Klaus Mittelsten gave everything he had to his Trinity students and we loved him back
Prior to my sophomore year at Trinity High School, I had an important decision to make — what foreign language to take. There were three choices: French, Spanish and German. Back then, parents usually made the pick, but my folks were otherwise occupied with younger siblings who had some rather serious grade school “conduct” problems as they were called. So it was up to me.
French, while wildly seductive when spoken by Sacred Heart Academy girls, nevertheless looked like drunken gibberish in a textbook — no thanks. Spanish was taught by an exotic, attractive woman, Senorita Caballero (think Gloria Estefan) and if I knew that someday I would work around horse tracks where the entire backside community is Latino, I might have selected Espanol. That left German. I did some research. The German word for “beer” is “Bier.” The German word for “God” is “Gott.” The German word for “naturally” is “naturlich.” The German word “Dummkopf” means exactly what it looks like. Well, you can see how this ended. German was close enough to English I thought I could pass the class with a minimum of effort.
Trinity’s beloved German teacher was the real deal
My choice led to an introduction to Trinity’s beloved German teacher, Klaus Mittelsten-Scheidt. He was the real deal — born and raised in Deutschland with a heavy accent just like Sgt. Schulz in “Hogan’s Heroes.” Early on, Mr. Mittelsten and I engaged in a Teutonic war of wills whenever I chose an appropriate time (according to me) when the class required some humor. This resulted in numerous punishments consisting of having to write 500 times: “Unterbrechen ist nicht erlaubt” (“disruptions are not allowed.”) An enterprising classmate, for the princely sum of $5.00, agreed to do this work and deliver it to me the next day.
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My ghostwriter friend was on his way to untold riches when I got tired of outsourcing my punishments and reformed. I changed my nefarious habits because of Klaus — he was so dedicated and was so pleased when we showed at least some proficiency with his language. I just couldn’t go on tormenting a man who was trying so hard. As a result my grades improved and — thanks to his teaching (and that of Fr. Dave Zettel who taught German II and III) — I aced the same subject in college.
“God has a plan,” our sainted mother used to tell her children. God’s apparent plan for me in my late 20’s was to run for public office in a legislative district where all of the high school teachers I had abused resided. Herr Mittelsten lived on Gladstone Avenue (Precinct A-83) and when I, with great trepidation, knocked ever so lightly on his front door prospecting for votes I found out there is indeed something called “unconditional love.” Not only was I forgiven my youthful banditry, not only would he vote for me, but “naturlich,” he wanted a yard sign, too. (It helped immensely that I was a Republican, so was he!)Klaus Mittelsten-Scheidt taught two generations of Trinity students
A member of Trinity's Hall of Fame
This generous, cultured, urbane and scholarly man passed away last month at the age of 95. He taught two generations of Trinity students to enjoy learning something different just for the sake of learning and to do it with great joy, wit, and wisdom. Klaus, a deserving member of the school’s Hall of Fame, taught German and French, chaired the Foreign Language Department he started and, on the side, coached Trinity’s swimming, soccer and tennis teams, winning many state championships in tennis, a game he played himself with great skill into his 80’s.
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At his memorial Mass in Trinity’s chapel, Klaus’s son, Carl, described his father as a true “Renaissance Man,” an expression that was coined for remarkable people like Klaus who pursued knowledge wherever it could be found just for the beauty of the experience (e.g., he was an accomplished classical pianist). His crowning achievement was his creation of the Trinity Peace Medal, an annual award given to individuals in recognition of their efforts “to promote peacemaking, justice building and service to others.” The medal is Trinity’s version of the Nobel Peace Prize and couldn’t our violent, war-plagued world use some more awards for “peacemaking?”
So, “tausend Dank” (a thousand thanks) to Klaus Mittelsten who gave everything he had to his students and who loved him back in return. (Even in death he was generous, donating his body to medical science). How lucky I was to know this good man as a teacher and a constituent. He truly lived the Gospel: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you . . .” (John 14:27). RIP.
Bob Heleringer is a Louisville attorney and a former member of the Kentucky General Assembly. He can be reached at helringr@bellsouth.net.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Remembering Trinity high school teacher and coach Klaus Mittelsten
