2020 Brubaker Family Reunion

98th Annual Reunion goes exclusively online because of COVID-19

In the almost 100 year history of the Brubaker Family reunion, World War II was the only event that canceled the reunion.  Thanks to 21st century technology, we didn’t let a second event in our history completely eliminate our annual reunion.  While the COVID-19 virus eliminated our physical get-together, our 98th event still took place!  For the first time ever it was offered exclusively online. Out of an abundance of caution and sensitivity to others, the Board of Directors of The Brubaker Families of America decided to have a “Virtual” reunion this year.

The event was offered on a variety of platforms; while held “partially live” on Zoom, it was also published on Facebook, right here, and on our YouTube Channel.

Cousin Dennis Oberholtzer presented in three segments what it was like when our ancestral Swiss families immigrated to America in the 18th century. In addition, cousin and Family Association Historian Elaine Renkin shared about the mystery of Brubaker cousin Gideon P. Brubaker whose headstone was unearthed in the yard of a home in Charlotte County, Florida. His family is buried in one of the Brubaker cemeteries in Virginia. How did it get from there to Florida?  The mystery of baby Gideon’s headstone caught the attention of the local news media in Fort Myers, Florida.  See more here on WINK-TV’s website.  Eventually we hope to contact present-day next-of-kin or at least someone affiliated with the White House Graveyard in Luray, Virginia, the resting place of Gideon’s family (and possibly, hopefully, he is there too).  Our desire (as is the homeowner who discovered the headstone) is to retrieve it and have it transferred back to its home with the rest of his family in Virginia.

100 year old Robert Brubaker Noll with cousin Eileen Johns, January, 2020.

We had hoped to have a very special 100th birthday celebration for Robert Brubaker Noll, who lived and farmed near our annual physical meeting site on part of the original property patented and warranted from William Penn. Instead, we interviewed him a few months prior and include clips of that interview in this event. 

We had about 60 participants connected during our Zoom portion of the reunion; many more viewed our posts here, on Facebook, and our YouTube channel.  We had participants from California, Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and points in between.

Did you miss our event?  No worries!  It can be seen here anytime; also on Facebook and YouTube.

Click below to see our Virtual Reunion: