Transcription:

Cooperator of Dr. Frank [Note written by Arnulf Esterer]

October 26, 1992

Dear Arnie,

    I’m sorry that this was not written sooner as promised. However, a medical emergency in our family demanded our being in New Jersey until last night.

    I have been thinking [about?] incidents in Kotcha’s [Dr. Konstatin Frank’s] life that would enrich your talk at the American Wine Society meeting. The many that resulted from cantankerousness and general business ineptitude I shall withhold and center upon the amusing ones.

    I can see him still coming up from Hammondsport in his old ramber at breakneck speed. There was always a cloud of dust and a shower of stones.  “Mama” was always admonishing papa to keep down [mit der? (gr)] speed.

    He always treated that car like a jeep. One day he was barreling down the ride of the lower vineyard, hit a rock, nearly bashed in his head against the roof, and wound up in a clump of bushes. Another time he try [tried] to steam his way through a muddy area of the same vineyard. The car promptly became [mixed?]. Kotcha [Dr. Konstatin Frank] got out, promptly lost his footing, and sat down in the mud with an outburst of choice German words..

    Another time when we were visiting “mama” was in Chicago with her aged, sick mother. Kotcha [Dr. Konstatin Frank] was going to cook dinner with roast squab on the menu. Well, the squab was still frozen rock hard. There were no potatoes, and the milk was sour. Of course we went to the Snug Harbor Inn where he had an uproarious time with the waitress. Later that evening he made some hot tea in a glass, Russian style. The only hitch was that he sweetened it with salt instead of sugar. 

    I especially remember his fierce pride in his American citizenship. No unfavorable remark about the United States government was tolerated. His hatred of Russian communism knew no bounds.

    I hope that this is of some help to you, Kotcha [Dr. Konstatin Frank] [had] his weak points. But, he had many strong ones. I always treasured his friendship. 

As ever, 

Harold

Applegate