Michael Bachem

Portland-Michael Bachem died early Sunday, November 20 at his home at 80 Quebec Street. Cause of death was a massive heart attack. He was 76 years old. He was born in Adelsberg, in eastern Germany. His father had become a naturalized U.S. citizen, so Dr. Bachem was a U.S. citizen by birth. In 1947, he fled with his family to Bad Kissingen in what was then the American Occupation Zone. He was raised in Bad Kissingen and completed his Abitur (university qualifying examination) in Germany. At the age of 20 he came to the United States to maintain his U.S. citizenship. He served in the United States Air Force and then went on to Temple University for his undergraduate education and a Masters Degree, followed by a PhD in German Language and Literature at The Pennsylvania State University in 1972. Dr. Bachems academic career commenced with a professorship at Temple University. During this time, he and his wife, K. E. Smith, spent three years based in Stuttgart, Germany, where Dr. Bachem oversaw one of the Armys education programs for American soldiers stationed in Europe. In 1984, Dr. Bachem was appointed Professor of German Language, Literature and Folklore and Chair of the Department of German, Russian and East Asian Languages at Miami University of Ohio, Oxford, Ohio. During his time at Miami, Dr. Bachem and his family lived in Europe twice for two-year assignments teaching in Luxembourg. They established enduring friendships and professional relationships in each place where they lived. He is the author of a biography of Heimito von Doderer, an Austrian writer, as well as a large number of published academic articles in English and German. He became Professor Emeritus in 2005 and moved to Portland shortly after that. Michael Bachem was a devoted husband and father. In 1978 he married K. E. Smith, who became his life partner, traveling and working with him at his foreign postings, and sharing many of his interests in German language and culture, music, and public affairs for the 38 years of their marriage. The couple has two daughters, Ellen Anna Bachem and Alice Rose Bachem. During the familys sojourns in Europe both daughters attended German schools and became fluent in German. The Bachems also enjoyed time together at the family summer cottage on Coleman Pond in Lincolnville nearly every summer since 1985. Dr. Bachems son, Arthur Emmanuel Bachem, predeceased him in 1987. Music was an important part of Dr. Bachems life since he learned to play the cello at age 16 in Germany. Shortly after his arrival in Portland he became a mainstay of the local musical culture. He served for several years as the manager of the Portland Choral Arts Society, in which he also sang bass. He was on the Board of Maine Ovations and a member of the Marston-Kotschmar Club. He was an accomplished cellist and played in local string quartets and musical ensembles. At the time of his death he was a member of the Oratorio Chorale. He was a reliable supporter of arts and cultural activities in Portland. Dr. Bachem was a robust individual, who loved living. He was a passionate cook and he enjoyed outdoor activities such as bicycling, kayaking, running, and swimming. He was an active member of State Street Church, UCC where he sang in the choir and served as Moderator and on the Board of Trustees. He volunteered at the Preble Street Food Pantry. He was an instructor at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute, and he served as a facilitator for the Maine Humanities Council. He was a regular at the Aurora Tuesday Scones Table and a Steering Committee member of Friends of Fort Sumner Park. He took an interest in Portland affairs, and frequently contributed articles and op-ed pieces to the Portland newspapers. Dr. Bachem is survived by his wife, Karenellen Macauley Smith; his daughters, Ellen Anna Bachem and her wife, Noel Aimee DAlbertis, of Denver Colorado, and Alice Rose Bachem and her husband Loren Michael Hudson of Cincinnati, Ohio; his sister Anita Ramser of Nrnberg, Germany; and his brother Fritz Bachem of Myrtle Creek Oregon. There will be a Service of Celebration of the Life of Michael Bachem on Saturday, November 26, 2016 at 2 pm at State Street Church UCC, 159 State Street, Portland. Arrangements are by Conroy-Tully Walker Funeral Home, 172 State Street, Portland. To view Dr. Bachems memorial page or share online condolences, please visit www.ConroyTullyWalker.com. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Portland Conservatory of Music or the State Street Church UCC.