The Life of Myreta Hammann Stephan
Born: February 19, 1911, McPherson, Kansas
Died: January 5, 1998, Port Charlotte, Florida
Myreta Leora Stephan was born on Feb. 19, 1911, the fifth of seven children (6 girls, 1 boy), to Lewis and Ella Hammann in McPherson, a small town in the middle of Kansas, and attended the Methodist church.
(Myreta is in the second row at the right end)
Her father died when she was only 13, but her mother was determined that she would send all seven children to college and, with careful husbandry of the family resources, succeeded. Myreta graduated from McPherson College in 1933 with a degree in Public School Music.
One of her jobs was as a music teacher at the Bushton, Kansas High School where she acted as the sponsor of the graduating class of 1937.
Myreta enjoyed her next summer by bicycling throughout Germany, taking refuge nightly in the many hostels available at that time.
After she returned from Germany, she and her older sister, Laura, landed jobs at the Mack School in Ann Arbor, Michigan. While there, Myreta decided to learn German (a determination, if not accomplishment, that lasted her whole life). She took classes at the University of Michigan and went to the weekly Stammtisch (“special table”) where German speakers gathered to socialize. It was there that she met her husband-to-be, Erich Stephan, an émigré from Germany who was earning a Master’s degree in Mechanical Engineering. After their marriage in June 6, 1940 and a short stay at Tulane University, the two of them moved in 1942 to the sleepy town of Storrs, home of the newly-renamed University of Connecticut, where Erich had been offered a position as Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering.
Wedding Picture – 1940
(They arrived by car late in the evening and were impressed by the multitude of city lights; it was only the next day that they discovered that the lights belonged to the university chicken coups, left on to keep the hens laying.) Myreta quickly began setting up a piano-teaching practice, which she continued for over 25 years and began attending the Storrs Congregational Church with her family where she occasionally would be the organist. They had three children, Craig (1943), Eric (1945), and Ronald (1949).
Myreta’s family in 1951
Myreta & Erich – 1970
Myreta’s passions, besides devotion to her family and to piano, included frequent dinner party songfests, building rock walls, developing her extensive flower gardens, oil painting earlier in her life, followed by water colors, and engaging with her large circle of family and friends, always with her great sense of humor.
Myreta & Erich – 1988
She shared this humor trait with her brother and sisters which was evident when they visited, staying up into the wee hours of the morning loudly laughing about funny incidents from their childhood. She also dutifully shared her husband’s passion for sailing and spent many summers sailing with her family on Long Island Sound. In 1973 she and Erich began spending winters in Florida. They also began traveling, including trips to Germany, Greece, and Alaska. Myreta became a pianist with the town’s orchestra until a stroke in 1992 forced her to give up piano.
Myreta practicing with her orchestra
Even then, she continued to be active with her friends and sail with Erich for several more years. She died in Port Charlotte, Florida on January 5, 1998 due to a heart attack.
Friends and Relatives on LifenTimes
Audrey Luella Hammann Bedell – Sister
Nina Hammann Berry – Sister
Laura Inez Hammann – Sister
Lewis and Ella Hammann – Parents
Zella Hammann Kubin – Sister