Siegfried ("Fred" or "Freddie") Schopflocher was born in Fürth, Bavaria, near Nuremberg, on 26 September 1877, the youngest of eighteen children. His parents, both lifelong residents of Fürth, were Salomon Schopflocher (1824–1903), a salesman, and Sara Goetz (1835–1908), daughter of Rabbi Joel Goetz. Little is known of Schopflocher’s childhood and youth. He attended university—probably in the city of Frankfurt, where he moved in July 1893—but did not finish his last year. Raised as an Orthodox Jew, he became an agnostic after leaving school and began an extended spiritual search. He also determined to succeed in business. He began working as a salesman-apprentice, apparently for his brothers Nathan and Julius, who had established a bronze and aluminum powder factory in Frankfurt.
Schopflocher crossed the Atlantic several times between 1900 and 1904. In 1906 he emigrated to Canada and settled in Montreal. He founded the Canadian Bronze Powder Works in (Salaberry de) Valleyfield, Quebec, near Montreal. In January 1918 Schopflocher married Florence Evaline (known as "Lorol," or "Laurel," and by the nickname "Kitty") Snyder (1886–1970), who was born and raised in Montreal but had lived at one time in New York City, where the wedding took place. The couple had no children. A few years after Lorol and Fred Schopflocher married, Lorol met a Bahá’í named Rose Henderson in Montreal and found herself attracted to the Faith. When she was invited to Green Acre, the Bahá’í school and conference center in Eliot, Maine, Lorol took the opportunity to learn more about the religion. Fred, skeptical but willing to indulge his wife, agreed to accompany her. Both the Schopflochers became Bahá’ís at Green Acre in the summer of 1921.
A few months later, the couple journeyed to Mandatory Palestine to meet ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, but they arrived shortly after His passing in Haifa on 28 November 1921. According to an account by Rosemary Sala, a longtime friend, the visit to Haifa marked the beginning of Fred’s life as a Bahá’í. He had followed Lorol’s lead in investigating the Bahá’í Faith but had not shared her immediate enthusiasm. Even after becoming a Bahá’í, he had retained his skepticism about religion and resisted emotional commitment. During their visit to Haifa, however, Fred met Saichiro Fujita, the second Bahá’í of Japanese descent, who had become a Bahá’í in California in 1905, had traveled with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in America, and had gone to Palestine in 1919 to serve at the Bahá’í World Center. Through Fujita, in a moment of immense spiritual emotion, Fred became confirmed in his faith.3
In 1924 and 1925 Fred made return visits to Haifa to meet Shoghi Effendi, with whom he developed a close relationship. After their first meeting, Shoghi Effendi referred to him as "My beloved Fred, that living torch, lit by the spirit of our departed Master [‘Abdu’l-Bahá]" and as a "zealous and promising disciple of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá."4 Shoghi Effendi readily recognized Schopflocher’s "clear understanding of, and entire devotion to, the interests" of the Bahá’í Faith,5 and Schopflocher gained a devotion to Shoghi Effendi that was "immediate and lasting."6
Fred’s journeyed to many parts of the world. His trips were undertaken primarily for business, but they provided opportunities for him to visit Bahá’í communities, which often organized public meetings at which he spoke. When not traveling, Fred and Lorol Schopflocher maintained a busy life in Montreal, where they were deeply involved in local Bahá’í activities, and generously supported the Bahá'í House of Worship in Wilmette, as well as Green Acre and Bosch Bahá'í Schools.
Schopflocher was on pilgrimage in Haifa in January 1952, shortly after Shoghi Effendi took a major step in developing the Hands of the Cause of God—an administrative institution established byBahá’u’lláh—by appointing twelve individuals from around the world to serve as Hands. Schopflocher and fellow pilgrim Musa Banani, an Iranian residing in Africa, both heard from Shoghi Effendi himself the stunning news that he was appointing a second contingent of seven and that they would be among those named. Schopflocher traveled widely in Canada as a Hand of the Cause, speaking about Shoghi Effendi’s work and vision. He became ill while returning to Montreal from Haifa. At home, his condition quickly worsened, and he passed away at 9:30 AM on 27 July 1953. He was buried near the grave of Hand of the Cause of God Sutherland Maxwell in the Mount Royal Cemetery in Montreal. A cabled message from Shoghi Effendi reads in part:
Profoundly grieved at passing of dearly loved, outstandingly staunch Hand of Cause Fred Schopflocher. His numerous, magnificent services extending over thirty years in administrative and teaching spheres for United States, Canada, Institutions at Bahá’í World Center greatly enriched annals of Formative Age of Faith. Advising American National Assembly to hold befitting memorial gathering at Temple he generously helped raise. Advise holding memorial gathering at Maxwell home to commemorate his eminent part in rise of Administrative Order of Faith in Canada.
