Broder family portrait, 1963
The Broder family of Stockbridge, Ga. might have the largest number of UGA alumni in their immediate family of any in the world.
Seven children, three of their spouses, and four grandchildren are UGA graduate graduates and four grandchildren are presently enrolled — with “more to come” says a family spokesman.
Hans Broder was a Vocational Agriculture teacher in his native Switzerland. In 1951, he came to America on a special one-year assignment to establish a cheese factory in Henry County, Georgia. He never left. One year later, he purchased land for a dairy farm and sent for his wife, Magrit, and their three children to join him.
University Professor Josef
Broder ‘71
One son, Josef ‘71, Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs and Administration in UGA’s College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences recently named University Professor, says the Broders “created a little Switzerland in America. The family did not speak English until the oldest child, Hans, Jr. ‘69, started first grade. “He brought English home from school,” Josef recalls.
“When we were young, we would leave Switzerland each morning and go to America. That evening, we would return to Switzerland.”
The Broder enterprise grew into a model dairy farm and the family grew also. The Broders had eight children and seven graduated from UGA. Several years, there were four in Athens at one time. On the weekends, they returned to “Switzerland” to work on the farm.
Hans and Magrit retired from the dairy business in 1987 and the farm is now a small cow-calf beef operation. The couple celebrated their 83rd birthdays in 2003 and Magrit passed away one year ago – a “Bulldog Mother” who left behind a great historic legacy to The University of Georgia.
The first Broder connection with UGA was through their County Agent and the 4-H Club, both sponsored by the Cooperative Extension Service of the College of Agriculture. It is not surprising that six of the children received their degrees from that college.
The oldest child, Hans, Jr. ‘69, retired president of the First State Bank in Stockbridge, is now employed in development and investment. He is married to the former Lyndy Linberg, ‘69. Three of their four children are UGA graduates. Two of them are married to Bulldog alumni, and one is engaged to an alumna. They include Ashlee married to Jim Panaro, both ‘93 graduates; Gabrielle married to Jeremy Porter ‘99, and Hans III ‘03, the engaged one.
Josef received his BSA in 1971 and is married to the former Diane Brownlee ‘73. They have three children. Elizabeth and Josef, Jr. are students at UGA.
The third son, Michael ‘76 is an Environmental Engineer with TVA in Florence, AL. His oldest daughter, Emily, is a freshman in Agricultural bio-technology.
Next, Charles ‘76, ‘77 is a private consultant with the food industry and lives in Stockbridge. He is married to the former Sue Krupa ‘76.
Patrick ‘77 is Coordinator of Ground Operations for Delta Airlines at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. He has a son, Karl, who is a freshman in UGA’s College of Pharmacy.
Pete ‘81 is Systems Engineer with Lockheed in Marietta and lives in Atlanta.
The seventh UGA graduate is Angela Broder-Nemeth ‘63 who is European Marketing and Commerce Manager for Dow Europe and lives in Horgen, Switzerland. Commenting on her family’s story, Angela observes “It’s pretty amazing when you consider that we grew up on a family dairy farm income and all eight children graduated from college and are contributing members of society.”
The oldest Broder daughter, Magrit (Margi), the only sibling who did not attend UGA, opted for a nursing career and is a graduate of St. Joseph’s School of Nursing in Atlanta. Angela says it’s ironic that Margi married a Tech alumnus and ardent Jacket fan. “My brother-in-law is in the minority by a long shot but takes it in stride.”
Angela recently sent an email message from Switzerland to the Alumni Association commending us on our e-newsletter. “I really appreciate the chance to keep up with alumni from 4,000 miles away.” she said.
