Alfred Roelker

Before coming to this country, at the age of sixteen, Alfred Roelker had with his mother trained his ear and hand in music, and through his father had obtained that solid grounding of an education which all his life he went on completing. Because he cared for such things, in addition to his own German, he made himself acquainted with the French and English literatures; and whether in this country or traveling in Europe, he missed no opportunity of seeing pictures, and often would buy one of the good old ones. He was thus of the type that we wish to see members of The Century, an amateur of letters and the fine arts, including music. In the musical audiences of New York, there was not a more constant or more impressive figure.

For many years a merchant, Mr. Roelker more lately served as director of the German American Bank, and of the Germania Life and Fire Insurance companies. From 1883 he was a trustee of the German Savings Bank, afterwards vice-president, and finally its president. His fellow-trustees have borne heartfelt testimony to the great debt of that institution to its faithful officer, and to the personal qualities which made association with him a privilege. We likewise testify that The Century has had no more valuable member; for he brought to his club-membership his systematic efficiency and his sense of duty. In the old Club House, he had been Chairman of the House Committee; and he freely gave his services in the stressful period of removal to our present building. For two years he was Treasurer of the Association. No Centurian has been more respected than Alfred Roelker, and few have been loved as well.

Henry Osborn Taylor
1916 Century Association Yearbook