Commentary: Candidate Herdman opened his Balboa Island home to me
During our last visit to Balboa Island in November 2015, I found out from my American AFS (American Field Service) brother Jeff Herdman that he would be entering the campaign for a seat on the Newport Beach City Council in 2016.
Since that two-week visit with Jeff and his wife, Sally, my wife, Heide, and I have been asking ourselves what we could do to support this fabulous man.
Living in Germany, we are not aware of political and city issues, but we are able to give you a glimpse of Jeff as a person: a man with high moral standards, as well as the ability to maintain a close “brotherly” friendship over a distance of thousands of miles, and across “the pond” for 52 years!
It all began in l962, when I came to California from Offenburg, Germany, as an American Field Service exchange student. Upon arrival at LAX in August of that year, I felt galaxies away from home. The Herdmans were my host family for the year, and Jeff not only became my AFS brother, but over time, became my “real” brother.
It was a wonderful, warm-hearted family,, and in Jeff’s typical style, immediately began the process of helping me find my way in a new and foreign culture. He made me feel safe and accepted despite my halting English, and my heavy German accent.
Some adjustments were difficult for me, but it was very easy to fall in love with Southern California, Balboa Island and the beach life he introduced me to!
My year with the Herdman family was full of highlights, rich cultural experiences, travel and the activities and events that go along with being a high school senior in the 1960s!
After my return to Germany in August of 1963, our brotherhood stayed as it was; we did our studies, married, had our young families, but always stayed in close contact with each other.
Jeff became the person I could seek advice from, as well as confide in despite the distance that separated us. Until the advent of personal computers, our communications were always written. Jeff was and still is like an ombudsman to our family.
The women in our family love Jeff for his gentlemanly qualities, and the men because he is a good sport. We have had the pleasure of hosting Jeff and his wife, Sally, several times over the years in Germany. These times together always are occasions for us to learn about the present conditions in the U.S, the problems of the day, but also times of fun and a great deal of laughter.
We wish so much that Jeff will be successful in his campaign for City Council. We believe that he will contribute so much to the city of Newport Beach, just as he has to our immediate and extended family here in Germany. His German family gives 100% support to his candidacy because we know and love him as a truly quality man.
--
JOACHIM ZEITZ lives with his wife, HEIDI, in Bad Homburg, Germany.