Welcome! (Willkommen!) Thank you for visiting us. Please contact us to be added to our mailing list or for family history information. Feel free to browse the site or find and submit your Genealogy information. Check back often for updates and keep in touch with us on this site and on Facebook!
Click the play arrow below to hear some family history from our former president, Brian Bagenstose.
Thank you for stopping by our website and spread the word of our family association to other ‘stoses.
Sincerely,
Backenstoss Family Assn. Board of Directors
The members of the original Backenstoss family arrived in Philadelphia in the year 1743 and first settled in Bern Township, located in Berks County, PA.
The 2023 Family Newsletter is now available online!
Click here to view –> Backenstoss Newsletter 2023
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This year’s reunion will be held on Saturday, September 7th 2024 at the Reading Fighting Phillies vs. Erie Sea Wolves
The reunion schedule is as follows:
5PM Gates open approximately
6:45 P.M. Game time start
10:00 P.M. Fireworks
10:30 P.M. Adjournment of reunion / Game
How to obtain Tickets will be listed here ASAP
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2024 Presidents Message
The Backenstoss Family Assoc. of America (BFA) will hold its 92st reunion on Saturday, September 7th, At The Reading Fighting Phils – Vs- Erie Sea Dogs MLB Game. The Backenstoss family arrived in America in 1743, so this year’s reunion will mark the 281th anniversary of that event.
The reunion will begin when gates open around 5PM with Game time of 6:45. Please visit our association’s website at backenstoss.org to find more details on the reunion soon.
As our organization looks to the future and the possible changes related to the continuation of our reunions, newsletter and genealogical records, we have elected new Co-Presidents Christopher Bagenstose and Kyle Bagenstose. We are the sons of former Treasure Ken Bagenstose and President Brian Bagenstose respectively. It is self-evident these efforts will only endure if new generations of Backenstoss descendants take up the tasks. At present, Brian, Ken Bryn, and Jon will remain voting officers of the association as they choose to or are able to contribute. We thank you sincerely for the great strides you have made for the family association. Including major updates to the conversion of genealogy books to web site and information. Please join us in thanking them and sending well wishes in your “quasi-retirement.”
As new Generation X’er presidents with four “Boomers” as officers, we all hope to continue serving the association for the foreseeable future, but good stewardship requires consideration of passing the torch to new members. It was in the early 1990’s when Brian was contacted by Henry (Hank) Backenstoss, who was at that time President of the Backenstoss Association of America. Brian’s message continues, “I was aware the organization existed, but I had never been an active member. In fact, I had never attended one of the reunions. Hank Backenstoss was a Lehigh trained engineer who had achieved a highly successful career in the business world. He was small in stature, but I came to know him as one of the most persuasive and persistent people I had ever met. He was, simply, one tough wonderful guy! Hank prevailed upon younger (at that time) members of the organization to join those who were involved with the continuation of the B.F.A. Those of us who became involved have been rewarded with a deeper understanding of our family’s history and traditions. We have met, personally, virtually and through correspondence, Backenstoss descendants throughout the United States and many foreign countries, and we have enjoyed and strengthened relationships with each other as a result of our service to the B.F.A.”
-Brian Bagenstose
We ask that younger members of our organization (I’ll let each of you define “younger”) who are interested in helping continue our family organization contact any of the officers whose contact information is listed here. Email, facetime, social media, etc. has made it possible for anyone to take on a meaningful role regardless of their place of residence. We plan onm doing more with the website and remote media going forward.
We hope you will join those who have made possible “The perpetuation of the history and traditions of the family and its social enjoyment, virtually or in person” We wish all B.F.A. members healthy and happy years to come.
(Co-President) – Christopher Bagenstose, cc. Kyle Bagenstose (Co-President)
Click here for all current details on our reunion page
Click to view previous years Newsletters