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Courtesy photo. Grayce Barck, 82, a North Beach stalwart, died Monday.
Former students at New Smyrna Beach High School as well as everyone else in New Smyrna Beach are feeling the loss of Grayce Barck or Grayce Kenemer as we knew her in high school before she got married.
Grayce was not only a favorite while in school, where she was the first female driver's education teaching instructor, back in the day when a '57 Chevy was a cool ride, but for next five decades, inspiring so many people with her civic activism to improve local waterways and parks. She was a Republican loyalist who looked to mend partisan fences than break them.
She was one of the most sought after speakers and attendees at high school reunions and alumni get-togethers. Her presence and great sense of humor lifted the level of any meeting she attended.
Of course, we would always beg for her to get up and say a few words. The more the better. She never disappointed us on that score.
While in Germany she became quite popular on The Armed Services Network as “Alice Kaput” (The American transliteration of a German expression meaning everything is broken.). She also wrote columns in armed services publications to amuse the troops and give helpful hints on how to adapt to living abroad.
One column she brought back contained quips including the following: Why do they go to such lengths to teach Americans to ask in German: “Where in the main train station” when the main train station is the one place in every German town or city that is so clearly marked that none can possibly fail to find it?
Or: Why is it that no matter how you load it in, an American army uniform always comes out of the washing machine inside out.?
Grayce never tired of helping out her friends and former students. My late wife, Jackie, and I have always been deeply thankful for the help and guidance she gave our son , Peter, in joining the Army JAG corps.
She just never got tired of offering a helping hand to those whom she could help.
Grayce’s natural popularity is attested to by the fact that she almost beat the very popular Bill Rogers for a city commissioner’s seat and was president of the North Beach Neighborhood Association.
Gracyce Barck will always be a pillar of the community as she lived her life with grace, honor and love of New Smyrna Beach.