The Austro-American Association is deeply sorry to announce that Bruni Fletcher-Koch has passed away on March 20, 2021. She was a very enjoyable and interesting member of the A-AA for over 18 years. Bruni was a great friend, and we will miss her at our events. She had a remarkable sense of humor and a wide range of interests including world affairs, politics, her culinary skills, travel, and music. Her conversations at our events were spirited and always remarkably interesting.
Brunhilde Fletcher-Koch Bruni was born in Kirchheim am Neckar near Stuttgart, Germany on May 6, 1934, to the late Josef and Anna Rauschmaier. She spent her childhood during the war, and her adolescent years in its aftermath. She found work in retail clothing in Stuttgart and then in Heilbronn which eventually led to a brief modeling career. She also worked with her brother Kurt and his wife Anny who ran a catering service.
Bruni came to NYC from Germany in 1961, working as an au pair and personal assistant to noted Austrian-American psychiatrist, Dr. Arnold Hutschnecker. Later Bruni worked for several years as a staff travel administrator for British Airways (BOAC). During this time, her love for travel really began to blossom as she traveled to the Caribbean, Far East, and Europe. Bruni met her first husband E. Kennard Fletcher and moved to Westford, MA where she raised her three boys and made her home for 56 years. She was an avid gardener and a longtime member and past president of Westford Garden Club. She was also a member at First Parish Church United, Westford. She enjoyed helping at events like the Greens Festival where she would put her artistic talents to good use.
Bruni took pride cooking meals for family and friends, often using recipes from her German homeland, using her homegrown herbs. She enjoyed the ballet, symphony, and opera. Bruni married her second husband, architect, Carl Koch, and they enjoyed traveling the world together, skiing, sailing, and enjoying other cultures and cuisines until his death in 1998. Of all things, Bruni most loved celebrating the holidays with family and friends, honoring her German heritage and traditions, especially at Christmas time with her friends at the Austro-American Association.
Bruni died peacefully at her home with family by her side. She is pre-deceased by her brother Kurt Rauschmaier and his wife Anny, and sister Charlotte Maier and her husband Walter. Bruni leaves behind her three sons Christian Fletcher of Westford, MA; Dr. Steffen Fletcher and his wife Tracey, of Boca Raton, FL and their son Jack; and Julian Fletcher and his wife, Tracy Thomas, of Pasadena, CA., a nephew and many close longtime friends in the U.S. and abroad.