Author: Joseph Schaeffer

2025-10-02: It is with a heavy heart that we let you know about the passing of long-time S-ASP member and Swiss Singer Ed Graf.  

Ed was a pillar of the Swiss and German communities in Pittsburgh.  He donated the beautiful Kachelofen to the Swiss Nationality Room and founded the Priory in Deutschtown.  He was also instrumental in the creation of Teutonia’s Maibaum and was heavily involved in the leadership there.

Below is his obituary with more details:

https://obituaries.post-gazette.com/obituary/edward-l-graf-jr-1093110275

2025-06, Switzerland: Video address of Swiss President Karin Kelle-Sutter, head of the Federal Department of Finance

Dear Swiss Abroad,

Your number has now grown to more than 820,000 people, twice as many as in the 1980s. For Switzerland, this means that we have more bridge builders in the world, more unofficial ambassadors for our country. And more people who see and feel developments on the ground that we in Switzerland may not yet be aware of, or not to the same extent, but which will sooner or later also have an impact here in Switzerland.

We are living in times of upheaval. Power politics and protectionism are becoming more important than a multilateral order with the freest possible trade. Democratic institutions and fundamental freedoms are being called into question in several regions of the world. These worrying trends are causing uncertainty, including in Switzerland. As a geographically small country with an internationally networked economy, Switzerland is strongly affected by these developments. Our country is in favour of a multilateral order, peace and security, open markets and democracy. But it can influence the course of global affairs only to a very limited extent.

Nevertheless, I am confident that Switzerland will come through these turbulent times well by building on its strengths and focusing on what it can influence and control itself. It combines democratic and liberal traditions with innovation and openness. It is on this basis that the Federal Council is holding talks with our most important trading partners and all states. A country that retains its internal guiding principles can also become involved at international level and stand up for global interests in a spirit of solidarity.

Dear fellow citizens, many crises hit harder elsewhere than in Switzerland. You may be confronted with them in your country of residence. From the government’s point of view, it is important that you stay in contact with the Swiss representations – all the more so as the Swiss community abroad is spread across the globe and is constantly growing.

We all feel that we belong to different communities. Perhaps this year you have already celebrated the country in which you live. Or your region, your town or your village. And on August 1, we celebrate Switzerland all over the world. I wish you – also on behalf of the Federal Council – safety and wellbeing and a happy National Day!

2025-02-13. We regret to inform you of the recent passing of Dr. Heinz Kunz, a pillar of the Swiss Pittsburgh community who was a crucial part of the foundation of the Swiss Nationality Room at the Cathedral of Learning.  

Director of the Nationality Rooms, Kati R. Csoman, shared the following:

“Heinz was a Professor Emeritus in the medical school at the University of Pittsburgh.  Heinz served as the former honorary consul for Switzerland in Pittsburgh, and he chaired the Swiss Room Committee during the fundraising, construction, and dedication of the Swiss Room.  Please find here an article from the University Times on the dedication of the Swiss Room: University Times » Swiss Nationality Room to be dedicated. 

Heinz embodied the spirit of the Nationality and Heritage Rooms and their meaning to build peace and understanding among people of many cultural backgrounds.”

Find below Heinz’ obituary. The services and interment were private.

https://www.permanfuneralhome.com/obituaries/heinz-kunz

2025-01-21. You are invited to a one-day conference celebrating Vincent O. Carter —an acclaimed essayist, novelist, playwright, and visual artist on February 20, 2025 at Lincoln University.

Vincent O. Carter was an African American writer who, for most of his adult life, lived in Bern, Switzerland. His best-known work is the autobiographical The Bern Book: A Record of a Voyage of the Mind.

The event will feature:

• Keynotes from Dr. Jesse McCarthy (Harvard University) and Dr. June Graham (Carter’s biographer)
• A panel session on Carter’s groundbreaking works, including a look at The Bern Book and Such Sweet Thunder

This conference is free and open to ALL scholars, students, and anyone passionate about American and Swiss literature.

More details to come!

2024-11-24. Please see the message below from the Swiss Consulate General in San Francisco and the Heidiseum about a call for submission of AI-generated Heidi artworks.

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Dear Swiss Communities in the USA,

We are thrilled to share an exciting cultural initiative that we believe will resonate within your community.

The Consulate General of Switzerland in San Francisco and the Heidiseum (owner of the UNESCO’s Heidi Archive) are hosting a Call for Submissions for moving and still images of Heidi that are AI generated.

Heidi is the protagonist of the novel written by the Swiss writer Johanna Spyri. Published between 1880 and 1881, Heidi became one of the most successful children’s books of all times, and a Swiss cultural icon. 

Heidi has inspired numerous literary adaptations, film, television, theater, and even computer games, captivating audiences across generations with her timeless story, and reaching countries across the globe! Heidi was inscribed in 2023 on UNESCO’s “International Memory of the World Register”, testifying to the recognition of the global significance of Heidiseum’s Heidi Archive.

In the age of AI and generative technologies, we would like to present an alternative, 21^st century take on Heidi.

With your appreciated help we want to reach artists, professionals, and aficionados from all backgrounds based in the United States and Switzerland to showcase their interpretation of Heidi using AI.

The participants are encouraged to unleash their creativity and experiment with various AI techniques, prompts, and software to breathe new life into this Swiss cultural heritage. If selected by our international jury, their artwork could win a cash prize of USD 3,000 (first place), USD 2,000 (second place), or USD 1,000 (third place).

