Hans Nefzger, hereinafter referred to as “Dad”, was born on January 26, 1910 in Hoboken NJ. Since Grandpa was away on ships, Dad spent his infant years alone with Grandma. Dad grew up a happy child based on what he told me over the years. He lived in the city and had many childhood friends. He suffered prejudice during World War One. He told me that he was mocked by a teacher in his classroom and given soiled books. At that time, he was just seven or eight years old. It left a scar he never forgot. I know this, because he told me so many times. Over the years, I have come to realize what prejudice does to folks of every race, color and creed. On a lighter note, Dad overcame the difficulties of growing up in an immigrant family. Dad was able to see humor in everyday life. He knew human nature well. However, when it came to school, he was all business! Evidently, Grandma and Grandpa valued education, because they paid for his college education. Grandpa had money at times but seemed to lose it on bad business deals. Sometime in the 1920’s the Nefzgers went to visit relatives in Germany. Dad mentioned the hyperinflation they had there. At sometime Grandpa supposedly bought property in Germany jointly with a relative and later swindled out of it.
Dad flourished in college and loved Engineering. He commuted to the campus and studied at home. It would get noisy in the apartment and Grandpa supposedly put a broom handle through the ceiling trying to get the neighbors above to shut up! Dad played some soccer in college, but he stopped playing due to study demands. Dad graduated in 1932 high in his class. Unfortunately, the Depression had hit and Dad could not find a job. He told me worked in his father’s deli sweeping floors. Based on what Dad related to me, it was a time of humiliation. Later on, Dad got his first job at American Machine and Foundry Company. I don’t know what he did there, but evidently there was a machine with a conveyer with cigarettes on it. Dad and other would help themselves! Later in the Thirties. Dad got an engineering job as Chief Engineer at New Jersey Machine Corporation. Dad became plant manager of the company. Dad was very intelligent. He spoke fluent German. He learned the language as child, because his mother preferred her native language. Dad learned German before he learned English. However, Dad said English was always one of his favorite subjects in school. Dad never took risks, financial of otherwise. The Depression made him wary of putting money in anything but a savings account. Dad was devoted to his job and held it until retirement. At work, Dad dealt with Union negotiations. As management, would wrangle over new contracts with the workers. Then he would come home and tell how he liked Unions, because a new contract meant his salary would go up! Upper management would pressure Dad to ship machine orders quickly. He always sought their acceptance, but never got it. He worked in the trenches and was respected by the workers on the factory floor. There was only one strike during the many years he worked. If a worker was sick, he would personally bring them their check. Dad was a very honest man. He would mention vendors trying to bribe him with gifts, which he would refuse. However, Dad did buckle under one time. He got tired of workers playing the numbers game once a week when someone would some in the plant and take lottery chances for a fee. Dad closed it down, but was followed home by Mafia types! The numbers returned to the factory. Home and family life will be discussed later.
