I may have my family history wrong but I believe that you are my second cousin! Please tell me if I am wrong, but both of our fathers are named "Gary". My father is Gerhardt Strothmann that was born from Hans Strothmann and Julianna Strothmann ( I never learned her maiden name but I thought it was Stifter). He always told me of his cousin that shared his name and if Gary is your Dad, I met him when I was a Store Manager for SuperAmerica on Bluemound Road in 1987! Imagine my surprise when I asked for his credit card to verify the name and he had my Father's name!! My side of the family has been so much in awe of all that you and your family has accomplished! We have always heard of Suzy's Cheesecakes and refered anyone who asks to call your mom. Here is something funny. When I was going through some matrimonial problems with my in-laws in 1989, they claimed that they had lost the case because of my association (and their lawyers association) with my family and the Boulevard Inn!! They claimed that we were Gangsters!! We don't even know each other!! I wish that weren't true because I love to learn EVERTHING about my family and the history behind it. I wish that I knew that you were in Manhattan this last July because I auditioned for "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" and was there for a total of 12 hours. I made the first cut and as all Strothmann's know that I can win it all. I can answer any trivia question that you can ask. Seeing your site, I see all the love of art and expression that our family from the old country has brought down to us. You are very creative, talented, and determined to succeed. My Uncle Franklin, who passed away this last February, epitomized the strength of our gift of art. His paintings are STILL visible at the school that he attended as a High School Student! Boy's Tech became Milwaukee Tech and I clearly remember my dad taking me to see his paintings 20 years after their creation and are stll there!! Despite my devotion to the Arts..... ( I was an accomplished trumpet and french horn player but received a scolarship for arts from the Waukesha County Creative Arts League to create physical art) I knew that I needed to fufill the need for art expression from our faimily. My ;personal art has been in retail mangement in the last 21 years but have now recently found the time to work on oil paintings!! I cannot believe how many things OUR predecessers instilled in us all! My paintings are very good I think. Do you know that my uncle Theodore's son Brian has a son named Ben! It's too hard for me to figure out exactly how to explain that he is related to you but I guess it would be second cousin. He is still a teenager and lives with his parents in Maine. My whole family still lives in the Milwaukee area and my Uncle Ted and I are the only family members to break tradition and move away. We both live in Tucson Arizona. Please let me know if I am wrong in contacting you as who I think that you are! Your site is very creative and displays your talent very well. Please let me know if I have contacted a distant family member!
Hey Ben, was great to see you at Spelling Bee on Sun eve. See you soon at the Biltmore...I am sure you will most likely be doing some photo's for "Mauritius"...See you soon...Ed
Guest Pétur wrote:
Monday, July 23, 2007 - 8:57 PM
Hæ, Ben. Þetta eru frábærar myndir.
Guest Stefan wrote:
Thursday, May 10, 2007 - 5:53 PM
hey Ben I am a friend of Shannon and he showed me your pictures, I love them ..they are really great. Hope to meet u sometime.
You are truly the most gifted photographer that has ever layed a lens on any of my shows. Your photographs of Hell's Kitchen - The Musical, were astonishing. You caught everyone at their emotional zenith as if you had seen the show ten times. I look forward to doing much more work with you on all my projects.
Your pictures are fantastic and capture the story beautifully.
Many thanks for your great talent! Laura
Guest Jennifer wrote:
Thursday, August 17, 2006 - 6:28 PM
Ben, I knew you back in high school and I happened upon your website (don't ask). I think you are amazing, and I am so happy for you and your success! What an inspiration! Best of luck to you as you share your talent with this great world and all of its beautiful people.
Nice work! loved your pics on the wltw.com website. I wish I hadn't missed all those Broadyway on Bryant shows!! at least w/ those pics, I can imagine myself there.
Absolutely beautiful work. Your New York shots make me miss a city that I love so much. I can't wait to move back!!! Thanks for the great work Ben! You are one talented fella!
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