It is with great sorrow we mourn the passing of Maya Kiendl who died on Jan. 31, 2001, a few weeks short of her 94th birthday. With Tante Mayas' death, we have lost the last link to our past, as she was our last surviving founding member.

Tante Maya, as she was known amongst the club members, was horn on March 17, 1907 in Moelingen, a small town near Whrburg, Germany. On May 4, 1928, Tante Maya married Hans Kiendl, not in Germany, hut of all places the New York City Municipal Building. Having brought with them their German heritage and Bavarian traditions. Hans and Maya were founding members of the Gemiitlichen Enzianer in 1931.

In the clubs early days, Tante Maya served as the first unofficial Vorthnzer" and was seen working side by side with the men as the Club's AIm House was built in Lake Secor. With the outbreak of WW II, the club ceased to be an active Schuhplattler Verein but Hans and Maya were instrumental in keeping the spirit of the club alive. Hans and Maya presented a Tischstandarte (a replica of our hag) to the club so that the flag could be displayed wherever they performed.

A son, Hugo, daughter-in-law, Marianne, and granddaughter, Anneliese, survive Tante Maya. Tante Maya will be missed by the entire membership but never forgotten.