Further selected artworks will be part of a two-months long iconic exhibition in San Francisco in spring 2025 and discussed during panels on topics such as AI, art, and copyrights.

The submission deadline is December 16, 2024.

For more info and artwork submission, please visit: https://swissimpactusa.com/heidi-goes-ai/

Please find attached the image promoting the event. We would be grateful if you could use it as social media post together with the text further below.

If you should have further questions, please let us know: sanfrancisco.events@eda.admin.ch

We would greatly appreciate your support in promoting our call for submissions through your contacts, newsletters, and social media channels. We look forward to seeing the novel interpretations of Heidi!

Best regards,

Balz Abplanalp

Consul General

The Consulate General of Switzerland in San Francisco

Pier 17, Suite 600, San Francisco CA 94111

2024-11-16. Please see the message below from the University of Pittsburgh Nationality Rooms about the open house this Sunday (November 17, 2024).

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We look forward to seeing you on Sunday, November 17, 2024 from 12- 4 pm in the Cathedral of Learning for the 33^rd Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs Holiday Open House.  Important information can be found here: Holiday Open House 2024 | Nationality Rooms.   

Participants may begin to arrive at 9 am for set up.  We have Quo Vadis guides assigned to assist you with bringing your items into the building. Please look for them at the Fifth Avenue entrance or at the Visitor Center.  You may use the pull in area off of Fifth Avenue temporarily.  You may not leave your vehicle parked there.  If you are bringing carts or large wagons, do not use the revolving doors off of Fifth Avenue.  Please go to the accessible entrance facing Heinz Chapel on the S. Bellefield side of the Cathedral of Learning. 

Committee Table Assignment / Commons Layout

We will have clear signage at each table with the committee or participant name.  Please review the attached Commons layout for where your table(s) is/are located, as based mostly on last year’s plan.  Please note that the shaded tables represent a 6ft, folding table.  The tables that are not shaded are wooden tables of various sizes.  So if your committee requested two tables, but you only see one listed, it is likely that you will have a large wooden table. 

Cultural Items & Food Selling

Committees may offer items for sale, such as ornaments and items that represent your cultural heritage.  Please note that the University does not permit raffles or other games of chance.  Committees who are planning to sell food should plan for baked goods and prepackaged food items that do not require heating and individual serving.   

Committee Presence in the Nationality and Heritage Rooms
If you are planning to have a committee presence in the room, please plan for presentations that are about 5-6 minutes in length to help with the visitor experience and flow of traffic.  The back log in the hallways is unpleasant for visitors and can be unsafe.  Please also consider how an activity may be completed in about 5-6 minutes or can be offered as a make-and-take craft.  For committees who cannot have a presence in their associated room, we will assign a Quo Vadis guide to engage visitors. 

Musical Performances

We are planning for lower noise volume with less speakers around the Commons and a focus on vocal musical performances of longer lengths of time.  We are pleased to welcome a Pitt student acapella group this year – Songsburgh!   

Nationality and Heritage Rooms Visitor Center
The Nationality and Heritage Rooms Visitor Center will be open during the Holiday Open House.  We have some lovely seasonal merchandise.  Please also look at the Nationality and Heritage Rooms Store online. 

Please reach out to nationalityrooms@pitt.edu if you have any questions. 

2024-10-05. Members of the Swiss-American Society enjoyed a guided tour of South Park, which was designed by Paul Riis, a Swiss immigrant to the United States in the early 1900s.

(Photos courtesy Lynn Rethi and Anne Oyler)

July 7, 2024. A message from the family of Evelyn Baker Ruffing:

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Dear Members and Friends,

Please join us for a memorial service and celebration of life in loving memory of our mother, Evelyn E. Ruffing(November 1, 1934 – April 12, 2024).

Saturday, July 20, 2024 at 11:00 a.m.

UU Fellowship of Ligonier Valley

1724 Rt 30 East, Ligonier, PA   (1.5 miles east of Ligonier)

A light buffet-style lunch will follow the service from 12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.

We would love for you to join us and share your stories and favorite memories of Evelyn.

Thank you,

Paula Baker, daughter

thepaulabear@hotmail.com

Andy Baker, son

andybakerlive@yahoo.com

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If you are not able to attend in-person, the service will be available to view via Zoom:

https://zoom.us/j/8846210872?pwd=SUNmc1ZJQWJCbkNZdGszeURERWU1dz09

You can click on it to join or use this Meeting ID.

Meeting ID: 884 621 0872

Passcode: UUFLV

If you would like to join by phone, please dial 1-646-876-9923.

Use this Meeting ID- 884 621 0872

Passcode: UUFLV

June 27, 2024. The family of Evelyn Baker Ruffing will hold a memorial service for her at 11:00 AM on Saturday, July 20, 2024 at the Unitarian Fellowship of Ligonier:

1724 Lincoln Highway (Route 30), Ligonier PA 15658.  

Following the service there will be a buffet style lunch at the church from 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM.   

Evelyn had been a member of the Swiss-American Society of Pittsburgh since 1976.  She had spent many years studying ethnology in Switzerland and developed a love of Swiss culture and languages. With her extensive knowledge of traditional architecture, she had also been a key contributor to the design of the Swiss Nationality Room at the University of Pittsburgh.