Quote:
Originally Posted by Herr Kaleun
Rest your oar, sailor. 
Westphalen was a tough autograph to get. That's for sure. But the reason was Westphalen suffered a stroke in 1994 or 95 and he was unable to write his name. That's why many of his signed photos are 'rubber stamped' facsimile's of his signature. He was a kind gentleman and felt badly because he couldn't fulfill the signature requests in his own hand.
Btw, Westphalen could speak very fluent English until his suffered his stroke. After that, he couldn't. Oddly enough, he didn't lose his ability to speak German. |
Hi Ivan, I too echo the thanks for the additional info. Like I said, I did not think he was not sigining because of meanness or anything. Just from others I know who collect signatures, and also from someone who knew the author of The Faustball Tunnel. I tend to think that what was said in a statement printed in that book-and what i'd heard from others, that he was simply one who did not wish to be constantly reminded about the war-by folks asking for his autograph. And from what I heard-and as you said, the man was nothing less than a Gentleman.