Herman C. Broghammer, beloved Husband, exceptional Father, good Neighbor, gracious Gentleman.
Herman Charles Broghammer was born in Queens County, the son of German immigrants. He attended St. Gabriel’s Elementary School in East Elmhurst, Monsignor McClancy Memorial High School in Jackson Heights, and St. Francis College in Brooklyn, New York. He earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration and took a position with GEICO Insurance in 1965.
In 1969, Herman married Ursula Doerner in Jackson Heights; they moved to North Merrick in 1971. The birth of their son, John Cad, in 1974 was followed five years later by the arrival of a daughter, Amy Elisabeth.
To further his career in the insurance industry, he worked as an underwriter and then a commercial property broker – first at Marsh & McLennan, then Alexander & Alexander. He served as Property Manager at the latter firm and was later named Senior Vice President. Alexander & Alexander merged with Aon Corporation in the mid-1990’s, and their offices were re-located to Two World Trade Center at that time.
He recognized the merits of higher education and so encouraged his children in the academic arena. Both John and Amy selected private high school education (John at Chaminade High School in Mineola; Amy at Kellenberg Memorial in Uniondale) as a stepping stone to successfully attain college degrees. John graduated as an Environmental Engineer from the University of Notre Dame in 1996; Amy graduated as a Special Education Teacher from the University of Scranton in 2001. Both have since continued their education. John is currently a student at the Stem School of Business of New York University as an MBA candidate. Amy is a graduate student at Adelphi University seeking certification as a Speech Language Pathologist. Herman’s son met Amy Kramer during his studies at Notre Dame, and they were married in Medina, Ohio, in 1998.
Herman was an avid volunteer, he served as a Eucharistic Minister at Sacred Heart Church and an active member of the Knights of Columbus, Holy Name Society and Church Finance Committee.
He was known throughout the neighborhood as a friendly, people-person. His smile was legendary, both on the job and at home. His hearty laugh would announce his presence long before his entrance. Their group of neighbors and friends were treated to an endless round of dinner parties and neighborhood get-togethers where Herman and Ursula worked as a team of host and hostess.
Herman was an enthusiastic sports fan both as a spectator and participant; he particularly enjoyed Notre Dame football games. For years, Herman played racquetball and was a member of the local bowling league. He developed a love of golf and was looking forward to perfecting his game in retirement.
With the children settled in their choice of career, Herman was looking forward to planning retirement. He is most known for his even-tempered, fun-loving disposition; his sense of humor was contagious.