How do we look at the life of a man that was born in Berlin, Germany in 1928 into a noble European family with roots that can be traced back 900 years and who passed peacefully on May 8, 2024 in his own home as an independent, highly respected American citizen in Vero Beach, Florida?

Count Jochen Haller von Hallerstein, a.k.a. Jochen J. von Haller for short and "Bear" to many of us, was born as the son of a professor of medicine, Count Victor Haller von Hallerstein and his second wife Else. He had two older half-brothers, Carl and Ernst as well as a half-sister, Anna-Gisela, whom he managed to outlive by many years.

As a child, he was sent away by his parents to grow up on one of the grand family estates in Pomerania, owned by his aunt's family, the well-known von Puttkamer family. Sadly, during his long life, he rarely ever saw his parents again. He learned early on to be a survivor and self-sufficient. Just before the end of WW II, he was drafted by the German Wehrmacht and served as a "Flackhelfer". At the end of the war, he found himself as a POW in a Polish camp and was rescued by the International Red Cross due to the fact that he was still a minor.

Fortunately for him as a destitute young Count, he was offered a position at a large estate, Sierhagen, where he trained as an agricultural engineer. This estate in northern Germany is still owned and maintained by the Counts Plessen. He found a second home in Sierhagen, and was well respected as a trained engineer. When an opportunity came for him to leave and accept a new responsibility in South-West Africa, now known as Namibia, he decided to follow his passion. He loved Namibia and was interested in investing in some farm land; the place he visited was far too arid for agriculture and he declined to follow-up this plan. Yet, he was kicking himself for the remainder of his life for not buying that part of land, because this area was later exploited by the Oppenheimer family to be one of the most productive diamond-fields in the world.

So in 1957, then 29 years old, Jochen left for the USA with the intention of following up on a recommendation from an American friend in Europe, whose father owned a restaurant in Sarasota, Florida by the name of "The Buccaneer Inn". He started out as a busboy and worked his way all the way up and as far as we can remember, he then became the Maître d'Hotel. At the Buccaneer, he honed his people skills and befriended a lot of people. Some of you might recognize these names: Ted Williams, Jesse Owens, Burl Ives, Otto von Habsburg and McKinlay Kantor, whom he admired.

In November 1963, Jochen married Patricia Q. Whitlock, a Sarasota native, who had 4 children from a previous marriage. Her children are Penny, Emmet Jr., Frederick and William (Billy), and "Bear" became a devoted stepfather. Shortly after they were married, they decided to move up to Dorchester, New Hampshire where they lived on Dolphin Farm, a 300 acre hay farm in the White mountains. After a few years, Jochen decided to form his own company. The business was called "von Haller & Robbins" and they were starting out in the commodities business. Jochen used to like to say "When we went to bed at night, we never knew whether we would wake up as millionaires or be flat broke". Unfortunately, Pat became very ill and passed away 1993. Jochen was devoted and steadfast in his treatment and took the best possible care of her that was available at that time.

Jochen remained a bachelor until he met German born Ute de Marco of Boston and Gloucester, Massachusetts. In 1995 they eventually moved to Gloucester and lived in a house on Eastern Point. They joined the Eastern Point Yacht Club and Jochen brought his sailboat "Suleika" up from Lake Winnipesaukee, NH. Jochen became an accomplished racing sailor and won many trophies. Pictures showing him racing against other vessels lined the walls of his house till his last day. After losing Pat, Jochen was starting to enjoy life again with Ute and his life became stable and secure. It was an extremely happy time for him while it lasted. On trips to Northeast Germany, he took Ute to the hunting grounds and woodlands that he had known as a young man and that are still owned by the Counts Polier. Not long afterwards Ute sadly passed away in 2011 and Jochen lost his wonderful companion once again.

A few years later, upon strong recommendations from some very good friends in New Hampshire, Jochen decided to move down to Vero Beach, Florida and bought a house in Grand Harbor. He became a member of the Grand Harbor Golf & Beach Club and soon became a familiar face at "Spoonbill's", the club's coffee shop. He loved to entertain his numerous friends every morning with his stories and never-ending anecdotes. One day at the local Mercedes car dealership, he met Beverly Berard, who lived in Melbourne, but followed Jochen's advice and bought a house in Grand Harbor, just about a block away. The two of them became fast friends and constant companions.

Back in 2014, Jochen decided it was time to become an American citizen. He was very proud and cherished his blue passport and what it stood for: a strong, republican country that had given him the opportunity for his way of life, "fiercely independent and gracious". He loved to say "And I came here legally!".

Few years ago, in 2022, Jochen fell in his kitchen and broke his hip. Most people believe that any elderly person who falls at this age, are not able to fully recover, but he did. At this point he accepted in-house care and he was managing to live his life on his terms. He celebrated his 95th birthday with a lot of friends and family and for his 96th, on February 1st of this year, his nephews from Germany threw another birthday party and lots of friends came to celebrate him and his long life. Now it is May and Jochen had fallen two more times. On May 8, 2024, the "Field Marshal", as he has been lovingly referred to by friends and family, was surrounded by family and hospice angels, when he lost his last battle, took his last breath and passed. He left behind his dear friend Beverly, his stepson William, his two nephews Lorenz and Maximilian and many other family members.

MAY JOCHEN REST IN PEACE