In 1934, his parents sent 14-year-old Fredric Max “Fritz” Schwenk from his native Germany to live with an uncle on Staten Island, N.Y., to keep Fritz out of the Hitler Youth. Months later, they joined him. Over the years, as he built a career for himself as a hairdresser and businessman in Highland Springs, he always stayed connected to Germany and continued to speak fluent German.

In 1934, his parents sent 14-year-old Fredric Max “Fritz” Schwenk from his native Germany to live with an uncle on Staten Island, N.Y., to keep Fritz out of the Hitler Youth. Months later, they joined him. Over the years, as he built a career for himself as a hairdresser and businessman in Highland Springs, he always stayed connected to Germany and continued to speak fluent German.