Villager Hans Strumpf went to see “Evita” Tuesday but he already had seen Eva and Juan Peron – in person.
Strumpf, 85, once met the famous couple in Argentina back in 1946.
“We lived in Germany but had to leave when Hitler came to power,” Strumpf said. “I moved to Bolivia but we also had relatives in Argentina.
“I went there and I loved it. I wanted to get a tourist visa to live in Argentina. My friend told me, go to the (presidential) palace. He said Juan and Eva Peron usually go out once a day to take a drive around it and talk to the people.”
Strumpf went to the palace, and saw Eva and Juan Peron in their car. He said it stopped and he ran over to talk to them as guards carefully watched him.
“I told him: ‘Mr. President, in the name of Evita, I love your country. I want to stay here but I need a visa. They won’t give it to me. Can you help?’”
Stumpf said Evita smiled at him and Juan Peron leaned over to speak. “I’m glad you love our country but I cannot make an exception for you. If I did that, I would have to do it for others, and I can’t do that.”
And that was Hans Stumpf’s story of meeting the Perons.
He went to see “Evita” at Savannah Center on Tuesday and for him it was an emotional event.
“It makes me feel sad, nostalgic and happy, all at the same time,” Stumpf said. “Evita was such a good person, she did so much for the poor. And Juan Peron was very nice to me.
“It was very moving for me to see this show. It’s a wonderful musical. For me, it brings back so many memories.”
