I Survived Swiss
Boarding Schools

Part 1 “Birth Accidents”
1955-1958  La Clairière, Villars, Switzerland

At age seven I was dropped off at a small, Swiss boarding school: La Clairière. The “school” was housed in an old Chalet and had approximately thirty boys from age six to twelve. Severe beatings were frequent, sexual abuse was common. An atmosphere of terror and anxiety reigned while temperatures were kept near freezing. Eventually, the school was shut down. I was transferred to the famous Le Rosey known as the “school for kings and princes.”

Part 2 “Victim”
1958-1963 Le Rosey, Rolle and Gstaad Switzerland

The first year at “Rosey” I was thirtieth in my group, which contained thirty one boys. Reasonable corporal discipline was practiced; only one teacher could qualify as sadistic and he zeroed in on me and Egon von Furstenburg. I was frequently raped by an older boy. Education and sports were emphasized amidst strict discipline.

Part 3  “Victor”
1963 – 1966 Le Rosey

To overcome a “homo” label, I set two goals: To excel at a sport and to become “Le Meilleur Roséen” (Most popular boy on campus in the graduating class).