Berkeley, CA, in 1940, Travis studied French and German in Berkeley High School and later added Italian at UC Berkeley. He spent his Junior year at the interpreters' school with these trilingual studies in Geneva, where his Swiss roommate taught him some Swiss German. Travis married Phyllis in 1962 in Berkeley and graduated one year later. He joined the Army to avoid being drafted for Viet Nam, and went to “Intelligence School.” In 1964, he was transferred to Munich where he and Phyllis spent 22 months, living in an apartment and wearing civilian clothes to his office, becoming immersed in German language and culture.
“My ability in German made it possible for me to travel with my captain to Vienna (with false papers, as army people were not allowed to work in Austria, which is neutral). I was in the intelligence service, so I met many German people in my work, some of which was under cover.”
After release from the military in 1966, Travis and Phyllis settled in Frankfurt/Main, Sachsenhausen, and in April 1971 they returned to Berkeley, where Travis became a Hausmann (house husband), while Phyllis worked for a Swiss Bank. In 1975, he switched with Phyllis, who bore their second daughter. Travis began selling and soon making wine:
“I started legal winemaking in 1977, and got a nice mention in the Chronicle by Herb Caen. Phyllis got cancer, but soldiered on. With my father’s help, we moved to the hills in Berkeley. In 1979 we did a tour of friends and vineyards in France, and we knew Phyllis’ days were numbered. Phyllis died in March of 1980. I continued in the wine sales business, and making wine, moving across the street from where we had lived in 1971, next to the winery. It took a long time to feel cheerful again and it came slowly. My girls went to Montessori school in Berkeley and then to public schools.”
If you would like to view our archive video of the presentation, contact Dr. Marion Gerlind for access.
