More sad news: Taavo Saviste has died. A refugee from Estonia, he entered Butler Grade School in 1952-53. He was a natural athlete and ran track during his SHS years. The text of the obituary from the Journal-Register follows.SPRINGFIELD - Taavo Saviste, 68, of Springfield died Saturday, June 10, 2006, at St. John's Hospice.
He was born April 8, 1938, in Tallinn, Estonia, the son of Oskar and Olga Kumpus Saviste. He married Nita Norris in 1962 in Springfield. A son, Brian Saviste, preceded him in death.
Mr. Saviste was a U.S. Army veteran, serving with the Special Forces as a Green Beret in Fort Bragg, N.C., and attained the rank of sergeant. He was self-employed for 35 years with a family business, Saviste and Son Builders. He was a member of Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church.
Survivors: wife, Nita; son, Robert (wife, Dorothy) Saviste of Cape Coral, Fla.; brother, Ahto (wife, Bobbie) Saviste of Springfield; sister, Ene Hamm of Fort Myers Beach, Fla.; and several nieces and nephews. Memorial services: 11 a.m. Saturday, Faith Evangelical Lutheran Church, the Rev. Glen VankerKloot officiating. Vancil Memorial Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
4 comments:
I still think of how Taavo changed the social chemistry of our Butler classes. He was foreign born and clearly had many things to learn in his adjustment to a new way of living.
However I think I learned more by watching him pick up the array of skills necessary to make that adjustment. I'm not sure I could have made that transition as easily.
Jerry Millhon
I remember Taavo well. The term "displaced person" was used in those days and when he came that was the first time I heard that. I had no idea what it meant, except that he came from a foreign country and he was not an exchange student.
Bob Newell
I too was a Butler Grade School classmate of Taavo in the 7th and 8th grades and then at Springfield High School. I had talked with him at one of the SHS class reunions. Taavo was a born athlete and fast as the wind when it came to running. He was the first to teach soccer to those of us who got him to play American football.
I spoke with him at a reunion, but I was not aware that he had been in U. S. Army Special Forces. With his background I assume if he served overseas he served with the 10th SFG that was in Germany, although I don't know what time frame he served in Special Forces. I was a Lt. with the 8th SFG, 146th Engr Detachment, with special operations based out of the Canal Zone in the 1963 - 1965 time frame. There were not many of us in those days.
No one better than Taavo knew the meaning of the Special Forces motto, "De oppresso liber" - "To free the oppressed." I know he served his adopted country well and will be missed by family and friends.
Bob Shewmaker
Montgomery Village, MD
I remember Taavo well: handsome, athletic, and shy. I think his family may have been sponsored by one of the local churches. That was true of Axel Kleiboemer's family. He was two years older, a very serious German boy. Thanks for helping to keep all these memories alive. --Peg
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