Ratzenberger
Footnotes
Here are some interesting family footnotes:
I found a listing at the Ellis Island web site for a Piroska (Tiroska)
Ratzenberger entering the US on August 29, 1909 on the S.S. George
Washington. She was single and 21 years old. Her occupation was
listed as a clerk. She entered the US from Budapest, Hungary and
came to the US to visit her uncle, Joseph Ratzenberger who lived on
Spruce Street in Bridgeport, Ct. She visited previously in 1902. She
was 5" with a fair complexion, blonde hair and green eyes. She was
born in Jablonitz, Hungary (in the Sudetenland). I have my Joseph
Ratzenberger living on Pine St in Bridgeport. Ellis Island also
lists a Josef Ratzenberger coming to the US on June 24, 1895 on the
Veendam. However, I have been unable to access the manifest image.
His age is about right. These leads could tie the Sudetenland branch
to the Hungarian branch.
Family legend has it that our family originally came from Saxony
Germany and had a castle there on an island. We were Catholics and
went to war with the Hussites in the 17th Century. They won so we
fled to Austria under the protection of the Hapsburgs. While at the
court Anna Ratzenberger had an affair with one of the Hapsburgs and
had a child. (or it could have also have been that Anna was the
offspring).
There appear to be three branches of the Ratzenberger family: a
Hungarian branch, an Austrian branch and a "Sudetenland" branch.
"Sudetenland" being a German speaking enclave of Czechoslovakia
consisting mostly of well-to-do farmers.
John Deszo Ratzenberger is a respected comedic actor, most famous
for his portrayal of Cliff on the popular and critically acclaimed
television show, "Cheers".
William Albert Ratzenberger Jr. was a Jazz musician who played
with the likes of Xavier Cugart, Tommy Dorsey, etc. He invented the
"Jet-tone" mouth piece for the trumpet. He was the owner of the
Continental Restaurant (Jazz club).
Joseph Ratzenberger was witness to the flight of Gustav
Whitehead's airplane in Bridgeport, Ct. A flight that took place
prior to first flight of the Wright Brothers.