FINDING HOME: The Burger Family Journey
The Burger Family
The Burger family might currently live in Longmeadow, but a walk through their family history might as well be a walk through Disney’s Epcot Worlds. This multi-generational family might have planted the seeds of success around the globe, but now they are setting deep roots in Longmeadow.
The Burger’s family footprint in Longmeadow begins with the matriarch and patriarch. Frohmund and Morella Burger are enjoying their family and their 80’s. They are lucky to share Longmeadow with their son, Fro, and his wife Isa. Fro and Isa have two children Ian (16) and Maia (12) - and there’s also Isa’s mother, Isabel! As if that wasn’t enough, three canines, Bacon (Boxer mix), Hanna (Mini Schnauzer), and the newest addition, a
The Burger family tree begins in Europe with a foray into South America and a few stops in America. Frohmund was born in Austria. From there, Frohmund moved to Spain before relocating to Venezuela for much of his adult life. He met Morella in a Caribbean beach club an hour from Caracas. They fell in love and were able to raise their children in a tropical oasis.
Morella and Frohmund Burger decided to relocate to America around 2009, first to Chicago and then to Colorado following Fro and Isa’s journey. Isa arrived in New Orleans in 1994 as a college student, while Fro moved to Miami in 2001. They met and married in 2004 and the children were born in 2008 and 2012 in Chicago.
After six years in Colorado, in June 2018, Isa and Fro moved to Ontario, Canada for two years, but the elder Burgers and Isabel remained in Colorado. During COVID-19, Isa and Fro moved to Longmeadow and the three elders ditched the Rockies for the dingles and made the move, too.
While one of Morella and Frohmund's sons is under the same roof, another is in one of the Northeast’s premier cities, Montreal. "My other son Carlos Eduardo and his wife Connie live in Montreal with my other three grandkids: Nico (22), Michelle (18) and Jim (14). Michelle and Jim came to visit us last summer with Carlos. It was incredible to have four of five grandchildren together for the first time ever.”
Even though they are settled, the Burger family tree never rests for long. Isa and Fro take weekend trips to NYC, and around New England with the kids, which they love. Isabel goes to NYC and New Milford to visit her cousins. Morella and Fro aren’t much for traveling these days, but they used to, enjoying memorable trips to Europe and all around Venezuela - a country they loved raising their kids in.
The Burger family has traveled the world but has found a home in Longmeadow to help raise a new generation. They are thankful for their town and optimistic for the future.
What do you love about living in Longmeadow?
Isabel: How safe it feels and how nice people are and all the vegetation. The New England feel is very nice. Mr. Burger: It’s a calm place, with no big city noise, and fresh air to breathe. Maia: Everything is walking distance and everybody knows each other.
How do you feel about your neighbors and your community?
Isa: I have great neighbors and like the growing diversity in the community. Maia: Everybody is welcoming and kind. Fro: I enjoy saying hi to neighbors when I walk Bacon
What makes Longmeadow stand out?
“Longmeadow residents are well-educated, well-mannered, and kind - and there's a sense of community here.” - Frohmund Burger “Longmeadow feels like a small town vibe to me which I love. I admire the history you can see and the beauty of a town surrounded by nature and rolling hills.” - Isa Burger
Morella has always loved children and is currently looking for a new baby to sing Spanish to as a newborn nanny. Frohmund is an Architect with a Masters in Urban Design who also taught at the top university in Venezuela. In the USA he started working in the Denver Public School System as a Math Fellow. Linguist and Mathematician. He speaks Spanish, German and English. Currently, Mr. Burger enjoys the notoriety that comes from being a Substitute Teacher at LPS.
Hobbies aren’t lacking in the Burger family. Frohmund sailed competitively for 20 years and was a 1968 Olympic athlete representing Venezuela in sailing. Fro (Frohmund’s son) is a former member of the Venezuela Surfing team competing in Japan, Barbados and Puerto Rico and played Varsity soccer in Caracas, right now he enjoys snowboarding and mountain biking.
The grandchildren are busy too as Ian is a rower with PVRC and Maia plays lacrosse and volleyball. Isabel, who is well-traveled enjoys and is fluent in Spanish, English and French. Isa knows those languages as well as Portuguese, is also a voracious reader and volunteer.
Isa and Fro both work full-time while the grandparents help keep things running smoothly around the house. Things are never dull or quiet in the household as luckily they have a myriad of visitors, from Isa’s dad (Jackie Traverso) who visits yearly along with his sister from Venezuela, to friends and relatives from around the world.
Venezuela, Montreal, New Orleans, Colorado, Ontario, Miami, Austria, Longmeadow - the Burger family has experienced living around the world - but they’re all captivated by the charm of Longmeadow and they aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
