Family Photos As Taken By My Dad
I am not certain how my father got into photography, but it became a passion of his along with collecting Jazz Records. With the daily stress of a full-time job, photography soon became a relaxing outlet. Upon our move to the Sidney Street house in Mill Valley, Dad set up a darkroom in what used to be the garage. He enjoyed this hobby immensely and the heavy camera bag was always with him on every family trip/vacation or celebration.
As his job expanded while the company went through no less than 4 mergers, there was less time to spend at home. So his pictures returned to the first format he used, having them be put onto slides.
From the 1950's (when he lived in Ohio) to approx 2010, you can imagine how many boxes of slides there are at the house! At last count it was nearly 34 boxes taking up to four shelves of closet space!
Fortunately, I was able to find (the only) photo store left in Marin that would be willing to scan and transfer the slides I choose, to what’s known as a Dropbox Online (Private) File.
In this set up, I can print and share with you the photos of our extended Bruemmer family, that includes our parents, Aunts, Uncles, Great Grandma Nell with her daughters Evelyn and our Grandma Barbara. There are photos of us as very young cousins (and were we really that young?!) So get ready to jump into the time machine to revisit our past!
The classic photo of the cousins on the stairs taken at Aunt Susan's house. Based on the fashions and our ages, this photo is most definitely 1970's.
At my parents home during any holiday such as Easter or Christmas, we always invited both grandma's over. These ladies Barbara Bruemmer and Dorothy Seitas (my Dad's mom) enjoyed spending time together whenever they had the chance. Evelyn, despite her outward grumpiness in life I still liked.
At that time, perhaps many of you, we were just not interested in our family genealogy/history. I so very much regret (as does my mom) not asking more questions about their lives growing up.
Cousins say cheese through those toothless grins! Sean, Jason, Deidra, Kirsten and yours truly!
Thanksgiving at Grandma Bruemmer's.
This was probably 1977 as that was when I got my braces. When it came time for the seating, the girl cousins sat at one table and the boys with their Dads and Uncles watching football!
Who can guess what Aunt Barbara is talking about?! But our grams is certainly interested!
This was taken outside at my high school graduation party back in 1983. If you are wondering whose shoe is on the left side, it is Uncle Bill. I chose this photo because it is such a nice one of our grams Barbara. This is how I will always remember her.
Despite the cards she was dealt with, it never stopped her from living life and giving love to all of us!
Bill, Todd and Sean with a game of checkers.
Remember when mother and daughter (s) dressed in similar outfits? Mom and I did as did cousin Barbara with her Mom. On the left is Retro Gal, Jen and Christina.
Using the nice China meant a special occasion or Holiday. Considering the outfits, the photo was most likely taken in Springtime.
From left to right, my grandma Dorothy Seitas, Nell, me, mom, Evelyn and grandma Barbara. I seem to be the only one smiling for the camera. I choose a lot of slides that had Nell and/or Grandma Barbara as these are the only printed photos I have of them.
It was great to find this photo taken at one of the annual holiday celebrations our families had together! Both Dad and Uncle Bill look happy and I really love it! This was one of my special Christmas gifts to both Uncle Bill and Mom.
1970's Cousin Gathering at the Seitas Sidney St Home. From Left to right Jason, Jennifer, Barbara, Kirsten, Christina and retro gal.
We don't exactly look thrilled to be together in this photo!
When I saw Sara at Uncle Bill's Thanksgiving 2025, she brought up a memory to mom and I that did not recall. Apparently Mom and I had set up an Easter Egg hunt for Sara and her sisters Nell and Deidra in our backyard. So now, here proof of that!
Thanksgiving at Uncle Bill's when he and Nora were living in Marin.
Three Generations, Grams, Mom and I with grandma Seitas. Mom's hair was so long and in pony tails.
When I showed this photo to mom, her reaction was a smile, a little laugh with "Oh God"
You could caption this photo a few different ways. "Uh Oh Uncle John caught you by Cookie Jar!"
Aunt Nora laughing at John's expression and Aunt Shirley who looks like she is saying,
"Darn, I forgot the cranberries"
The Bruemmer family comes to our house for Thanksgiving.
This photo is a cross between look this way and oh oh, too late camera shutter clicked. Still it is a nice one of Evelyn who is actually smiling in this photo!
Easter Celebration mid 1970's including our Uncle John.
Although not a great photo of Dad's (years before digital) in terms of sharpness or color, I did my best to clean it up.
If you are wondering what Uncle John is looking at, it is a clay model of a Ram that I did back in grammar school.
The Nelson family comes to our Sidney St. Mill Valley house for Thanksgiving. Love how Jen and I are smiling with our cheeks full of food.
Grams and mom side view at Christmas time.
My grandmothers on my confirmation day. I think this is from 1978-1979. At that time I was a practicing Catholic and of the 12 others in my confirmation class, I think only two still practice the faith. Still, this is a treasured photo to me.
Considering the hardships that both my grandmothers went through in their early lives, they always inspired me to be the best I could be in school, always try, work hard and never give up.
Holiday reunion with the Bruemmer siblings our Aunts Susan, Shirley, Barbara and their families.
Gotta love those yellow stockings Barbara and I are wearing! LOL
Of course the Peace sign was very popular at that time in the 70's with the Vietnam War ending in 1975.
The Bruemmer sisters engage in conversation.
Sadly, the only other time they were all together like this was when grandma died.
Now they are all widows and although they are still with in close proximity distance wise, they are each such different people (separate religious and political beliefs) that they no longer get together.
Unfortunately I don't have photo shop or even know how to use it. Thus sadly Dad did not have his flash on when taking this photo. Twas trying to as many photos of Great Grandma Nell as possible. Still, it is fun to see our dear little Nell.
This is such a dear sweet photo of my two cousins Deidra and Nell with me taken in/around 1976. For Christmas this year, I made extra copies for Deidra and her parents. A treasured moment in time when were healthy and happy. Nothing to worry about except a school test.
Who could forget the annual Pool parties that our Grandma Barbara had every summer?! I was not big on swimming like my cousins are, but it was still fun to hang out with everyone and catch up our lives before the school year started. There was always lots of good food and a chance to say hello to other family members that we did not see as often.
I choose this photo of Sean and Jason because it shows a part of Grams home. Twas ever so much fun to ride the up and down stair riser when Grandma let us. How many times did we run up and down those stairs playing games?
I know I have posted this photo on Facebook before but here is the original slide of the Bill and Nora Bruemmer family visit to the Seitas home, from probably 1977-78.
Taken at Christmas time, this has a nice view of Grams, Mom and I. The other three people are my Dad's brother Bob, his daughter my cousin Suzi and her husband Fred.
Going back in time to October 1965. My mom was given a baby shower by her close friend Anne. Also at the shower were our Aunts Susan and Shirley.
All four of my other siblings never made it. Mom was pregnant with two before and two after me, but alas she suffered miscarriages. It would have been interesting to be in a family of five. Most of our family tree shows very large families.
