Historical June 1988 anniversary feature written in the voice of the pet Sam Judy Kurtz, with an explicit acknowledgement of writing assistance from Paul Kurtz. Original byline: Sam J. Kurtz.
I want to tell you a true story, one that is very dear to me as it involved my life.
My name is Sam Judy Kurtz and I live in the Skinker-DeBaliviere neighborhood.
On September 23, 1978, I was a victim of a traumatic accident. I arrived at the local hospital in shock with severe trauma of the throat with no memory of the actual accident.
The local doctor did a superb job of controlling my condition and soon my vital signs were stable and I was transferred to the emergency clinic.
I have since become that doctor’s patient for life and I wish to personally thank him for saving my life at a time when it was in danger.
My reason for telling this story now is that June 1988 marks the tenth anniversary of that doctor’s move to our area: Congratulations to Dr. Stephen Brammeier!
To celebrate this festive occasion, the Kingsbury Animal Hospital staff has set aside June 12, 1988, from noon until 4 p.m. for an open house at the hospital located at 420 North Skinker at Kingsbury.
All interested parties and their human families as well as those who do not own animals are invited to this gala celebration which will feature hot dogs, soda, a tour of the facility, and general revelry. Featured guests will include some of the Animal Hospital’s oldest patients including “Squeaky” Stuart. (I’m still convinced that really refers to Cal, but Steve insists “Squeaky” is a cat.) Squeaky has the distinction of having the oldest active record at the hospital.
The only complaint in the last ten years has been for loss of voice (now, I believe it’s definitely not Cal). Other noted patients include “Sheba” Droegge whose master is Peggy Droegge; “Nector” Crawford who belongs to Jessica Crawford; “Pretzel” Hunter, Julius Hunter’s dog; “Wizard” Klinefelter, Betty K’s cat who, incidentally, survived a severe fracture of the right front leg in 1979; “Chocolate” Fox who belongs to Georgi Fox; “Elizabeth” Stahl (Elizabeth is a male cat) who resides with Sylvia and Mike Stahl; and “Calvin” Baron, Harriet and Richard Baron’s golden retriever.
The list could go on and on as the hospital now has over four thousand patients and thanks to the ‘dedicated staff there are plans to expand service in the future. • During one of my recent visits for a routine check-up and some innoculations, I found out the history behind the Kingsbury Animal Hospital which I think you’ll find interesting. Stephen and Margie Brammeier moved back to St. Louis in 1975 after Steve finished his veterinary training at the renowned University of Missouri in Columbia; Steve was in practice at a clinic in North County and had made tentative plans to go back to Columbia to open a practice with a fellow classmate.
The time-frame was open and the partner was in Columbia establishing the practice.
In August of 1977, Steve started working in the Emergency Clinic in Kirkwood in anticipation of moving back to Columbia in the next few months. Steve and Margie discovered in September that their son Ben had been diagnosed with chronic granulomatous of childhood and they decided that they really couldn’t leave the facilities of Children’s Hospital.
It was a trying time for them with the future so uncertain. Steve continued at the Kirkwood facility until he could determine his next move.
In February, 1978, the Brammeiers had some guests for dinner in their North County home, and the discussion centered on their plans which were still very much up in the air. Steve recalls that he “just couldn’t get to sleep that night” with the tension of such uncertainty and while his “mind was running rampant with various thoughts,- he remembered a vacant and boarded filling station on Skinker that he had seen during one of his and Margie’s visits to a Skinker-DeBaliviere Art Fair in 1976 or 1977.
He was “wild with excitement and woke Margie up to tell her of the plans.” The heavy snow did not stop him from getting in his car to see if the filling station was still there and to size up the neighborhood. That Monday morning, the realty company was contacted and the building was purchased by Arline Harley, an investor who also happened to be a family friend.
The purchase and subsequent transformation of a dreary Shell station into a bright clinic made his dream come true.
There are certainly many players who deserve thanks for making this happen and they include: Margie Brammeier for her loyal support not only with the family but the countless hours answering the telephone and helping in the clinic; Steve’s mother Shirley Brammeier for her bookkeeping expertise; Amy Zimmerman, Marcie Rosenthal, Kate Taylor, and Toby Newburger who as technicians have provided the hospital over the years with that calming influence in times of stress for both animal and master. I believe that the Skinker-DeBaliviere neighborhood is a better place with the Kingsbury Animal Hospital and I express my sincere thanks for all they have done in helping my life to be long and happy. I plan on attending this great celebration on June 12.
We all have something for which to thank Steve Brammeier-whether you are an animal and his skill and love has kept you healthy or whether you are an animal “parent” who appreciates his candor and humor or whether you are a neighbor who remembers the eyesore of the old Shell station and can take pride in knowing that Steve chose to locate here-investing in our neighborhood at a time when there were risks. I hope to see you there. (I would like to take this opportunity to thank my “Master” Paul Kurtz for his assistance in writing this article. Steve may have saved my life but he didn’t make it possible for me to type.
A very special thank you also goes to Anne Judy; without her courageous kindness, I certainly would have died on Waterman where I had been left to do just that by whomever hit me.)
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, June 1988.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1988_06.pdf, printed page(s) 1, 8; PDF page(s) 1, 8.
