The American Dream is that dream of a land in which life should be better and richer and fuller for everyone, with opportunity for each according to ability or achievement. This is the basis of the story of Newark Rotarians Helmuth and Hannelora Reinhardt who were honored recently with the club’s annual Service Above Self Award.

The Reinhardts were nominated for the award by club members Sharon SanAngelo and Michele McManus.

The American dream came true for Hannelora and Helmuth who lived in the same village, in what is now known as Croatia, formerly Yugoslavia. Both of their families were of German descent, so when the Nazi occupation reached the Balkans in 1944, they were uprooted to refugee camps—Hannelora to Austria and Helmuth to Germany. 

After World War II, they were able to avoid returning to Yugoslavia.  Hannelora emigrated to the United States directly from Austria in 1951, spotting the Statue of Liberty from her ship on Christmas Eve.  She spent 2 years in Cincinnati before moving to Wayne County.  

Helmuth’s family was ordered by Russian troops to return to Yugoslavia, but instead opted to go to Salzburg, Austria. From there he emigrated to Windsor, Ontario, Canada in 1955, and on a chance visit by Hannelora they met and kept in touch, marrying in 1957. They moved to Newark in 1959, and Newark welcomed them as part of the community.

Hannelora has been a Rotarian since March, 1988. Not only was she the first woman active member, she was also the first woman Club President in 1995-96. She has served as Newark Rotary Club’s Foundation Chair, as a member of the District 7120 Nominating Committee, and was the District’s Group Study Exchange Team Leader on a six-week mission to the Philippines in 1990.

Outside of Rotary, Hannelora has served as President of the United Way of Wayne County, the Candy Apple Preschool Center, and the ARC of Wayne Foundation, as well as on the Boards of the United Way of Greater Rochester and Newark-Wayne Community Hospital.  She has been honored by the New York State Department of Mental Hygiene for outstanding volunteer service in Christian Education programs for the mentally handicapped at Newark Developmental Center from 1971-1976, and in 1983 she was one of six honorees, chosen from 108 nominations, for the YWCA “Tribute to Women in Industry and Service” Award. 

Helmuth Reinhardt has been described as “Mr. Reliable,” due to his 50 + years of perfect attendance at Rotary meetings, and over 20 years of service on the club’s board of directors.

He joined Newark Rotary in March, 1969, and went on to serve as the 75th club president in 2001-2002, and has chaired several club committees including the Gift of Life program to fund heart surgery for children with congenital heart defects. Helmuth also chaired a Global Grant project that raised more than $10,000 for the purchase of a van for the delivery of food and medical supplies in Argentina.

Outside of Rotary, Helmuth has served several years on the Wayne County American Red Cross Board and as Chairman of the Redeemer Lutheran Church. He has volunteered with the Wayne County Home Meal Service, and has served on the Town of Arcadia Tax Review Board.