Elaine Berkemeier
As I have been reading all the biographies and then deaths of our class of l957, I want to share my
life story since graduation and before. I was blessed and rewarded many times through the years to
have met my husband in the beginning year of l957. Sydney M. Kurtz (class of l958), walked into
physical geography class, Mr. Richard Polinsky, and I was already in my seat and there he was. I had
seen him previously during the summer at the drive in and this is how "it" all started.
We have 6 children and fifteen grandchildren and Sydney and I have been partners ever since. Since all our
children have heard and reheard how we met, when we have a gathering and there are many and alot of
noise, someone always reminds us of Mr. Polinsky's class.
We have been involved with our landscape supply business plus real estate land investors in St. Louis county
and St. Charles county. As I reflect on my senior year, I remember all the hot rod cars parked on the lower
side of the front of school. The good Chevrolet, Ford, Mercury and Oldsmobile hot rods with the glass pack
muffler sounds and gray primer and always leaded in and lowered or chopped. And then there was the fun of
sneaking at lunch to Steak N Shake on Olive for a chesseburger and small orange costing .53 cents with tax!
In my senior year in Miss Haacks sewing class, I swallowed a straight pin and pin lodged sideways in
my throat. Miss Haack was frantic and sent me to nurse's office. No one there so I went to Mr. Baker's
office. He, too, was frantic. "Don't swallow" he kept telling me. Instead of calling an
ambulance, my parents were called and I was taken to doctor's office on Delmar and Wabash station. My
straight pin was removed as the doctor did not warn me beforehand and ,thus, stuck his finger down my
throat and up came the pin. So after that, Mr. Baker used to call me his "pin up girl". I'm proud I was able to
attend U. City High. Elaine M. (Berkemeier) Kurtz