http://www.bahai-encyclopedia-project.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=69:schopflocher-siegfried&catid=37:biography
Schopflocher crossed the Atlantic several times between 1900 and 1904. In 1906 he emigrated to Canada and settled in Montreal. He founded the Canadian Bronze Powder Works in (Salaberry de) Valleyfield, Quebec, near Montreal. In January 1918 Schopflocher married Florence Evaline (known as "Lorol," or "Laurel," and by the nickname "Kitty") Snyder (1886–1970), who was born and raised in Montreal but had lived at one time in New York City, where the wedding took place. The couple had no children. A few years after Lorol and Fred Schopflocher married, Lorol met a Bahá’í named Rose Henderson in Montreal and found herself attracted to the Faith. When she was invited to Green Acre, the Bahá’í school and conference center in Eliot, Maine, Lorol took the opportunity to learn more about the religion. Fred, skeptical but willing to indulge his wife, agreed to accompany her. Both the Schopflochers became Bahá’ís at Green Acre in the summer of 1921.
A few months later, the couple journeyed to Mandatory Palestine to meet ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, but they arrived shortly after His passing in Haifa on 28 November 1921. According to an account by Rosemary Sala, a longtime friend, the visit to Haifa marked the beginning of Fred’s life as a Bahá’í. He had followed Lorol’s lead in investigating the Bahá’í Faith but had not shared her immediate enthusiasm. Even after becoming a Bahá’í, he had retained his skepticism about religion and resisted emotional commitment. During their visit to Haifa, however, Fred met Saichiro Fujita, the second Bahá’í of Japanese descent, who had become a Bahá’í in California in 1905, had traveled with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in America, and had gone to Palestine in 1919 to serve at the Bahá’í World Center. Through Fujita, in a moment of immense spiritual emotion, Fred became confirmed in his faith.3
In 1924 and 1925 Fred made return visits to Haifa to meet Shoghi Effendi, with whom he developed a close relationship. After their first meeting, Shoghi Effendi referred to him as "My beloved Fred, that living torch, lit by the spirit of our departed Master [‘Abdu’l-Bahá]" and as a "zealous and promising disciple of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá."4 Shoghi Effendi readily recognized Schopflocher’s "clear understanding of, and entire devotion to, the interests" of the Bahá’í Faith,5 and Schopflocher gained a devotion to Shoghi Effendi that was "immediate and lasting."6
Fred’s journeyed to many parts of the world. His trips were undertaken primarily for business, but they provided opportunities for him to visit Bahá’í communities, which often organized public meetings at which he spoke. When not traveling, Fred and Lorol Schopflocher maintained a busy life in Montreal, where they were deeply involved in local Bahá’í activities, and generously supported the Bahá'í House of Worship in Wilmette, as well as Green Acre and Bosch Bahá'í Schools.
Schopflocher was on pilgrimage in Haifa in January 1952, shortly after Shoghi Effendi took a major step in developing the Hands of the Cause of God—an administrative institution established byBahá’u’lláh—by appointing twelve individuals from around the world to serve as Hands. Schopflocher and fellow pilgrim Musa Banani, an Iranian residing in Africa, both heard from Shoghi Effendi himself the stunning news that he was appointing a second contingent of seven and that they would be among those named. Schopflocher traveled widely in Canada as a Hand of the Cause, speaking about Shoghi Effendi’s work and vision. He became ill while returning to Montreal from Haifa. At home, his condition quickly worsened, and he passed away at 9:30 AM on 27 July 1953. He was buried near the grave of Hand of the Cause of God Sutherland Maxwell in the Mount Royal Cemetery in Montreal. A cabled message from Shoghi Effendi reads in part:
Profoundly grieved at passing of dearly loved, outstandingly staunch Hand of Cause Fred Schopflocher. His numerous, magnificent services extending over thirty years in administrative and teaching spheres for United States, Canada, Institutions at Bahá’í World Center greatly enriched annals of Formative Age of Faith. Advising American National Assembly to hold befitting memorial gathering at Temple he generously helped raise. Advise holding memorial gathering at Maxwell home to commemorate his eminent part in rise of Administrative Order of Faith in Canada.
