Dad, son reunited after 32 years

Pamela G. Dempsey
Staff Writer

NAZLINI, Ariz. — After 32 years of asking questions and writing letters, Arthur Johan Bruggeman was reunited January with his father who he hasn't seen since he was 4 years old.

"I've been blessed in all kinds of ways this year," Bruggeman said. "My prayers have been answered and my curiosity about my father has been fulfilled."

Bruggeman's parents, Mary Ann Begay and Albert Johan Bruggeman met in Los Angeles, Calif., while Begay was attending school. They married soon after she discovered she was pregnant, and moved to Dayton, Ohio, to start their life together. Begay had a son and daughter from a previous marriage.

"My dad knew my mom was a single parent already, but he took all of us and my mom to Dayton," said Bruggerman.

After several months of looking for work, Begay left Ohio and her marriage, taking her children back by bus to Nazlini, Ariz., where she had spent her childhood.

By the time Bruggerman was 6, he was curious about his father and asked him mom for an address so he could write to him.

"I wanted to hear from him to stay in touch," said Bruggerman, "I was hoping that one of them would reach them, but they all came back and I couldn't find him."

Bruggerman again faced change when his mother enrolled her children in the Indian Placement Program, a Mormon-based program that places Native American children with Mormon foster parents that provides care and education for them until they graduate from high school or choose not to continue. Each child returns home in the summer. Most siblings are put in separate homes.

"My mom was a single parent," said Bruggerman, "and she wanted us to get a better education and learn how live in a white society. In a way, I'm glad she did and in a way I wish she didn't. I lived in two different worlds."

Bruggerman described his experience in the program similar to that of a boarding school.

"It was like we were being shipped off," he said "We had our immunization shots and a physical before we boarded the buses."

His years in the program ended during high school, when at 14 he lost his stepfather, Denny Henry Begay Sr.

"My mom remarried during my placement and she had five more children," Bruggerman said. "Denny became my dad and we were like one big family."

Begay fell asleep at the wheel, driving from Texas. Bruggerman was with him at the time.

"We stayed together as a family. Everybody took part in keeping the family together," Bruggerman said. "It wasn't easy it was very confusing and to this day, we all remembered him as a great father."

Bruggerman's return to the reservation renewed an interest in seeking his native tongue and cultural beliefs. And in finding his biological father.

"I didn't know if he was still alive," he said. "I didn't know anything."

Bruggerman continued to keep his family together and saw all of his younger brothers and sisters graduate. He did odd jobs and took care of his mother. He had a daughter, Markita Brandy Bruggerman, who is now 13. And he had given up hope in his search for his father.

"Then at Thanksgiving, my grandmother told a story about how a clan existed, mentioning the kids without fathers, even if a marriage didn't work out, a father would never leave his kids," Bruggerman said. "There is always a time when a father will come."And so he did.

Bruggerman's dad received a phone call one day from a woman updating the records on placement kids. His dad was out hunting and his stepmom, Karen, answered the phone, and knew about her husband's first son, Arthur. Together, the two women figured out where Arthur was.

A few days later, Albert Johan Bruggerman called the Nazlini Senior Citizens Center looking for his son on a tip that someone would know who and where he was.

Bruggerman's niece worked there and promised to get the message to him as soon as possible.

"One week later, my mom, uncle and younger sister came by with good news. They said ' we think your father is trying to get in touch with you- he left a number.'"

It took Bruggerman four days to call his father and still in shock and disbelief he heard his dad's voice after 32 years.

"We talked for an hour," Bruggerman said. "To hear his voice, laughter, we talked about whatever came to mind. I'm laughing, he's laughing, and we're both crying."

Two weeks later, Bruggerman received a plane ticket to fly to Miamisburg, Ohio, to finally meet his father.

Bruggerman spent a week with his father meeting family, getting acquainted with his father's life.

"My dad is just like me," Bruggerman said.

Bruggerman and his father will reunite again in May for a family reunion with Bruggerman's family and again in August for his father's 60th birthday.

"I'm like a little kid again," said Bruggerman of reuniting with his father. "I want to find the 'angel' that reunited us and hug her and thank her. I love her for doing this. She's still looking for me."