Kevin Lee Reichert

August 16, 1970 - May 5, 1999

Kevin was born August 16, 1970 to Bonnie, an unmarried teenager. Documents indicate his birth name was Christopher. It is believed that Bonnie intended to place Christopher for adoption when she resided and birthed at the Martha Washington Home for Unwed Mothers in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. 

However, Bonnie took Christopher home and kept him for 17 months. On May 4, 1972 he was placed with his first set of adoptive parents and renamed Kevin Frontczak. His adoption was finalized August 22, 1973 when Kevin was just 3-years-old.

When Kevin was approximately 7 years old, the Frontczak’s divorced. Kevin remained with his mother, Cathy. About a year or so later, Cathy remarried and Kevin gained a stepfather. Cathy’s tragic death occurred when Kevin was approximately 10-years-old, leaving his life in "uncertainty".

Shortly thereafter, Kevin was placed with the Reichert’s, who eventually adopted him and became Kevin’s second set of adoptive parents. The instability in his life might have caused problems for some youngsters, but not Kevin. Rather, he overcame all the adversities and made a great life for himself, touching many other people’s lives along the way. He reached for the stars and caught them. He flew the airplanes of his dreams, within them.

Kevin married at age 21 to the girl of his dreams. It was his desire to make a new life and share his dreams with her. Three children joined in their dream, but something was still missing for Kevin. The years of unanswered questions needed answers. Kevin was ready to explore the "Other" facet of his life. Kevin registered on January 3, 1999, with I.C.A.R.E’s, Wisconsin Adoptee - Birth Family Registry, searching for his birth parents, his birth heritage, and the answers to his questions.

I responded to Kevin’s registration that same day and it was in a matter of hours that I located his birth mother, Bonnie. I contacted Bonnie on Kevin’s behalf. She declined contact with Kevin at this time in her life. Although this was not the response Kevin had hoped for, he was willing to respect her decision and her privacy. 

A few days later, I was able to locate a maternal birth sister of Kevin’s. Though she had no previous knowledge of Kevin’s existence, she was receptive to contact with him and his family. Through e-mails, letters, phone calls and package exchanges, Kevin and Holly got to know each other, building a sister/brother relationship. Kevin planned that Holly would fly to Germany during the summer of 1999 to meet with him. They had four wonderful, but short months together before Kevin’s tragic death. 

The search for Kevin’s birth father was more difficult. I started with just a first name, "Tom" and a year of birth as 1948, not knowing if either was factual. Although Bonnie was not receptive to contact with Kevin, she was instrumental in Kevin’s search for his birth father. She not only provided a medical history for Kevin, but she provided Tom’s last name.

I was able to locate Tom within a matter of weeks, living in Montana. Though he had not known Kevin, he was eager to have contact, as was his entire extended family. Again, e-mails, letters, pictures, and phone calls flew back and forth across the ocean. Kevin was a mirror image of Tom and his new-found brother, Dan.

They had six short weeks getting to know each other and though they never met, Kevin touched their lives and his memory will live on in their hearts. Hopefully Kevin will inspire other searching adoptees and birth family members to reach for the stars, as he did. Don’t wait till tomorrow, because tomorrow may never come.

Kevin’s death was far too soon and a tragic loss for the members of "All" of his families. But, as a result of his search for the "Answers to years of questions", Kevin found a precious gift. He found happiness and peace of heart and mind because he found a birth family that gave him something he lacked. They gave him something money and fame couldn’t buy. They gave him "unconditional love and acceptance" from the first moment they knew he existed. And at that moment, Kevin fulfilled "All" his dreams. 

Mary Weidling
Wis. Adoption Consultant
I.C.A.R.E.’s Wisconsin Adoptee - Birth Family registry