http://www.bahai-encyclopedia-project.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=69:schopflocher-siegfried&catid=37:biography
Siegfried ("Fred" or "Freddie") Schopflocher was born in Fürth, Bavaria, near Nuremberg, on 26 September 1877, the youngest of eighteen children. His parents, both lifelong residents of Fürth, were Salomon Schopflocher (1824–1903), a salesman, and Sara Goetz (1835–1908), daughter of Rabbi Joel Goetz. Little is known of Schopflocher’s childhood and youth. He attended university—probably in the city of Frankfurt, where he moved in July 1893—but did not finish his last year. Raised as an Orthodox Jew, he became an agnostic after leaving school and began an extended spiritual search. He also determined to succeed in business. He began working as a salesman-apprentice, apparently for his brothers Nathan and Julius, who had established a bronze and aluminum powder factory in Frankfurt.
Schopflocher crossed the Atlantic several times between 1900 and 1904. In 1906 he emigrated to Canada and settled in Montreal. He founded the Canadian Bronze Powder Works in (Salaberry de) Valleyfield, Quebec, near Montreal. In January 1918 Schopflocher married Florence Evaline (known as "Lorol," or "Laurel," and by the nickname "Kitty") Snyder (1886–1970), who was born and raised in Montreal but had lived at one time in New York City, where the wedding took place. The couple had no children. A few years after Lorol and Fred Schopflocher married, Lorol met a Bahá’í named Rose Henderson in Montreal and found herself attracted to the Faith. When she was invited to Green Acre, the Bahá’í school and conference center in Eliot, Maine, Lorol took the opportunity to learn more about the religion. Fred, skeptical but willing to indulge his wife, agreed to accompany her. Both the Schopflochers became Bahá’ís at Green Acre in the summer of 1921.
A few months later, the couple journeyed to Mandatory Palestine to meet ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, but they arrived shortly after His passing in Haifa on 28 November 1921. According to an account by Rosemary Sala, a longtime friend, the visit to Haifa marked the beginning of Fred’s life as a Bahá’í. He had followed Lorol’s lead in investigating the Bahá’í Faith but had not shared her immediate enthusiasm. Even after becoming a Bahá’í, he had retained his skepticism about religion and resisted emotional commitment. During their visit to Haifa, however, Fred met Saichiro Fujita, the second Bahá’í of Japanese descent, who had become a Bahá’í in California in 1905, had traveled with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in America, and had gone to Palestine in 1919 to serve at the Bahá’í World Center. Through Fujita, in a moment of immense spiritual emotion, Fred became confirmed in his faith.3
In 1924 and 1925 Fred made return visits to Haifa to meet Shoghi Effendi, with whom he developed a close relationship. After their first meeting, Shoghi Effendi referred to him as "My beloved Fred, that living torch, lit by the spirit of our departed Master [‘Abdu’l-Bahá]" and as a "zealous and promising disciple of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá."4 Shoghi Effendi readily recognized Schopflocher’s "clear understanding of, and entire devotion to, the interests" of the Bahá’í Faith,5 and Schopflocher gained a devotion to Shoghi Effendi that was "immediate and lasting."6
Fred’s journeyed to many parts of the world. His trips were undertaken primarily for business, but they provided opportunities for him to visit Bahá’í communities, which often organized public meetings at which he spoke. When not traveling, Fred and Lorol Schopflocher maintained a busy life in Montreal, where they were deeply involved in local Bahá’í activities, and generously supported the Bahá'í House of Worship in Wilmette, as well as Green Acre and Bosch Bahá'í Schools.
Schopflocher was on pilgrimage in Haifa in January 1952, shortly after Shoghi Effendi took a major step in developing the Hands of the Cause of God—an administrative institution established byBahá’u’lláh—by appointing twelve individuals from around the world to serve as Hands. Schopflocher and fellow pilgrim Musa Banani, an Iranian residing in Africa, both heard from Shoghi Effendi himself the stunning news that he was appointing a second contingent of seven and that they would be among those named. Schopflocher traveled widely in Canada as a Hand of the Cause, speaking about Shoghi Effendi’s work and vision. He became ill while returning to Montreal from Haifa. At home, his condition quickly worsened, and he passed away at 9:30 AM on 27 July 1953. He was buried near the grave of Hand of the Cause of God Sutherland Maxwell in the Mount Royal Cemetery in Montreal. A cabled message from Shoghi Effendi reads in part:
Profoundly grieved at passing of dearly loved, outstandingly staunch Hand of Cause Fred Schopflocher. His numerous, magnificent services extending over thirty years in administrative and teaching spheres for United States, Canada, Institutions at Bahá’í World Center greatly enriched annals of Formative Age of Faith. Advising American National Assembly to hold befitting memorial gathering at Temple he generously helped raise. Advise holding memorial gathering at Maxwell home to commemorate his eminent part in rise of Administrative Order of Faith in Canada.
