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Spotlight on New York State Members
This is a new feature of our Newsletter whereby we highlight some of the experiences and backgrounds of our members. We hope you enjoy and benefit this walk through history.
MY STORY "Karl Riesterer"
Riesterer's Bakery has been on Long Island for 87 years. It all started in 1931 when August, known as Gus, and his wife Wally opened their American dream bakery in West Hempstead. Both were born in Germany and left with a dream in mind. August, a certified master baker, learned his skills in Friedburg Germany. After arriving in America both worked at various jobs in New York and Hoboken, NJ. Getting married in 1927 and saving their earnings, they found a bakery for sale on Long Island.
They opened their Bakery during the depression years, very hard times. Mrs. Riesterer would turn lights off when customers left and put them back on when new ones arrived.
Quality and only using fresh and wholesome products was their goal. Many of the East End farmers stopped by and bartered their products for delicious bakery items on their way to New York City.
With quality they grew, later adding a second store nearby.
Wally and August had two children, Janet and Karl. Janet pursued her dreams of playing the piano and being a teacher.
Karl always loved baking and its many challenges. As a young 5 year old boy he would bake (mostly burn) cookies for his Mom. We had an old brick wood fired oven and standing on boxes he would put pans of cookies into the oven, but had a problem getting them out.
Mom always said, they were delicious. As I got older, 6-7 I would put cherries and sprinkles on my Dad's cookies. I was always working in the Bakery, cleaning pans (with burlap bags) washing pot and kettles and scrapping floors. When in season, there were peaches, plums, apples, strawberries to cut and clean.
As a teenager I always helped after school and on weekends. I would feel sorry for my parents an try to make life easier for them.
My Dad was always involved in the community and with the Bakers of Long Island. He was a member and organizer of Nassau/Suffolk Master Bakers Association, Nassau/Suffolk Bakers Bowling League, one of the four founders of Inter-County Bakers, originally from West Hempstead. He would go to all the New York State bakery meetings as well as all the Retail Bakers of America conventions. My Dad was also on the board of the Bakers Mutual Insurance Company.
By seeing all the excitement of an great groups that my parents had been involved in this was also my challenge and goal to continue.
After High School and College I continued to increase my skills, going to all Baker's meetings and conventions.
At 18 I started a Young Bakers Youth Group as part of the Retail Bakers of America. Our first meeting in New York City in 1955 was part of the RBA annual convention. It was a great success. We had about 60 young students and bakers attend. Most of us were very excited and motivated about our futures. Our group grew older and melted into the regular Associated Retail Bakers of America, later changed to R.B.A.
As the years moved on I married one of my sales girls, Geraldine, and had three children all who also worked in the Bakery. My Mom and Dad were always by my side with great inspirations.
As a young married couple we continued going to all the conventions, often traveling America and the World with my baker friends.
In 1970 I became President of Nassau/Suffolk Master Bakers followed by President of New York State Bakers Association.
In 1986 I started up the Atlantic City Bakers Convention. It grew very quickly and became one of the largest shows at this time.
I was director of R.B.A. for many years and became President in 2000. This was also the year for our Centennial in New York City. This was a great R.B.A. gathering with many International Bakers attending from all over the world.
In 2006, I was honored at the Metropolitan Bakers Banquet for outstanding service to the bakery industry.
Besides being involved with the bakers associations, I was also with the West Hempstead Fire Department. I joined on my 18th birthday, became a paramedic, Chief in 1972, President in 1974 and Commissioner in 1975. I am still a life member after 63 years.
I was instrumental in forming a West Hempstead Chamber of Commerce in 2003 and became its President for 6 years. Today I am still an active member as well as a member of the Nassau County Chamber of Commerce.
A sad part of my life is when my wife Gerry died suddenly in 1988. At this time I had a very large business with 6 stores, 2 cafes, as well managing several real estate properties.
"New thoughts" - Why am I doing all this?
My children, 17-18 and 22, two were going to the Culinary Institute of America.
In 1989 I met mt new wife, Jeanette, a school teacher. As a family man I needed and wanted a wife and companion. We married in 1992 and are getting ready to celebrate our 26th Anniversary.
Jeanette left teaching and joined me and my three children in the Bakery. Jeanette also had two boys - one of whom went to the C.I.A. and is now teaching Culinary skills.
I have slowly weaned out of running the Bakery and turned the reins over to my son Karl Jr, (Cooky). This has given me more time to travel and enjoy our second home on the East end of Long Island.
At 81 I still love the Bakery, my family, and all my friends that I have met and still am in contact with.
IT'S BEEN A SWEET TRIP
And I close by saying:
Deliciously yours,
Karl Riesterer Sr. Certified Master Baker
http://longisland.news12.com/clip/14718999/west-hempstead-bakery-whips-up-famous-gingerbread-houses
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