Brigitte Steinberg Dillin

Brigitte Steinberg Dillin, of Sandpoint, passed away on December 17, 2013. Brigitte was born on March 28, 1936 in Essen, Germany, the daughter of Friederich and Clara Steinberg. Brigitte’s father was the controller of the firm, Bruckerei Rohden, and an accomplished musician. Her mother was a photographer. Brigitte and her newly-born sister, Ulrike, evacuated Essen with their mother in autumn 1942, fleeing to Treuburg, East Prussia, when allied bombing raids on the industrial city of Essen became too intense; Brigitte lost 80% of her hearing from bomb explosions when she was six-years of age. In 1945 Clara and her two little girls walked back with considerable hardship all the way from East Prussia to the destroyed city of Essen, one step ahead of the advancing Russian troops. Her mother was given a pistol to shoot the children first and then herself, if they were about to be captured by the Russians. When a Russian soldier closed in, they started to run but just as hope of escape ran out, he yelled he only wanted to give them a loaf of bread. After this act of kindness from the enemy, her mother threw the pistol in the weeds and Brigitte developed a lifetime belief that the average man is inherently good. After finishing college preparatory school in 1954, Brigitte became a typist with the city government of Essen and in 1957 worked as an au pair in Sweden. Later in Germany she attended evening classes to be an elementary teacher, while working as an executive secretary for the Press and Information Office and later the Foreign Policy Office of the Federal Government of Germany. In November 1966 she came to America to study English; married a US Foreign Service Officer the next year and became a US Citizen. After marriage she worked as an executive secretary for the German Military Representative in Washington, D.C. When posted overseas as a Foreign Service wife she accepted, enthusiastically, all of the accompanying responsibilities, promoting cultural exchanges, encouraging educational and philanthropic activities, and immersing into the culture of each country. At times she would serve as deputy hostess for the Ambassador. She lived in Zambia, Morocco, Sudan, and Saudi Arabia over an 18 year period. While in Saudi Arabia, she was also the executive secretary for the Northrop Corporation. After her separation in 1985 from her first husband, she attended George Mason University and received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. She met her current husband, Thompson Walter Dillin, in 1994. They moved from Arlington, Virginia to retire in Sandpoint, Idaho in 2006. Cheerful and happy, Brigitte was always ready with a joke or funny story. Her giving and compassionate nature gave her a distinctive love for animals and the downtrodden. She treasured music, played the piano and accordion, and hooked yarn rugs as a hobby. Her husband cherished her bravery and honesty. She is survived by her husband, Tom, in Sandpoint, her sister, Ulrike von Kronhelm, in Wetzlar, Germany, and a dearly loved cousin, Gerda Caesar, in Bottrop, Germany. A memorial service will be held Saturday, January 25th, 2 P.M., at the Dillin residence, 311 St. Clair Ave., Sandpoint, Idaho. Those who wish to pay their respects are lovingly invited to attend. Please call 208-597-6263, if you need directions.