http://www.bahai-encyclopedia-project.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=69:schopflocher-siegfried&catid=37:biography
Schopflocher crossed the Atlantic several times between 1900 and 1904. In 1906 he emigrated to Canada and settled in Montreal. He founded the Canadian Bronze Powder Works in (Salaberry de) Valleyfield, Quebec, near Montreal. In January 1918 Schopflocher married Florence Evaline (known as "Lorol," or "Laurel," and by the nickname "Kitty") Snyder (1886–1970), who was born and raised in Montreal but had lived at one time in New York City, where the wedding took place. The couple had no children. A few years after Lorol and Fred Schopflocher married, Lorol met a Bahá’í named Rose Henderson in Montreal and found herself attracted to the Faith. When she was invited to Green Acre, the Bahá’í school and conference center in Eliot, Maine, Lorol took the opportunity to learn more about the religion. Fred, skeptical but willing to indulge his wife, agreed to accompany her. Both the Schopflochers became Bahá’ís at Green Acre in the summer of 1921.
A few months later, the couple journeyed to Mandatory Palestine to meet ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, but they arrived shortly after His passing in Haifa on 28 November 1921. According to an account by Rosemary Sala, a longtime friend, the visit to Haifa marked the beginning of Fred’s life as a Bahá’í. He had followed Lorol’s lead in investigating the Bahá’í Faith but had not shared her immediate enthusiasm. Even after becoming a Bahá’í, he had retained his skepticism about religion and resisted emotional commitment. During their visit to Haifa, however, Fred met Saichiro Fujita, the second Bahá’í of Japanese descent, who had become a Bahá’í in California in 1905, had traveled with ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in America, and had gone to Palestine in 1919 to serve at the Bahá’í World Center. Through Fujita, in a moment of immense spiritual emotion, Fred became confirmed in his faith.3
In 1924 and 1925 Fred made return visits to Haifa to meet Shoghi Effendi, with whom he developed a close relationship. After their first meeting, Shoghi Effendi referred to him as "My beloved Fred, that living torch, lit by the spirit of our departed Master [‘Abdu’l-Bahá]" and as a "zealous and promising disciple of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá."4 Shoghi Effendi readily recognized Schopflocher’s "clear understanding of, and entire devotion to, the interests" of the Bahá’í Faith,5 and Schopflocher gained a devotion to Shoghi Effendi that was "immediate and lasting."6
Fred’s journeyed to many parts of the world. His trips were undertaken primarily for business, but they provided opportunities for him to visit Bahá’í communities, which often organized public meetings at which he spoke. When not traveling, Fred and Lorol Schopflocher maintained a busy life in Montreal, where they were deeply involved in local Bahá’í activities, and generously supported the Bahá'í House of Worship in Wilmette, as well as Green Acre and Bosch Bahá'í Schools.
Schopflocher was on pilgrimage in Haifa in January 1952, shortly after Shoghi Effendi took a major step in developing the Hands of the Cause of God—an administrative institution established byBahá’u’lláh—by appointing twelve individuals from around the world to serve as Hands. Schopflocher and fellow pilgrim Musa Banani, an Iranian residing in Africa, both heard from Shoghi Effendi himself the stunning news that he was appointing a second contingent of seven and that they would be among those named. Schopflocher traveled widely in Canada as a Hand of the Cause, speaking about Shoghi Effendi’s work and vision. He became ill while returning to Montreal from Haifa. At home, his condition quickly worsened, and he passed away at 9:30 AM on 27 July 1953. He was buried near the grave of Hand of the Cause of God Sutherland Maxwell in the Mount Royal Cemetery in Montreal. A cabled message from Shoghi Effendi reads in part:
Profoundly grieved at passing of dearly loved, outstandingly staunch Hand of Cause Fred Schopflocher. His numerous, magnificent services extending over thirty years in administrative and teaching spheres for United States, Canada, Institutions at Bahá’í World Center greatly enriched annals of Formative Age of Faith. Advising American National Assembly to hold befitting memorial gathering at Temple he generously helped raise. Advise holding memorial gathering at Maxwell home to commemorate his eminent part in rise of Administrative Order of Faith in Canada.
http://www.bahai-encyclopedia-project.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=69:schopflocher-siegfried&catid=37:biography
Gravesite Details
Death date maybe burial date. Cemetery maybe Hawthorn-Dale. For Information
