My parents and I moved into our new Milwaukee home on 69th St. in August of 1958, just as I was about to start high school. I was extremely unhappy about the move, as I wanted to go to Waukesha High with all my friends with whom I had grown up. I knew that I would be going to Custer, a huge, almost new school where, of course, I knew no one. Lo and behold, but who should our next door neighbor be but Fred Bahr. He did so much to reassure me that I would be just fine at CHS that I began to look forward to getting there. He personally took me to school to get me registered. Once there, we went to the main office where I was told to wait to speak to a counselor. While I waited, an older man entered the area where I was sitting. He struck up a conversation with me, asking my name, why I was there, etc. When he was about to leave, he shook my hand, welcomed to me to CHS, and introduced himself as Mr. Michalak, the principal!

 

Mr. Bahr did so many nice things for me (including teaching me how to drive), and he and his wife Kathy were terrific neighbors.  I remember the birth of his two children...Rhonda Kay and Fred, Jr. for whom I occasionally baby-sat. The whole family was frequently invited to our house as we were to theirs. I was saddened when they moved away because I didn't just lose four neighbors...I lost four friends. I, unfortunately, did not keep in touch with them through the years, but when I heard of Mr. Bahr's death in 2001, I sadly wished that I'd done more to keep up with them. Rest in peace, dear friend.